Description:

EISENHOWER SUPPORTS 'DEFENSE AGAINST COMMUNIST IMPERIALISM'
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (1890 - 1969) 34th President of the United States, Supreme Commander of Allied forces in Europe during World War II and largely responsible for the successful invasion on D-Day. Superb content T.L. as President (unsigned), 2pp. 4to., Washington, May 14, 1960. On White House letterhead to Sigurd S. Larmon, President of the Young and Rubicam advertising agency in response to a letter sent by him. Together with a T.L.S. from BRYCE N. HARLOW, Eisenhower's deputy assistant in which he explains to Larmon that: ‘The President hurriedly dictates the attached letter to you before he left for Paris. He considered it of such importance and urgency that it had to be sent to you without his signature…' The content of Eisenhower's fine letter supports Harlow's explanation (as well as the lack of Eisenhower's signature!) as it reads, in part: ‘…No doubt you saw in the press that Congress has just approved continuance of the mutual security program. This, however, merely gave authority to appropriate. The money itself has to be separately legislated. In this latter respect, the mutual security program is so gravely endangered that I feel impelled to let you know of it, with the thought that you may wish to join me in an attempt to avoid irreparable damage to our country. This situation reminds me of a similar challenge two years ago. You will recall that I then turned to you and other friends for cooperation in explaining to the Congress and the public and public the course of responsibility and wisdom on the reorganization of the Department of Defense. You and they, to my everlasting gratitude, responded magnificently. At the end the needed law was passed, and today all America is much the better for it. The mutual security problem is now in a similar status. The attached copy of a talk I made on May second to the Nation [not present] presents the situation in broad terms and deals with a number of the spurious arguments made by badly informed individuals against the program...Very shortly – probably within the next two weeks, and while I am in Paris – the level of appropriation for the mutual security program for the next fiscal year will be decided in the House of Representatives. If a crippling cut is made by the House, there will be little prospect of recouping in the Senate. As indicated in the enclosure, cuts of a billion to a billion and a half dollars are being forecast by powerfully placed House Members. I cannot but trouble over this possibility as I deal with the great issues confronting the free world…in the Summit Conferences in Paris. It is incomprehensible to me that at this point in world affairs we should face the possibility of undermining, by our own hand, our buttressing of free nations and our partnerships in defense against communist imperialism. At stake here are the NATO and SEATO alliance structures, and the defense postures of South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Pakistan. Also at stake are the strivings if hundreds of millions of people who look to us for cooperation in making it possible for them to grow in freedom rather than succumbing to an atheistic materialism bent upon domination of the world. So crucial are these matters that I presume, once again, to suggest to crusade for our country. Those in Congress who support mutual security need active encouragement to lead this effort; those undecided need encouragement to place national and international need above parochial, political and other lesser considerations; those opposed need indication that resistance to America's mutual security program, bipartisan since its very beginning, is, in these times, the course of retreat and, ultimately, national crisis. The Congress, having just authorized continuance of this program, will take up the appropriations in just a few days. To the extent that you share my concern over the announced intentions to slash these appropriations, and to the extent that you may be inclined to move constructively in connection therewith, I shall be at once gratified and grateful…' The Mutual Security Act of 1951, signed by Truman, was a hybrid strategy of military, economic and technical assistance to American allies, particularly in Western Europe, to shore up defenses against Soviet invasion. By 1960, the Act was a long-standing part of American foreign relations; however, Congress was considering significant reductions in assistance in its ongoing scrutiny of the mutual security program and, at the same time, proposing increased appropriations to multilateral agencies. This naturally concerned Eisenhower, whose dedication to the original 1951 Act remained stalwart for its 10-year duration. Two days after this letter, Eisenhower would issue a statement in which he lauded Congress for its support of the continuation of the Act, except for its ‘addition of amendments which would adversely affect our foreign relations'. He further added: ‘I believe it is impressive that, after extensive and searching hearings on the bill conducted by the authorizing committees of both Houses, the Congress concluded that substantially all of the funds requested are necessary for carrying forward important economic aspects of the Program. The same high degree of responsibility and regard for our national interests will, I trust, result in not only the full sums now authorized for certain economic programs but also in the full appropriations which I have requested as necessary to provide for the Development Loan Fund and the Military Assistance Program'. Offered with the original transmittal cover bearing a stamped franking signature, as well as a vintage 5 x 7 in. candid showing Ike with Mamie. Also included is a printed copy of a birthday letter Eisenhower sent to Larmon on July 15, 1957. Near fine condition and worthy of further research.

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November 14, 2025 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

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