Dear Emmett: I am much interested to learn from your letter of February ninth that The Eisenhower Foundation for the Promotion of Citizenship wishes to construct a library which ultimately would contain my papers.1
Let me say at once that I shall be delighted to cooperate in the proposed project.
In order to fulfill the Trustees' purpose of constructing the library and providing for management of it under the supervision of the Archivist of the United States, it will be necessary, as you pointed out, to develop detailed arrangements with appropriate Federal Officials; and, of course, authorization by Congress will be a requisite.
I appreciate the desire of the Trustees, before proceeding further, to have now a definite indication that the proposal meets with my approval.2 As I have said, it does, for it seems to me the most desirable method for preserving papers closely associated with the history of our Nation and insuring that successive categories of them will become available for study at appropriate intervals.
From my knowledge of the matter, it would appear possible to effect an agreement along the lines suggested which would be satisfactory to all parties concerned. Should that be so, I would be happy to designate the library for custody of my papers. You can understand, of course, that such a commitment must be tentative until detailed arrangements are available for consideration and final approval can be given. In the meantime, I should like to request that you continue to handle the matter on a confidential basis.3
With warm regard, Sincerely
