<--PREV Doc #564  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #566 Document #565; November 30, 1953 To Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. Series: EM, AWF, Administration Series, Brownell Corr. ; Category: Personal 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 Cabot: Your note of the 25th leaves me in some doubt as to the meaning of one of the points it raises. This point is that a "statement could be made in conjunction with an expression of your view that adequate steps be taken promptly to eliminate those in the government departments who should not be there."1 As you know, this was one of the first subjects that the new Administration tackled, last January.2 It is my impression that the methods devised have been working well; that we are eliminating from government departments those who can fairly be classed as security risks. Moreover, we believe we are doing this with a complete respect for the basic rights of the individual. Is it your conviction that we should do something more drastic?3 Thank you very much for your kind comment on my talk before the B'nai B'rith. You are mistaken in thinking that I wrote it myself--for the reason that it was not written. It was concocted as I sat at the table and conversed with some of my associates at the dinner.4 Incidentally, I made an impromptu talk under somewhat similar circumstances at the Catholic University some days ago. This morning I had a note from Cardinal Mooney congratulating me on my skill in speaking without notes, yet sticking closely to my written text.5 This, of course, was not a difficult feat since the text was taken down by some reporters from what I had to say. Anyhow, thanks a lot for writing. As ever 1 Lodge had suggested that Eisenhower deliver a televised speech on his "detestation of communism." Lodge said that he believed that the country would appreciate having the President take the initiative on this matter and that such a speech would be welcomed everywhere (AWF/A, Brownell Corr.). For background see no. 556. 2 See Eisenhower's State of the Union address of February 2, 1953 (Public Papers of the Presidents: Eisenhower, 1953, pp. 24-26). 3 Lodge replied on December 2 that it was "indeed" his "conviction that we should do something more drastic" (AWF/A, Brownell Corr.). For example, he wrote, one of the first actions he took when assuming his office in January was to have an FBI investigation and screening of all employees of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. Eleven months later, he said, "not one of the senior advisers here has yet been cleared in spite of the fact that the FBI investigations were completed some time ago." He urged Eisenhower to "build a whole television speech on this topic" and "clean the thing up in short order." The current procedures are fair and thorough, Lodge wrote, "but the pace is woefully slow." For developments see no. 594. 4 For background see no. 552. 5 See no. 549. Bibliographic reference to this document: Eisenhower, Dwight D. Personal To Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., 30 November 1953. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 565. 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/565.cfm <--PREV Doc #564  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #566

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