<--PREV Doc #828  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #830 Document #829; April 12, 1954 To Bernard Mannes Baruch Series: EM, AWF, Administration Series 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"   Dear Bernie: Many thanks for your two notes. It is difficult to realize that some people might prefer unemployment insurance to jobs. I wish more individuals understood the danger to our society of the adoption of such a philosophy.1 I should be glad to discuss with you personally your thoughts on a new solution to the problems of the hydrogen bomb age.2 As you perhaps know, I shall not be in Washington for more than a few hours until the twenty-sixth.3 I could make an appointment with you almost any time after that date; but if you are here in the meantime, I suggest that you discuss the matter with Bedell Smith. Alternatively, I could ask Bedell and Lewis Strauss to come see you at your convenience. What would you prefer?4 As ever 1 In a memorandum of April 9 Baruch had expressed concern at the numbers of people who were accepting unemployment insurance rather than seeking jobs (AWF/A, Smith Corr.). The practice was, he observed, "quite prevalent" and was contributing to the development of deceptive unemployment figures. In an earlier message--on a different subject--Baruch had suggested to Eisenhower that he ask the attorney general to investigate problems between automobile dealers and manufacturers regarding price fixing (see telegram, Feb. 27, 1954, and Eisenhower to Baruch, Feb. 28, 1954, both in ibid. 2 "I feel that I have a new approach," Baruch had written. "It will have to be carried out with great secrecy and finesse. Would you want me to discuss it with anybody, and if so, with whom?" For Baruch's earlier correspondence regarding disarmament see no. 698. 3 Eisenhower was to leave on the following day for Augusta, Georgia. 4 Baruch would respond by telegram on April 21, suggesting that Eisenhower "discuss it with Strauss first" (AWF/A). Copies of this correspondence would be forwarded to AEC Chairman Lewis L. Strauss and Under Secretary of State Walter Bedell Smith. For developments see no. 845. Bibliographic reference to this document: Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Bernard Mannes Baruch, 12 April 1954. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 829. 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/829.cfm <--PREV Doc #828  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #830

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