Presidential Papers, Doc#746 To Edwin Britain Howard, 27 February 1954. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower

Document #746; February 27, 1954
To Edwin Britain Howard
Series: EM, AWF, Administration Series

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 Ed:

1 Unfortunately we have run into a difficulty that we didn't anticipate in regard to a position for you at the CIA.2 The law limits to fifteen the number of retired officers that may be employed by that agency. They now have that number and until one of them leaves the service, it appears that we will have to wait. However, if any vacancy occurs between now and September--which I understand is the date of your retirement--Mr. Dulles will undoubtedly hold a place for you.3 In the meantime, if anything turns up I will let you know.4

Love to Janie and all the best to yourself,5 Sincerely

1 Brigadier General Howard (USMA 1923) was Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Allied Army Forces, Central Europe. For background on Howard see Eisenhower Papers, vols. I-XIII.

2 Eisenhower hoped to find a position in the CIA for his friend Howard, who had served under him during World War II and later at SHAPE when Eisenhower headed the NATO forces.

On February 1 Eisenhower had recommended Howard to Secretary of the Army Stevens, citing his "very splended qualifications" in intelligence work. He asked Stevens to report on the Army's plans for Howard when his tour of duty in Europe ended (AWF/D). In his reply of February 10 Stevens reported that Howard would be retired from the Army on September 30, 1954 (AWF/A, Howard Corr.).

3 Eisenhower had telephoned CIA Director Allen W. Dulles to recommend Howard for a post, and on February 23 he had written to Dulles regarding Howard's qualifications; Dulles replied on February 26. See also Eisenhower to Howard, Feb. 24, 1954, all in AWF/A.

4 For developments see no. 819.

5 Howard had learned that he was being considered for a job in the CIA through correspondence between Mamie Eisenhower and his wife, Jane Pluck Howard (Howard to Eisenhower, Feb. 15, 1954; see also telegram, Howard to Eisenhower, Feb. 17, 1954, and Howard to Eisenhower, Mar. 9, 1954, AWF/A).

Bibliographic reference to this document:
Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Edwin Britain Howard, 27 February 1954. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 746. 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/746.cfm

 


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