Presidential Papers, Doc#808 To Howard Donnelly, 30 March 1954. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower
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Doc #809

Document #808; March 30, 1954
To Howard Donnelly
Series: EM, AWF, Name Series: West Point Class
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 Howard: I was delighted to hear from you and to know that your son is desirous of entering West Point.1 As you know there are a certain number of so-called "Presidential" appointments, but for years--and quite rightly--they have been filled strictly on the results of the competitive examinations.2 Based solely on my knowledge of his father, I would supect that Howard, Jr., would qualify on merit.

At any rate, I have asked my Military Aide to look into the matter, though I repeat that there is nothing I personally can do to make certain of Howard's appointment.3

With warm regard, Sincerely

1 Donnelly (USA, ret.), a West Point classmate of the President, had asked for help in obtaining a presidential appointment to the United States Military Academy for his son Howard Donnelly, Jr. (Mar. 18, 1954, AWF/N: West Point Class). "Ike," the senior Donnelly wrote, "I need help so that Howard can get in the Academy, and follow an Army career like his dad. . . ."

2 Since 1912 the Department of the Army had supervised presidential appointments to West Point. Early in his first term Eisenhower had directed the Secretary of the Army to continue that procedure and to submit a short yearly report on the available cadetships (Robert T. Stevens to Eisenhower, July 29, 1953; and Memorandum re Presidential Appointments, West Point, from Captain Richard W. Streiff, Assistant Military Aide to the President, n.d., all in AWF/N: West Point Class).

3 Colonel Robert L. Schulz, military aide to the President, would write Colonel Donnelly on April 5 advising him "not to worry too much" about the appointment, as it "will not be too long before you will receive official word." A blind copy of Schulz's letter went to Ann Whitman, who noted for the President, "Howard, Jr., is `in.' However, Army does not want families told until letters are out, April 13th. Does letter give too broad a hint?" Eisenhower's longhand response read, "After notifications are out--then write to him again" (ibid.). On April 19 Eisenhower would congratulate his former classmate on Howard, Jr.'s, examination scores--standing 26th on the list of 146 candidates who had qualified (ibid.).

Bibliographic reference to this document:
Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Howard Donnelly, 30 March 1954. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 808. 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/808.cfm

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