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DWIGHT  EISENHOWER
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A RARE DWIGHT EISENHOWER HANDWRITTEN LETTER TO BARRY GOLDWATER

 

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (1890-1969).  Eisenhower was the Thirty-fourth President and the Supreme Allied Commander of European forces World War II. 

 

BARRY GOLDWATER (1909-1998).  Goldwater was a five term Senator from Arizona.  He was also the Republican Presidential candidate in 1964, where he was badly beaten by Lyndon Johnson.

 

ALS. 1pg. 10 ½” x 7 ¼”. No date [circa summer of 1968]. No place [likely Walter Reed Army Hospital].  An autograph letter signed Dwight D Eisenhower addressed to Barry Goldwater.  The former President wrote: “Dear Barry, Word was brought to me at the hospital today that I was being quoted as being antagonistic to you.  I have just included a public [statement] as follows: Good luck in your campaign.  Dwight D. Eisenhower.  Eisenhower’s staff composed the middle of the statement, and the entire thing was sent as a telegram.  The letter comes with a photocopy of the telegram Ike sent Goldwater, which states “Dear Barry, Word was brought to me at the hospital today that I was being quoted as being antagonistic to you.  I have just issued a public statement as follows: Quote. Regardless of any assertions or insinuations to the contrary, I have the highest respect and the warmest personal regards for Barry Goldwater.  I earnestly hope to see him back in the U.S. Senate as a result of the coming election.  End Quote.  Good luck in your campaign.  Dwight D. Eisenhower.”  On the back of the Eisenhower handwritten letter was taped a clipping from The Washington Post, dated July 23, 1968; the article states in part: “Former President Eisenhower considered Sen. Barry Goldwater ‘nuts’ during Goldwater’s 1964 campaign for the Presidency, a former White House consultant and speech writer said…the former President had ‘softened his judgment’ of Goldwater somewhat by 1967, stating: ‘You know, Goldwater’s quite a nice guy; he’s got everything but brains.’”.  In 1968, Goldwater was running for the United States Senate; he had given up his Senate seat in 1964 when he was running for the Presidency.  Goldwater was successful in his 1968 campaign, and served in the Senate until 1987.  Eisenhower was, at this time, in poor physical shape.  From April through August 1968, the former President had four heart attacks and fourteen cardiac arrests.  Despite his health issues, he managed to remain politically active and aware, and he supported Nixon for President in 1968.  The Eisenhower letter has two vertical folds, dark ink, a staple rust stain, and some tape show-through from where The Washington Post article was glued to the other side.  A fine letter between two powerful Republicans.