470. DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER Unusual T.L.S. as President of Columbia University, 1p., 4to., Sept. 23, 1949. Early in his tenure as President of Columbia University, Eisenhower writes a curiously worded letter to Mrs. Thomas J. Watson, Jr., at the Seeing Eye organization in New York City. In part: "...Your invitation to participate in the opening meeting of Seeing Eye, Inc...is one that is most appealing...However, I find my schedule will not permit acceptance...I hope you will explain to your committee how honored I am by their invitation and why it is impossible for me to do anything other than decline". Mrs. Thomas J. Watson, Jr. was the wife of the computer industrialist who took over the reins of IBM from his father in 1952 and brought vast financial growth to the firm. Folds, minute holes from a staple in top blank margin, otherwise in fine condition. Eisenhower is quite scarce in personally signed letter from this Columbia University period of his career.  $300 - 400