Presidential Papers, Doc#220 To James Francis Byrnes, 29 May 1953. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower
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Doc #221

Document #220; May 29, 1953
To James Francis Byrnes
Series: EM, AWF, Name Series
The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XIV - The Presidency: The Middle Way
Part II: Settling into "the long pull"; May 1953 to August 1953
Chapter 3: "A time for continued vigilance"

 

Dear Governor Byrnes:1 I have been advised of the possible retirement of General C. P. Summerall as President of The Citadel.2 Should this be the case and the officials are considering a qualified replacement for this post, I hope you will permit me, on a purely personal basis, to suggest the name of an old friend and associate, Lt. General Willard S. Paul, USA, Retired, for the position.3

General Paul commanded the 26th Division in Europe during World War II. He was Personnel Director or G-1 during my tenure as Chief of Staff, U.S. Army. He has rendered distinguished service both as a combat commander and senior staff officer. He has a fine personality--very animated and likable--and should do an outstanding job with young people.

In writing this note, I am merely giving expression to a personal desire to be helpful both to an old friend who tells me he desires to the position, and to an institution for which I have great respect.4

With warm personal regard and best wishes, Sincerely

1 Eisenhower had enclosed an informal cover letter of the same date with this letter (AWF/N). Byrnes, former U.S. Senator, Supreme Court justice, Director of Economic Stabilization and of War Mobilization, Secretary of State under Truman, and Eisenhower supporter, had been Governor of South Carolina since 1951 (for background see Eisenhower Papers, vols. I-XIII).

2 Charles Pelot Summerall, Jr. (USMA 1892), had been president of The Citadel since 1931 (for background see Chandler, The War Years, and Galambos, Columbia University).

3 For further background on Willard Stewart Paul and his relationship with Eisenhower see Eisenhower Papers, vols. I-XIII.

4 On June 4 Byrnes would write the President that the board of visitors of The Citadel was considering the appointment of another Army officer; he nevertheless expected to present Eisenhower's letter to the board when they met on June 12 (AWF/N). Eisenhower's reply of June 5 is in ibid. General Mark Wayne Clark would succeed Summerall (see Galambos, Columbia University, no. 672).

Bibliographic reference to this document:
Eisenhower, Dwight D. To James Francis Byrnes, 29 May 1953. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 220. 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/220.cfm

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