<--PREV Doc #854  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  Second Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #856 Document #855; September 16, 1958 To Alfred Maximilian Gruenther Series: EM, AWF, Administration Series The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XIX - The Presidency: Keeping the Peace Part V: Forcing the President's Hand; June 1958 to October 1958 Chapter 13: Quemoy and Matsu   Dear Al: I am following your tennis-playing and speaking trail through Europe with interest and awe, not that I ever underestimate your capacity in either department. But I do greatly admire the stamina you demonstrate.1 You know that I could never rely on George to report, with any accuracy, on Newport activities. He has constantly complained about his bad luck--at bridge, at golf, and in fishing and shooting. His darkest moment came the other day when Brilliant Speed lost another race.2 Pete Jones’ place, which is about twenty minutes from here by helicopter, is a veritable paradise. He has two well-stocked lakes, ducks and pheasants in abundance, and a well-equipped skeet range. We spent one fine day there and hope to manage another one before we leave.3 As you so well realize, the problems of the Formosa Straits and the closing of some of the high schools are constantly with me.4 Additionally, there are lesser worries, some of them political. The results in Maine were anything but encouraging, and a linking of Senator Knowland with a character named Joseph Kamp isn’t helping his campaign get off the ground.5 But all this we can discuss when you return.6 Meantime continue to have a good trip, and give my greetings to any of our friends whom you chance to meet. As ever 1 After an inspection tour of Red Cross activities at U.S. military bases in Europe and Morocco (New York Times, Sept. 2, 1958), Red Cross President Gruenther had written Eisenhower (Sept. 14, AWF/A). He had, he said, already delivered twenty speeches and anticipated giving four more. Gruenther also had referred to his tennis as "really hot." Before receiving this letter from the President, Gruenther again would report on his trip and tennis matches (Sept. 18, WHCF/PPF 373). On September 19 he would fly to Geneva for the meeting of the Executive Committee of the League of Red Cross Societies. 2 George E. Allen had joined the President in Newport, Rhode Island. On the Eisenhowers' vacation (Aug. 29 - Sept. 23) see no. 816; see also New York Times, August 31, September 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 1958. On September 14 Gruenther jokingly had asked the President to "order that Good-for-Nothing Allen" to report on the golf and bridge at Newport. Again on September 18 Gruenther would refer to the portly Allen as that "242 lb. monster who makes your life so miserable." Brilliant Speed was apparently one of Allen's race horses (see no. 159). On September 23 Eisenhower would cable Gruenther, then in Geneva, that, "not trusting George," he had sent a letter on the Newport activities to Europe (AWF/A). 3 Eisenhower had gone to Jones's farm at West Greenwich, Rhode Island, on September 13 and would pay another visit on September 19 (New York Times, Sept. 14, 20, 1958). 4 Gruenther suggested that the crises involving Quemoy and Little Rock had so engrossed the President that he "justifiably" had no time to worry about Gruenther's tennis game. On the situation in the Formosa Straits see no. 852. On the Supreme Court decision regarding integration of public schools and governor Faubus's threat to close the high schools in Little Rock see no. 879. 5 On September 8 Maine had elected a Democratic governor, senator, and two of three representatives (see Eisenhower, Waging Peace, p. 316; Congressional Quarterly Weekly Reports 16, 1958, and New York Times, Sept. 9, 1958). In an effort to help elect California Senator William Knowland, an opponent of compulsory union membership (see no. 829), Joseph P. Kamp, a veteran pamphleteer of extreme right-wing causes, had written a tract attacking the president of the United Auto Workers. Thousands of the pamphlets had been distributed in California at the request of Knowland's wife, Helen. On September 17 Knowland would state that neither he nor his organization were using the Kamp booklet (Eisenhower, Waging Peace, p. 376, and New York Times, Sept. 14, 15, 16, 18, 1958). The "right-to-work" referendum would appear on the California ballot on November 4. For developments see no. 870. 6 Eisenhower would meet with Gruenther on November 13 (see also New York Times, Oct. 28, 1958). Bibliographic reference to this document: Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Alfred Maximilian Gruenther, 16 September 1958. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 855. 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/855.cfm <--PREV Doc #854  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  Second Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #856

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