<--PREV Doc #534  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #536 Document #535; November 9, 1953 To Arthur Hays Sulzburger 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 7: Beef and Budgets   Dear Arthur: Thanks for the clipping. I have used some of the arguments presented in the Presbyterian Manifesto in talking to various individuals who believe that investigative practices must be "tougher" than they are now. This argument often centers around fact rather than principle.1 For example, take the quotation from the Roman Catholic Bishops of the United States, given in the last paragraph of your editorial. The "tough" ones say that no one has ever been guilty of the things condemned by the Bishops. Of course you and I know better. But who is so blind as those who will not see?2 As to addressing the members of the Associated Press at their meeting next April nineteenth, I can only remark at this moment that they are very successful in choosing one period of my year that I try to keep completely free of all engagements--that is, the week following the Masters' at Augusta.3 As ever 1 Writing on November 5, Sulzberger had enclosed a November 4 New York Times editorial concerning a letter published by the General Council of the Presbyterian Church in the United States (AWF/N). The letter, issued on November 2, was addressed to some eight thousand Presbyterian ministers, who were instructed to read it to their respective congregations. It warned Americans about their methods of fighting communism, citing, among ather things, the tendency of congressional inquiries to become "inquisitions" and the public condemnation of people on uncorroborated evidence. The editorial praised the work of the Presbyterian General Council, saying that "a more profound anti-Communist document could hardly be imagined." It observed that "fanatical negativism," being "totally devoid of a constructive program," had failed to offer an "adequate answer to the false but glittering enticements of communism" (New York Times, Nov. 3, 4, 1953). For background on the issues of McCarthyism and internal security see Eisenhower, Mandate for Change, pp. 308-31; and no. 552. 2 The quote read: "Dishonesty, slander, detraction and defamation of character are as truly transgressions of God's commandments when resorted to by men in political life as they are for all other men" (New York Times, Nov. 4, 1953). For Eisenhower's handling of Senator McCarthy see Eisenhower, Mandate for Change, esp. pp. 316-31; Galambos, NATO and the Campaign of 1952, no. 921; and in this volume nos. 193 and 250. 3 Sulzberger had written to confirm an invitation to Eisenhower to address members of the Associated Press at their annual meeting on April 19, 1954. He reminded Eisenhower that they had discussed this matter the previous year but had found that Eisenhower had already committed to addressing the American Society of Newspaper Editors (on Eisenhower's address see no. 146; and New York Times, Apr. 17, 1953). Sulzberger tried to persuade the President that the Associated Press would be a better audience than the American Society of Newspaper Editors or the American Newspaper Publishers' Association, which was also competing for his presence. As it turned out, Eisenhower would not address the members of the Associated Press until April 25, 1955. He would, however, interrupt his spring 1954 vacation in Augusta, Georgia, to speak before the American Newspaper Publishers' Association on April 22 (see no. 848). In his speech Eisenhower would urge the media to lead the way in combating the ignorance and misunderstanding that can breed war (Public Papers of the Presidents: Eisenhower, 1954, pp. 406-15). Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge would address the Associated Press (New York Times, Apr. 19, 1954). Bibliographic reference to this document: Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Arthur Hays Sulzburger, 9 November 1953. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 535. 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/535.cfm <--PREV Doc #534  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #536

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