EISENHOWER, DWIGHT D.: POST-PRESIDENTIAL PAPERS, 1961-69 1966 PRINCIPAL FILE Series Description The 1966 Principal File houses the main office files of Dwight Eisenhower’s Gettysburg Office. Two subseries, a subject and an alphabetical file, make up this series. The twenty-box subject file has files arranged by categories, such as appointments, Eisenhower Center, education, Eisenhower name, foreign affairs, Freedoms Foundation, gifts, invitations, medals-awards, memberships, messages, People-to-People, political affairs, public relations, publications, servicemen and veterans, and trips. Documentation in this subseries consists of correspondence, schedules, articles, memoranda, and reports. The thirty-two box Alphabetical Subseries is arranged in alphabetical order by the name of the individual or organization corresponding with Eisenhower or his staff. Correspondence, printed materials, articles, statements, memoranda, reports, transcripts, and lists are found in this subseries. A sizeable portion of the correspondence in this series deals with routine matters, including appointments, autograph requests, gifts, invitations, and requests for special messages or statements. Eisenhower’s staff frequently had to inform individuals as to the general’s policies on autographs, telephone conversations, and live interviews. Dwight Eisenhower’s views on a wide variety of issues, trends, and events are recorded in letters, memoranda, interview transcripts, messages, and articles. 1960s issues he commented on included Vietnam, universal military training, youth, demonstrations, population growth, birth control, inflation, NATO, term limits for U.S. legislators and judges, the John Birch Society, prayer in public schools, Supreme Court decisions, moral and spiritual values, the “military- industrial complex,” and the domestic policies of the Johnson Administration. He also commented on World War II events, leadership, and strategy, as well as the accomplishments of his presidency. The appointment of Earl Warren to the Supreme Court and Secretary of State John Foster Dulles’ “brinkmanship” strategy are two subjects which also received his attention. In one interview he reflected on the roles of such outstanding leaders in the past as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Robert E. Lee. There is considerable correspondence in this series regarding Republican politics and the 1966 congressional and gubernatorial races. Eisenhower urged Republicans to unite, and he supported such candidates as Ronald Reagan, Edward Brooke, George Bush, Mark Hatfield, and others. He offered suggestions as to potential Republican presidential candidates for 1968. Eisenhower continued to maintain contacts with many prominent individuals. This series includes correspondence with Konrad Adenauer, General Omar Bradley, Warren Burger, Walter Cronkite, Bob Hope, Bobby Jones, Lord Mountbatten, Richard Nixon, Arnold Palmer, Charles Percy, Gary Player, Ronald Reagan, Nelson Rockefeller, William Scranton, Lord Tedder, Harry Truman, John Wayne, and General Westmoreland. Page 1 of 41 Former staff members from his Administration continued to correspond with the ex-president. General Andrew Goodpaster, General Alfred Gruenther, Oveta Culp Hobby, Neil McElroy, Anne Wheaton, and Ann C. Whitman were among those who had contact with their former boss. Eisenhower also sent letters to a number of former members of his Administration and suggested they consider donating their personal papers to his presidential library. Although most of the files in the Alphabetical Subseries represent his correspondence with an individual for 1966, in a few cases the file contains accumulated correspondence for a number of years. Eisenhower’s files of correspondence with Charles Halleck and Charles Percy cover the period from 1963 to 1966. His file for the Pitcairn family has copies of letters from 1952 to 1967. This series contains transcripts of several interviews of Dwight Eisenhower by various journalists and writers as well as articles based on such interviews. These materials contain his comments on a wide variety of historic events as well as 1960s issues. Eisenhower had the policy of never commenting publicly on articles or books which were critical of his actions, strategy, or policies in World War II or as president. However, he frequently commented on such matters in his private correspondence. He criticized journalists and historians who he believed had misquoted him, made unfounded allegations, misinterpreted what he had done, or made outright errors in their presentation of the facts. There are numerous references to Eisenhower’s continuing health problems in this series. While his health concerns reduced the length and frequency of his travels, he still managed a number of trips to such places as Abilene, the White House, Chicago, Kansas City, New York City, and Augusta. In December 1966 he had a gall bladder operation at Walter Reed. Other personal matters reflected in this series include Ike and Mamie’s 50th wedding anniversary and the re- interment of their son Doud Dwight, “Icky,” at the Eisenhower Center in Abilene, Kansas. Despite health problems, occasional trips, and voluminous correspondence, Eisenhower still found time to work on books and articles. Articles written by Eisenhower for Reader’s Digest are found in this series, along with hand-edited drafts. Correspondence between Eisenhower and Doubleday executives includes references to Mandate for Change and Waging Peace as well as sales figures for the two volumes. A number of documents with unique and interesting information can be found scattered throughout this series. A memorandum supporting General Eisenhower as the Democratic nominee for president, a memo by Warren Burger regarding the Harold Stassen candidacy and nominating convention in 1952, and letters from high school students on the draft are in the 1966 Principal File. Other historical tidbits include references to Eisenhower’s boyhood and West Point years, a description of the pistol he carried during the war, correspondence with an Army nurse in Vietnam, criticism of the way western novels portray the Army, books that influenced him, information on citizens of France and Belgium who assisted American forces during the war, and an explanation of the design for the windows of the chapel in Abilene. A number of items have been removed from the series. Fifteen items have been transferred to the museum. One hundred and sixty-six still photographs and one slide have been transferred to the Page 2 of 41 audiovisual collection. Forty-eight pages of documents have been closed under the donor’s deed of gift. Two hundred and ninety pages of original documents were removed, placed in the protective storage, and replaced with copies. There are no security classified documents in this series. The 1966 Principal File provides an excellent resource for writers and historians looking for candid reflections of an ex-president on many different issues, trends, and events. While a sizeable share of this series consists of routine correspondence, there are numerous materials which reflect his thinking on various matters as well as his comments on how writers and historians were interpreting his leadership efforts in World War II and during his presidency. Page 3 of 41 CONTAINER LIST Box No. Contents 1 Subject Subseries File Manual for Subject File [description of filing scheme and primary subjects; list of names for special correspondence files] AP-1 Appointments Accepted (December 1, 1966) [article by Harold MacDonald based on interview with Eisenhower, comments on war, peace, youth, Vietnam, and daily activities; Presidential Prayer Breakfast] AP-1 Appointments Accepted (October 8, 1966) (1)-(3) [German Army WWII insignia; H. Taswell—ambassador of South Africa; NASA history project; John H. Reed, Governor of Maine; Malcolm Moos; junior high group; political candidates for photos with Eisenhower; Eisenhower considering irrigation system for farm; Gov. Romney, 11-14-63; Salvation Army; Bryce Harlow; Charles Halleck] AP-1 Appointments Accepted—National Advisory Commission on Selective Service (Interview, 10-6-66) [Eisenhower’s views on universal military training] AP-1 Appointments Accepted (May-October 1966) (1)-(6) [transcript of interview by Marvin Arrowsmith, 10-7-66, discusses farming operation, political issues, economic problems, Vietnam War, crime and rioting in cities, rights of minorities, civil rights legislation, and population growth; Asian journalists; Gov. Tim Babcock of Montana; Courtney Brown and Clifford Nelson, American Assembly; Warren E. Burger; interview of Eisenhower by Honore Catudal re Berlin Wall and Blockade, German reunification, Khrushchev, U.S. troops in Europe, Gen. de Gaulle, Adenauer, Churchill, Stalin, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Russians, decision to divide up Berlin; transcripts of interviews with Gen. Maxwell Taylor and Ambassador Robert Murphy; George Goddard, air reconnaissance; Ben Hibbs; Republican candidates; gift of woven rug; Lions and People to People peace essay contest; President and Mrs. Marcos, 9-16-66, schedule for visit to U.S.; Lord Mountbatten; Pennsylvania Heart Assoc.-humanitarian award; Commission on Selective Service; 50th wedding anniversary interviews] AP-2 Appointments Declined (1) 2 AP-2 Appointments Declined (2)(3) [Robert Schulz to Hirschfeld re ground rules for interviews; Morris Katz-postcards with portrait of Eisenhower; National Football Hall of Fame; Eisenhower donated stamp collection to Cardinal Spellman