<--PREV Doc #887  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  Second Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #889 Document #888; October 9, 1958 To Justin Whitlock Dart Series: EM, WHCF, President’s Personal File 1834 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 Justin: Since I know you are vitally concerned lest other fine young men in the Air Force contract polio, as did your son, I want you to know that I followed up on our recent conversation.1 I am told while it is current practice to inoculate all young men in the Air Force when they enter the service, it is not mandatory. Further, there seems to be some difference of opinion among the experts on the certainty of the protection afforded by the Salk vaccine. As a result of my request, the Defense Department is taking another look at the problem to see if uniform mandatory practices should be adopted.2 I hope that your son continues to improve. Please give him my warm good wishes.3 With warm personal regard, Sincerely 1 Following Eisenhower's September 27 meeting with Dart, the President had queried Acting Secretary of Defense Quarles regarding immunization against poliomyelitis (see no. 871). 2 On November 12 Quarles would report that the Department of Defense had decided to administer the complete Salk series to all new personnel entering the military service as well as all military personnel under 40 years of age (same file as document). Eisenhower would thank Quarles on November 18 (AWF/A; McElroy Corr.). 3 Notifying Dart of the Defense Department decision, the President would say he shared Dart's "personal regret" that "medical science was too late to prevent the attack of polio" that ruined the younger Dart's hopes for an Air Force career. Dart's "prodding," however, would prevent similar misfortunes in the future (Eisenhower to Dart, Nov. 17, 1958, same file as document). On July 22, 1959, Peter Dart would report on his improving condition to Eisenhower and the President in reply (Sept. 28) would say that he admired Dart's courage and strength (ibid.). Bibliographic reference to this document: Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Justin Whitlock Dart, 9 October 1958. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 888. 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/888.cfm <--PREV Doc #887  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  Second Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #889

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