Presidential Papers, Doc#813 Memorandum To Sherman Adams, 1 April 1954. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower

Document #813; April 1, 1954
To Sherman Adams
Series: EM, AWF, Administration Series ; Category: Memorandum

The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XV - The Presidency: The Middle Way
Part V: Maintaining "a united defense"; April 1954 to August 1954
Chapter 10: Losing the war "they could not win"

 

An old friend of mine, Major Migel, came to see me this morning.1 He is a completely loyal--almost fanatical--supporter of the Administration.

Major Migel has a public relations friend in New York named Bernard Relin.2 He is anxious that we consult this man who he thinks would give to us a very sound counsel and advice in the field of public relations.

It occurs to me we might do two things. First, we could send the attached record to our friend Bill Robinson in New York (also in public relations business) and ask his opinion of this man and of his standing.3 If Robinson thinks well of him, we could ask the man to come down to talk to you, to Len Hall, and to our friend Jim Bassett. This, of course, assumes that Len Hall and Jim Bassett would have some interest in the matter.4

In any event, Major Migel, who is 90, is very anxious that somebody close to me have a short talk with his friend Relin, and I promised that we would make some effort to find out what he had in mind.5

1 Moses Charles Migel, retired manufacturer of silk fabrics, was founder and chairman of the board of trustees of the American Foundation for the Blind. During World War I he had served as president of the Allied Silk Trading Corporation. After the War, he served as a major in the American Red Cross.

2 Bernard Relin (LL.B. St. Johns University 1936) was a public relations counselor.

With the upcoming off-year elections approaching, the President's advisers had suggested that the Administration retain a political strategist for public relations (see nos. 699, 758, 759).

3 For Robinson's earlier advice to the President regarding public relations see no. 548. We did not find the "attached record" in EM.

4 Leonard Hall was chairman of the Republican National Committee. James Bassett was the newly appointed National Committee Director of Public Relations.

5 According to his appointments calendar Eisenhower would not meet with Relin, nor is there a reply from Adams in EM.

Bibliographic reference to this document:
Eisenhower, Dwight D. Memorandum To Sherman Adams, 1 April 1954. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 813. 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/813.cfm

 


Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission
1629 K Street, NW Suite 801
Washington DC 20006
Phone: 202.296.0004    Fax: 202.296.6464