Presidential Papers, Doc#719 Personal and confidential To Arthur Krock, 30 May 1958. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower
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Document #719; May 30, 1958
To Arthur Krock
Series: EM, WHCF, Confidential File: Defense Department ; Category: Personal and confidential
The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XIX - The Presidency: Keeping the Peace
Part IV: Recession and Reform; February 1958 to May 1958
Chapter 10: Restructuring for National Security

 

Dear Arthur: Your column this morning had as its subject a matter that has occupied a great deal of my waking time for several months. You point out that I am flatly determined to accomplish military reform in the interests of our country’s future. I hope you are in accord with that purpose.1

My special reason for writing a note to you is merely to explain a point. You believe that I experienced a change in my thinking between the date of May sixteenth and the statement I made on May twenty-eighth.2

In the first instance I employed a manner of expression--as in the military service I employed it in positions of command--that was intended to be mild in tone, polite in tenor, but unmistakable so far as my dissatisfaction with important details was concerned. Actually, on the evening I wrote the letter to the Chairman, I had in front of me for study and was referring to in terms of disapproval exactly the same three points that led to my later statement. But, by that time, I decided that in the existing circumstances I should use a terminology and tone that might be more effective in political circles than did those I was accustomed to using. Incidentally, as these political problems come up from time to time, I am not again going to make the mistake of assuming that a polite indication of disagreement--which in my former life was taken seriously indeed--can be interpreted as a weakness in will.

When this thing is all over, you may be interested in learning either from me, or from one of my close associates in this work, like Mr. Harlow, the exact circumstances which brought out the requested letter of May sixteenth. The approval of the Committee’s work was sincere, subject to certain exceptions that I deemed important. But I failed to see that the general statement of approval could be used to hurt the program while the exceptions were disregarded.3

I would not bother you with this long note this morning except that since it happens to be Memorial Day, the offices of the government seem largely deserted and I have a few minutes belonging to myself.4

Did I say that I enjoyed your column? I should have.

With warm personal regard, As ever

1 Krock's column, "In the Nation," had addressed Eisenhower's criticisms of the defense reorganization bill, which had been reported by the House Armed Services Committee on May 22, 1958 (New York Times, May 30, 1958; see no. 716). Krock had written that the President's May 28 statement indicated that "he now fully subscribes to the adverse analysis of the committee changes in his reorganization plan. . . ." Also implicit in the statement, Krock said, was the President's realization that "if he is to get from Congress certain actions he considers vital to the national interest, his preferred tactic of moderation must be replaced by all-out attack. This foreshadows a fight to the finish on the Pentagon legislation with very influential members of Congress."

2 Krock had pointed out the differences between Eisenhower's "quick impressions" of the defense reorganization bill as expressed in his May 16 letter congratulating the House committee and his "mature conclusions" as expressed in his May 28 public statement. See no. 699.

3 On May 30, 1958, Krock would thank Eisenhower for his letter (same file as document), and would profess himself eager to learn the background of the May 16 letter to Vinson. "It is not from want of trying, however, that I have not had a talk with you on a number of subjects since late 1956. . . . But my efforts have been unsuccessful, though anything you might say for my ears only would be held in the same confidence as your letters have been" (see Galambos and van Ee, The Middle Way, no. 442).

4 Krock would add that he was not only "in accord" with Eisenhower on the Pentagon bill but also that he had "been a steadfast believer in you and in all your purposes and principles since we met long ago. Within my narrow limitations I have sought ever to advance them."

Bibliographic reference to this document:
Eisenhower, Dwight D. Personal and confidential To Arthur Krock, 30 May 1958. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 719. 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/second-term/documents/719.cfm

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