<--PREV Doc #715  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #717 Document #716; February 6, 1954 To Charles Eustis Bohlen Series: EM, AWF, International Series: USSR The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XV - The Presidency: The Middle Way Part IV: "Pushing ahead along the broad center"; December 1953 to March 1954 Chapter 9: Fending off "the reactionary fringe"   Dear Chip: I suppose that the rule is a good one that frowns upon the practice of the President writing directly to our Ambassadors abroad. Undoubtedly misunderstandings could arise if that kind of thing became a habit; but I still see no reason why a political post should prohibit anyone from an occasional attempt to communicate with old friends. Not long ago while chatting in a group, your name came up and I was reminded of the many pleasant times we had on the golf course together. I would truly like to get together again in a foursome that included also Cy Sulzberger and Bunny Carter.1 The real purpose of this note, however, is to tell you every report I have on you is that no one representing America in Moscow could possibly do better than you are doing. I realize that you must live a life of continuous frustration, but obviously this is not preventing you from doing your job efficiently and well.2 I would be grateful if you would convey my greetings and best wishes to the charming Mrs. Chip.3 My thoughts often go out to you both, and I do hope that you find compensations in your work that repay you to some extent for such disappointments as you encounter.4 With warm personal regard, Sincerely 1 For background on New York Times reporter Cyrus L. Sulzberger see Galambos, NATO and the Campaign of 1952, no. 114, and on Eisenhower's friend Bernard Shirley Carter see ibid., no. 385. 2 One of the reports Eisenhower had received was from Emmet Hughes, who had recently completed a two-week visit to Moscow (see preceding document). Hughes had written that Bohlen had been "hugely kind and helpful" to him, and "though the scars of last spring's battle can still be seen--he is on the whole in the finest spirit." (See no. 121 for the conflict over Bohlen's confirmation as U.S. ambassador to Moscow; see also Eisenhower, Mandate for Change, pp. 212-13, and Bohlen, Witness to History, pp. 313-36). Bohlen had urged Hughes to tell the President that "remote as this place is, his own name still commands tremendous resonance here. It is the one name that really registers with the people. And anything said or done clearly in his name can have tremendous impact" (Hughes to Eisenhower, Jan. 31, 1954, AWF/A). 3 The former Avis Howard Thayer. 4 "I am deeply touched," Bohlen would respond, "and I appreciate more than I can possibly tell you not only the fact of your writing, but more particularly, the things you have to say" (Feb. 12, 1954, AWF/I: USSR). Bibliographic reference to this document: Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Charles Eustis Bohlen, 6 February 1954. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 716. 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/716.cfm <--PREV Doc #715  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #717

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