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For membership information, see: http://nebraskahistory.org/admin/members/index.htm Article Title: The Eisenhower Campaign of 1952: The Letters of Homer Gruenther Full Citation: Richard L Gruenther and Robert H Ferrell, eds, “The Eisenhower Campaign of 1952: The Letters of Homer Gruenther,” Nebraska History 69 (1988): 30-39 URL of article: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/publicat/history/full-text/NH1988HGruenther.pdf Date: 9/13/2013 Article Summary: Homer Gruenther was Eisenhower’s “man Friday.” His letters to his brother Alfred describe the 1952 Republican national convention that nominated Eisenhower and the campaign’s whistle stop train trips. Cataloging Information: Names: Homer Gruenther, Alfred Gruenther, Dwight D Eisenhower, Mamie Eisenhauer, Mrs John S (Elivera) Doud, Senator Frederick A Seaton, Richard Nixon, Sherman Adams, Arthur H Vandenberg Jr, Robert A Taft, James Byers Black, William F Knowland, Harry Butcher, Kevin McCann, Bob Cutler, Adlai Stevenson Keywords: Homer Gruenther, Dwight D Eisenhower, Mamie Eisenhauer, Mrs John S (Elivera) Doud, Frederick A Seaton, Richard Nixon, Republican national convention Photographs / Images: Gruenther assisting Ike with a whistlestop speech, Nebraska Senator Fred Seaton, advertisement for Eisenhower/Nixon campaign, Gruenther standing in for Ike on a rapidly moving train platform, Governor Val Peterson with the Eisenhowers in Omaha, Mrs John Doud with her son Ike and daughter-in-law Mamie in Omaha THE EISENHOWER CAMPAIGN OF 195'2: THE LETTERS OF HOMER GRUENTHER Edited by Richard L. Gruenther and Robert H. Ferrell INTRODUCTION campaigners before them, sent their speeches along the way but they were With the Eisenhower-Stevenson candidates across the country aboard besieged by reporters, by politicians campaign in 1952, it now is evident, a railroad trains composed of a long who traveled from one stop to another special era in American presidential string of Pullman and parlor cars and, to confer with the candidates, and by politics came to an end. The supporters at the rear, an observation car with a people who, in a never-ending line of General Dwight D. Eisenhower and gated platform from which the can­ stretching through the train itself, sim­ Adlai E. Stevenson, as had countless didates made speeches. Not long after­ ply wanted to shake hands. ward, with the increasing ease of Television too would profoundly commercial air travel and the introduc­ alter the way future political campaigns tion of jet aircraft, candidates aban­ were conducted. Although the 1952 Richard L. Gruenther is a nephew of Homer Gruenther. Robert H. Ferrell is with doned trains, surely with considerable party conventions were the first to be the history department at the US. Military relief. The trains were often hot, and televised and some speeches were Academy, West Point. the candidates not only had to make broadcast, extensive use of television Homer Gruenther (left) assists Ike with a whistlestop speech. Courtesy of Dwight D. Eisenhower Library, Abilene, Kansas. t I, Eisenhower Campaign of 1952 by presidential candidates would not children, and the eight children of his occur until later. Like the jet airplane, brother Don, also came to admire the television enabled candidates to uncle who was never too busy to take deliver their message to the public in a the kids to the fair (even a ride in the car far easier way than speaking from the with Homer was exciting) or to treat rear of a train, and politicians were them all to some unusual culinary quick to take advantage of this new experience. And it was notjustthe meal medium. that was different - Uncle Homer's Running a presidential campaign method of payment was unique. He involved a great deal of work and possessed a small money machine. He required able assistants to attend to would roll a plain bill-sized piece of myriad details. One such assistant in white paper into his machine, turn a the 1952 Eisenhower campaign was knob as he discussed the process, and native Nebraskan Homer Gruenther. out came a five-dollar bill. The waitress This tall, robust, intelligent man had could hardly tell it from the real thing. grown up after the turn of the centuryin When Homer insisted that she call the the little town of Platte Center, where manager, the latter always approved his father Christian edited the local the payment, for D.C. storekeepers newspaper, the Signal, participated in easily recognized this fun-loving Democratic politics, and on one occa­ jokester. sion managed the Nebraska presiden­ Homer Gruenther served in the tial campaign of William Jennings Nebraska Senator Fred Seaton cared White House as special assistant to Bryan. As a youth during World War I, for many personnel and scheduling Presidents Eisenhower, John F. Ken­ Homer Gruenther had left high school details aboard the Eisenhower train. nedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson. Under to enlistin the U.S. Navy. Afterward he Eisenhower he helped with relations was sports editor for the Omaha Daily with Congress. In succeeding Demo­ News and later manager of the Omaha over the radio. He had tried to call first cratic administrations he was relegated bureau of the International News Ser­ but the general's phone was busy ­ to managing White House tours. vice. In 1933 he moved to Washington Eisenhower too had been listening to Whatever the task, the playfulness was as secretary to Congressman Edward the radio and was trying to call there. One of his nephews, "Skip" R. Burke, later a senator. In 1947 he Gruenther. Davidson, a successful New York became secretary to Nebraska Senator As the following letters reveal, broker, arranged for his fiancee to Kenneth S. Wherry. Homer Gruenther was something of a report to the White House gate for a The letters that follow are from character. His relatives remember his VIP tour by Homer himself. She had Homer Gruenther to his brother Alfred fascination with Redskin football never met him. Using the pass that and wife, who in 1952 were living in games in the D.C. (later the RFK) Homer provided, she walked through France where Alfred was chief of staff stadium. Many times he took his the gate and approached a tall man on to General Matthew B. Ridgway, su­ nephew Dick to games, where in effect the White House steps. "I'mlooking for preme commander of the Allied powers he crashed the gate, using his ancient Homer Gruenther," she said. The man in Europe (the NATO commandl.! news reporter's camera and pass, with replied that he was in private con­ General Gruenther would succeed his impressionable nephew in hand. ference with the president and could Ridgway as commander the next year. Uncle Homer usually sat on a bench on not be disturbed. The young lady, Homer's brother Alfred was probably the sidelines, and on more than one crestfallen, withdrew and walked back Eisenhower's closest friend and his occasion this powerfully built man to the gate guard, who had been observ­ inveterate bridge partner. A career threatened fisticuffs with spectators ing the conversation. "Oh," she said, "I army officer, he hadknownEisenhower who, perhaps playfully if nonetheless was to meet with my friend, Homer when the latterwas a brigadier general, dangerously, had ventured to throw Gruenther, buthe is busywith the presi­ just before Pearl Harbor. Indeed on snowballs at him - he was difficult to dent." To which the guard, who knew that dark day the then lieutenant miss - during the game. Homer never Homer's nature, suggested that she colonel, as Ike's principal assistant liv­ wore a hat or overcoat to a Redskin meetHomer Gruenther, with whom she ing at Fort Sam Houston in Texas in a game. Ripley's "Believe It or Not" had been speaking.' house a few dozen yards from that of featured him for this extraordinary Homer Gruenther's letters include the general, ran down the street to give feat. his sprightly observations about events Eisenhower the news, having heard it In later years Dick Gruenther's six surrounding Eisenhower's nomination 31 Nebraska History - Spring 1988 Teamed With RICHARD NIXON for VICE PRESIDENT To Fight Communism at Home and Abroad A GREAT LEADER OF MEN, probably no other American in our times has been as widely acclaimed for his administrative ability as has Dwight Eisenhower. His whole life has been one of devotion to duty and to the protection of the liberties of the American people. As leader of the forces of the free world in their fight against Com­ munism, Eisenhower commands the respect of the people of Europe, Asia, as well as the Western Hemisphere. His knowledge of foreign affairs should make him a great states­ man and leader. As one of our outstanding military men he should and will be able to guide our all important defense program with Young, vigorous, SENATOR RICHARD ability and understanding. NIXON of California has demonstrated As on administrator, Eisenhower will gather around him men of his tenacity and courage in ridding the unquestionable ability and integrity. His record is one of energetic Administration of Communists and Commu­ resistance to groft, corruption and inefficiency. nists sympathizers. His persistent efforts, Eisenhower gets things done. His life has been given to planning in the case of Alger Hiss, led to the ex­ and to the execution of those plans for the welfare of the nation.