Presidential Papers, Doc#2169 To Edgar Newton Eisenhower, 11 January 1957. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower

Document #2169; January 11, 1957
To Edgar Newton Eisenhower
Series: EM, AWF, Name Series

The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XVII - The Presidency: The Middle Way
Part XI: The free world's "sad mess"; October 1956 to January 1957
Chapter 23: What is needed is "a calming influence"

 

Dear Edgar: Your letter distresses me greatly. Of course you should not attempt the trip East for the Inauguration (and, privately, I think your decision is a wise one regardless of the state of your health).1 But I am tremendously concerned that you have suffered such pain in the last few months, and that even now you do not feel up to a trip even to Southern California. The only encouragement I find is that you report one good night; I pray that means a real improvement.2

As far as the Inaugural ceremonies are concerned, the whole business, from my point of view, is too much of a "show" to have real meaning. I am sorry that we are not going to have a full family reunion, but even that would be difficult under the schedule that has been laid out for Mamie and me.3

Don't worry about what the press may say; it never bothers me and it never should you.4

The important thing is that the doctors find a way to alleviate your pain and that you and Lucy get away for the rest I know you both need.5

With warm regard, As ever

P.S. I understand Janis and Bill are coming; you better charge them with the job of a complete report!6

1 In his letter of January 7 (AWF/N) Edgar had written that he was "suffering from neuritis of the brachial-plexus. And even though I have doubled up on my medication, my recovery is not sufficient to justify my continuing with my reservations." For background see no. 2092.

2 Edgar had reported that he had "slept through the entire night" the evening of January 6.

3 The President's brother had apologized for his inability to join his brothers and their families at the Inauguration.

4 "I would like the world to know that my absence from your Inauguration is not to be interpreted as a disagreement between you and me, over policy or anything else," Edgar had written.

5 On January 21 the Edgar Eisenhowers would visit friends in Indio, California (see no. 2160), and then travel to Phoenix, Arizona, "for an indefinite time" (see Lucy Eisenhower to Eisenhower, Jan. 19, 1957; and Eisenhower to Edgar Eisenhower, Jan. 23, 1957, both in AWF/N; see also New York Times, Jan. 19, 1957).

6 These were Edgar's daughter and son-in-law, the William Oliver Causins.

Bibliographic reference to this document:
Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Edgar Newton Eisenhower, 11 January 1957. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 2169. World Wide Web facsimile by The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission of the print edition; Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/first-term/documents/2169.cfm

 


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