March 2012 Auction Ends Wednesday, March 28th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/28/2012
Dwight D. Eisenhower typed letter signed, dated 27 February 1956, on White House letterhead. Letter is addressed to Edgar Eisenhower, the President's more conservative brother who often challenged Dwight's political attitudes. Reads in part: ''...You and I, of course, know that there is no neutral position as between honesty and falsehood, or, indeed, as between any moral value and its opposite. However, the concept of neutrality for a nation does not necessarily mean that that nation is trying to occupy a position midway between right and wrong...Now it is very true that we want every nation we can reach to stand with us in support of the basic principles of free government. But for a long time, I have held that it is a very grave error to ask some of these nations to announce themselves as being on our side in the event of a possible conflict. Such a statement on the part of a weak nation like Burma, or even India, would at once make them our all-out ally and we would have the impossible task of helping them arm for defense...Moreover, if a country would declare itself our military ally, then any attack made upon it by Communist groups would be viewed in most areas of the world as a more or less logical consequence. Since so much of the world thinks of the existing ideological struggle as a power struggle, the reaction to the kind of incident I talk about would be, 'Well, they asked for it.' On the other hand, if the Soviets attacked an avowed neutral, world opinion would be outraged...'' Signed ''DE'', letter measures 7.25'' x 10.25'', with expected folds from mailing and two punched holes at top. Near fine.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Typed Letter Signed as President -- ''...we want every nation we can reach to stand with us in support of the basic principles of free government...''
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