[ Autograph ] Harry S. Truman Very important T.L.S. with initials "HS.T." as President on White House letterhead, lp. 8vo., Washington, Oct. 5, 1948 in which Truman relays a Presidential resolution to his aide John Steelman. It reads in part: "...Attached is a resolution which is a suggestion for an Executive Order and a memorandum to Secretary of Defense for implementing a program for the Reserve Corps I'd like to get the job done ...have the three Secretaries the Army,Navy and Air and the Secretary of Defense all line up an Executive Order to implement this program it is of vital importance to NationalDefense and should be done immediately... ' With Truman's letter is atyped copy of the Executive Order, 2pp. folio, Oct. 15, 1948, stamped"Confidential", in which Truman rapidly steps-up training and organization of American reserve forces and asks able-bodied citizensto consider enlistment. Truman may have seen what lay ahead; in 1949 he led efforts to organize Nato to counter Soviet threats, and withina year Red Forces under Mao would drive the Nationalists from the mainland. Truman's letter shows a paperclip stain at top, otherwise very good. The draft order bears a few manuscript corrections and stamped dockets, otherwise it is also very good.