Presidential Papers, Doc#432 To Jimmy McLaughlin, 26 September 1953. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower
<--PREV
Doc #431		  |  Memorial Commission
Home Page		  |  First Term
Table of Contents		  |  Presidential Papers
Home Page 		 | 
Doc#
 |  NEXT-->
Doc #433

Document #432; September 26, 1953
To Jimmy McLaughlin
Series: EM, AWF, Name Series
The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XIV - The Presidency: The Middle Way
Part III: The Space Age Begins; October 1957 to January 1958
Chapter 6: Building strength when there is "no perfect answer"

 

Dear Jimmy: I am writing this personal note to tell you that I am deeply sorry about your accident.1 Often in the past I have said those same words to American soldiers wounded in battle while fighting for all the rest of us.2 I hope that you, too, can look upon yourself as one of our country's soldiers--with important jobs still to do for all the rest of us.

Possibly you will not mind if I suggest to you one of the important and wonderful things you can do right now. In such a misfortune as yours, all the members of your family and all your friends share your distress so deeply that in some ways they need your help even more than you need theirs. Their sympathy and sorrow are so sincere that their lives become clouded and unhappy.

But when they see you showing real faith and hope and courage, you will be helping them to have greater faith and hope and courage. As you show an understanding of the fact that you can make of yourself a useful and indeed a very happy citizen, then you will make them a very happy group. In this way you will help a lot of people--your example will be one to make all of us proud that we know of another little American who would not be defeated by misfortune.

With this note come my very best wishes and the hope that you will not have to stay too long in the hospital and separated from all those who are devoted to you. Sincerely

1 A draft of this letter, with Eisenhower's extensive handwritten emendations, is in AWF/Drafts. The President commented that "he wanted to get it just `right.' He did not want the little boy to feel that he was `letting his family down.'" Eisenhower twice revised the staff-written draft, and then had Milton Eisenhower read it (Ann Whitman memorandum, Sept. 26, 1953, AWF/AWD). In a letter of September 17 McLaughlin's uncle had asked Eisenhower to "send a short note . . . to a little boy who lies in a bed of pain" as a result of having his legs amputated in a train accident. According to the uncle, the boy's morale needed a lift and a letter from the President would give it "the boost it so badly needs" (Biggane to Eisenhower, AWF/D). In an accompanying cover letter Eisenhower thanked the uncle for giving him the "opportunity" to write young McLaughlin (Eisenhower to Biggane, Sept. 26, 1953, AWF/D).

2 See, for example, Chandler, War Years, no. 1277.

Bibliographic reference to this document:
Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Jimmy McLaughlin, 26 September 1953. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 432. 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/432.cfm

<--PREV
Doc #431		  |  Memorial Commission
Home Page		  |  First Term
Table of Contents		  |  Presidential Papers
Home Page 		 | 
Doc#
 |  NEXT-->
Doc #433
 


Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission
1629 K Street, NW Suite 801
Washington DC 20006
Phone: 202.296.0004    Fax: 202.296.6464