White House Ghosts: Presidents and Their Speechwriters
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On December 15: George Elsey typed recollection of the genesis of Point Four, September 12, 1963, “Personal Correspondence File; Hardy, Benjamin” folder, Papers of George M. Elsey, HSTL.
Grouped with the three familiar: Ibid.
“H.S.T.” was “All for point 4”: January 14, 1949, draft of Inaugural Address with Elsey cover note and annotations, “1949 January 20, Inaugural Address” folder, Papers of George M. Elsey, HSTL.
This was a reference: William Safire, Safire’s New Political Dictionary (New York: Random House, 1993), 338.
“I’ll announce it”: Elsey, An Unplanned Life, 176.
The 1949 inaugural: McCullough, Truman, 724.
Point Four was: As quoted in “Press Comment on Truman Speech Is Mostly Favorable,” by the Associated Press, January 21, 1949, “Inaugural Address, January 20, 1949 [4 of 4]” folder, Papers of Clark Clifford, HSTL.
When it finally became: Harry S. Truman, Years of Trial and Hope: 1946–1952 (Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Co., 1956), 234–39.
After the inauguration: Elsey, An Unplanned Life, 177–79.
Clifford was contemplating: Clifford, Counsel, 257–58.
“As far as I could see”: Stephen J. Spingarn oral history interview, March 24, 1967, HSTL, 810–15.
By the time: Elsey, An Unplanned Life, 185.
“Clifford’s interest”: Ibid., 180.
“It would be difficult”: Harry Truman letter to Clark Clifford, January 27, 1951, “Correspondence with Harry S. Truman, 1950–1953” folder, Papers of Clark Clifford, HSTL.
“For ease of”: Author interview with Elsey.
Murphy was “the pivot”: James L. Sundquist, “The Last Truly Anonymous White House Aide,” The Washington Post, September 1, 1983.
did not “share Clifford’s pretense”: Elsey, An Unplanned Life, 185.
Murphy and Elsey started working: The account of the drafting of the July 19, 1950, speech comes from George Elsey, memorandum for file regarding preparation of July 19, 1950, address on Korea, undated, “Korea—Radio address on Korea, July 19, 1950” folder, Papers of George M. Elsey, HSTL.
“So the staff”: Elsey, An Unplanned Life, 204.
What Truman did not know: Ibid., 205; Hechler, Working, 179.
“I wasn’t going”: Elsey, An Unplanned Life, 205.
his approval rating: Polling data adapted from the Gallup Poll and compiled by Gerhard Peters for the University of California Santa Barbara’s American Presidency Project.
Truman and his staff finished: Hechler, Working, 181–82.
At 10:23 pm: Elsey, An Unplanned Life, 206.
A little over a week: Ibid., 207.
In June 1951: Kenneth Hechler letter to his parents, July 26, 1951, “HST—Personal” folder, Papers of Kenneth Hechler, HSTL.
“improvements in the mechanical”: Charles Murphy memorandum to the president, September 13, 1950, “Truman—memos to and from the President, 1947–52 (folder 5) [of 5]” folder, Papers of Charles S. Murphy, HSTL.
“He was a little suspicious”: Hechler, Working, 215.
On January 19, 1953: Kenneth Hechler oral interview history, November 29, 1985, HSTL, 185–87.
3. “SOMETIMES YOU SURE GET TIRED OF ALL THIS CLACKETY-CLACK”
The news electrified: Emmet John Hughes, The Ordeal of Power: A Political Memoir of the Eisenhower Years (New York: Dell, 1963), 88.
President Dwight Eisenhower: Ibid.
“Ever since 1946”: Ibid.
“Granted that Dulles”: Sherman Adams, Firsthand Report: The Story of the Eisenhower Administration (New York: Popular Library, 1962), 114–15.
“It is difficult”: Chip Bohlen letter to Emmet Hughes, March 9, 1953, “‘Chance for Peace,’ April 16, 1953 (4)” folder, Harlow, Bryce N.: Records, 1953–61, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
“All this resolves”: Emmet Hughes memorandum to Dwight D. Eisenhower, March 10, 1953, “‘Chance for Peace,’ April 16, 1953 (4)” folder, Harlow, Bryce N.: Records, 1953–61, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
Hughes leaned initially: Hughes, Ordeal, 89–90.
“I now came”: Ibid., 89.
“Emmet was a loner”: Author interview with Robert Kieve.
“a dashing fellow”: Author interview with Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.
Hughes “has been no help”: Robert, Ferrell, ed., The Eisenhower Diaries (New York: W. W. Norton, 1981), 225.
Late one afternoon: Except where noted, the Hughes-Eisenhower Oval Office meeting is from Hughes, Ordeal, 90.
an F-86 Sabre: Robert Kieve, “How One President’s Speeches Were Prepared,” an undated standard talk he gives—copy provided to the author.
There was little new: Stephen Ambrose, Eisenhower: Soldier and President (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1990), 325.
who less than twenty-four hours earlier: Hughes, Ordeal, 92.
“All right then”: Ibid.
New Soviet premier: Harrison Salisbury, “Malenkov Offers to Settle Tensions by Peaceful Means,” New York Times, March 16, 1953; Harry Schwartz, “Soviet ‘Peace Offensives’ Elaborately Staged,” New York Times, March 22, 1953.
Dulles did not buy: Hughes, Ordeal, 95–96.
“clearly indicated that”: Handwritten letter to Emmet Hughes, April 10, 1953, Harlow, Bryce N.: Records, 1953–61, “Chance for Peace,” April 16, 1953 (1) folder, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
To protect the speech: Hughes, Ordeal, 94.
Hughes was summoned: Ibid., 97–98.
Arriving in Washington: Adams, Firsthand Report, 325.
Word later reached: Ibid., 102.
“a planned stage”: “Text of Secretary Dulles’ Address to U.S. Newspaper Editors,” New York Times, April 19, 1953.
more than “a few months”: Hughes, Ordeal, 11.
privately he told: William Bragg Ewald, Jr., Eisenhower the President (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1981), 228.
Around the time that: Adams, Firsthand Report, 114.
One Gallup poll: Joseph and Stewart Alsop, “Matter of Fact…” Washington Post, September 9, 1953.
“I keep telling you fellows”: Hughes, Ordeal, 115.
He had a skin pigmentation: Arthur Larson, Eisenhower: The President Nobody Knew (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1968), 164–65.
“His real role”: Author interview with Kieve.
He had brought the device: Kevin McCann Columbia University oral history interview, December 21, 1966, Dwight Eisenhower Library, 81.
He eventually did: Larson, Eisenhower, 165; Arthur Larson typed journal notes, “Eisenhower Book Research Notes (1)” folder, Larson, Arthur: Papers, 1932–93, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
“The patent purpose”: James Lambie letter to Claude Robinson, June 9, 1953, “Candor and United Nations Speech 12/8/53 (1)” folder, Eisenhower, Papers as President, Speech Series, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
C. D. Jackson’s next set: John Lear, “Ike and the Peaceful Atom,” The Reporter, January 12, 1956.
“to give our people”: Dwight Eisenhower letter to Swede Hazlett, December 24, 1953, “DDE Diary December 1953 (1)” folder, Eisenhower, Papers as President, DDE Diary Series, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
Jackson was losing hope: Lear, “Ike and the Peaceful Atom.”
“The hope”: Ferrell, ed., Eisenhower Diaries, 262.
“The whole world”: August 24, 1953, 3d Draft of speech on atomic energy, “Candor and United Nations Speech 12/8/53 (11)” folder, Eisenhower, Papers as President, Speech Series, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
“I am afraid”: C. D. Jackson memorandum to R. Gordon Arenson, September 2, 1953, “Candor and United Nations Speech 12/8/53 (10)” folder, Eisenhower, Papers as President, Speech Series, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
“C. D. Jackson asks me”: James Lambie memorandum to R. Gordon Arneson et al., September 28, 1953, “Candor and United Nations Speech 12/8/53 (8)” folder, Eisenhower, Papers as President, Speech Series, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
“The speech should”: C. D
. Jackson memo to Dwight Eisenhower, October 2, 1953, “Operation ‘Candor’ (1)” folder, Eisenhower, Papers as President, Administration Files, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
The next day: Carol Gelderman, All the Presidents’ Words: The Bully Pulpit and the Creation of the Virtual Presidency (New York: Walker & Co., 1997), 48.
Jackson called Cutler: Ibid., 48.
Dulles and other State Department officials: “Summary of Discussion of State Draft of Part of Presidential Speech,” October 19, 1953, “Atoms for Peace—Evolution (7)” folder, Jackson, C. D.: Papers, 1931–67, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
“The specific and simple terms”: John Foster Dulles memorandum to Dwight Eisenhower, October 23, 1953, “Operation ‘Candor’ (1)” folder, Eisenhower, Papers as President, Administration Files, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
“Big meeting in Foster”: November 25, 1953 (Wednesday), Jackson log, “Log-1953 (5)” folder, Jackson, C. D. Papers, 1931–67, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
“Real problem is”: November 27, 1953 (Friday), Jackson log, “Log-1953 (5)” folder, Jackson, C. D.: Papers, 1931–67, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
“as quickly as possible”: Draft of “The Safety of the Republic,” undated, “Atoms for Peace—Evolution (7)” folder, Jackson, C. D.: Papers, 1931–67, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
As they made final tweaks: Adams, Firsthand Report, 118–19.
“You can’t sit there”: C. D. Jackson daily log, December 4, 1953–December 8, 1953, “Log-1953 (5)” folder, Jackson, C. D.: Papers, 1931–67, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
The work continued: Lear, “Ike and the Peaceful Atom.”
Uninterrupted as he spoke: Ambrose, Eisenhower, 342–43.
Eisenhower’s proposal was met: Ibid., 343.
He was “short”: Author interview with Stephen Benedict.
Where Hughes was tall: Author interview with William Bragg Ewald; author interview with Benedict.
“In manner they were”: Author interview with Kieve.
“His greatest aversion”: Hughes, Ordeal, 24–25.
“The president must understate”: Bryce Harlow Columbia University oral history interview, May 1, 1968, Dwight Eisenhower Library, 113.
“He wanted the word”: Author interview with Ewald.
Harlow’s writing and editing style: Larson, Eisenhower, 150.
“He tries to sound”: Arthur Larson journal notes, January, 1958, “Eisenhower Book VI. Writer & Speaker (2)” folder, Larson, Arthur: Papers, 1932–93, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
“ardent Republican”: Author interview with Ewald.
“He is really not”: Arthur Larson journal notes, May 29, 1956, “Eisenhower Book III. Politics” folder, Larson, Arthur: Papers, 1932–93, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
“Frankly, I don’t care”: Larson, Eisenhower, 35.
“Try to write your way”: Ewald, Eisenhower, 153.
Harlow and other aides: Ibid., 154.
“almost devoid of politics”: Bryce Harlow note to Dwight Eisenhower, September 17, 1954, “Speeches—September 23, 1954—Hollywood Bowl Speech (2)” folder, Harlow, Bryce N.: Records, 1953–61, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
White House lobbyist Jack Martin: Ewald, Eisenhower, 154–55.
“By golly”: Ibid., 158.
“I don’t see how”: Ibid.
“I’ve just been eaten”: Author interview with Ewald.
“You know, Kevin”: McCann Columbia OH, 1–2.
Tall, gaunt, gray: Ewald, Eisenhower, 146.
McCann among all: Author interview with Ewald.
“Both Southern and Yankee”: “Whimsical Ghost,” New York Times, December 11, 1959.
He liked to dictate: Author interview with Kieve.
“neither technically nor emotionally”: C. D. Jackson letter to Henry R. Luce, April 11, 1956, “Log-1956 (2)” folder, Jackson, C.D.: Papers, 1931–67, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
“I think that we do”: Ibid.
Jackson wrote Adams on April 20: C. D. Jackson letter to Sherman Adams, April 20, 1956, “Adams, Governor Sherman (2)” folder, Jackson, C.D.: Papers, 1931–67, Dwight Eisenhower Library; C. D. Jackson letter to Henry Luce, April 21, 1956, “Log-1956 (2)” folder, Jackson, C.D.: Papers, 1931–67, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
Larson quickly learned: Larson, Eisenhower, 146–47.
Eisenhower had a strong sense: Ibid., 149.
He cited Lincoln: Arthur Larson journal notes, July 20, 1956, “Eisenhower Book I. Principles (1)” folder, Larson, Arthur: Papers, 1932–93, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
His admonitions: Kieve, “How One…”
He tried to avoid: Arthur Larson memorandum to Fred Fox, February 3, 1958, “Chronological: January, February, 1958” folder, Larson and Moos Files, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
Writing speeches: Larson, Eisenhower, 5, 148–49.
“the best American English”: Author interview with Benedict.
He would substitute: Larson, Eisenhower, 148.
Larson also learned: Ibid., 126–27.
Larson tried formulation: Ibid., 128.
“As a matter of fact”: Ibid., 124.
The previous week: C. D. Jackson log of conversation with Emmet Hughes, August 20, 1956, “Log-1956 (3)” folder, Jackson, C. D.: Papers, 1931–67, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
“The text on civil rights”: Hughes, Ordeal, 176.
“An indictment”: Ibid., 287–88.
Eisenhower’s “purpose”: Ibid., 289, 297–98.
Working on his memoirs: Ewald, Eisenhower, 224–25.
“My position is desperate”: Arthur Larson typed journal notes, October 1, 1957, and onward, “Eisenhower Book III. Politics” folder, Larson, Arthur: Papers, 1932–93, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
Eisenhower did not personally: Larson, Eisenhower, 157.
Larson drew upon: Ibid., 158.
Larson put together: 1958 Speech Schedule, “Memorandum Book October 1957 #2” folder, Larson, Arthur: Papers, 1932–93, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
“In my long hours”: Larson, Eisenhower, 151.
“I had quite a few items”: Larson journal, November 4, 1957, and November 5, 1957, “Eisenhower Book VI. Writer & Speaker (2)” folder, Larson, Arthur: Papers, 1932–93, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
Three days later: Larson journal, November 8, 1957, “Eisenhower Book VI. Writer & Speaker (2)” folder, Larson, Arthur: Papers, 1932–93, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
he might pull out foot-long: Larson, Eisenhower, 181.
The son of a minister: Morrow biographical information from the White House Historical Society: www.whitehousehistory.org/05/subs/05_c17.
“correct in conduct”: E. Frederic Morrow, Black Man in the White House (New York: Coward-McCann, 1963), 17.
“It’s a great day”: McCann Columbia OH, 83.
“This opportunity of service”: Morrow, Black Man, 183–84.
“that it has been decided”: Ibid., 182–83.
“This is an anxious…slight stroke”: Ibid., 188.
On the afternoon of November 25: Ambrose, Eisenhower, 455.
“The process of preparing”: Larson typed journal notes, December 12, 1957, “Memorandum Book December 1957” folder, Larson, Arthur: Papers, 1932–93, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
“Adams, with great tenderness”: Ibid.
“it is very embarrassing”: Frederic Morrow diary, December 31, 1957, “Diary—E. Frederic Morrow (4)” folder, Papers of E. Frederic Morrow, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
“The performance”: Frederic Morrow diary, January 7, 1958, “Diary—E. Frederic Morrow (4)” folder, Papers of E. Frederic Morrow, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
“Don’t tell the damn staff”: Larson typed journal notes, January 1, 1958, “Memorandum Book December 1957” folder, Larson, Arthur: Papers, 1932–93, Dwight EisenhowerLibrary.
On January 9: Larson, Eisenhower, 176–77.
“When the President”: Arthur Krock, “Some Reassurance and a Personal Triumph,” New York Times, Janu
ary 10, 1958.
“extremely well, clear”: Jackson daily log, January 14, 1958, “Log-1958 (1)” folder, Jackson, C. D.: Papers, 1931–67, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
For example, Stephen Hess: Author interview with Stephen Hess.
When Larson “confided”: Morrow, Black Man, 202.
Morrow asked out…attend the ceremony: Ibid., 275.
“By the way, Malcolm”: Malcolm Moos Columbia University oral history interview, November 2, 1972, 33.
The president and Malcolm Moos: Ibid., 33–34; William McGaffin and Robert Gruenberg, “Ike’s Historic 1961 Warning,” Chicago Daily News, April 14, 1969.
“I am going to be”: “Bull Mooser,” Time, September 22, 1958.
From 1954 to 1958: “Moos, Malcolm C(harles),” Current Biography 1968, 268.
“you’d think that”: Ralph Williams Dwight Eisenhower Library oral history interview, June 3, 1988, 17.
“an energetic mixture”: “Bull Mooser.”
“no better than”: Quoted in Current Biography 1968.
“The excitement in town”: “Random Notes in Washington: Strong Words, a Ghostly Ring,” New York Times, October 27, 1958.
During the Little Rock crisis: Moos Columbia OH, 29.
“an insane notion”: Ibid., 14.
“He liked to have a draft”: Ibid., 12.
“Usually his first brush”: Ralph Williams letter to Martin Teasley, October 28, 1986, “Letters 1985–88” folder, Williams, Ralph E.: Papers, 1958–60, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
In later years he joked: Author interview with Hess.
A Texas native: Williams OH, 5, 12–14.
“We’re carpenters”: Moos Columbia OH, 27.
Data points: Ibid., 34.
“the problem of militarism”: Ralph Williams memo to file, October 31, 1960, “Chronological (1)” folder, Williams, Ralph E.: Papers, 1958–60, Dwight Eisenhower Library.
“there must be a balance”: James, McPherson, and Alan Brinkley, gen. eds. Days of Destiny: Crossroads in American History (London: DK Publishing, 2001), 364.
Eisenhower had spent his two terms: Ibid., 365, 370n.
It warned: Douglas Brinkley, “Eisenhower,” American Heritage Magazine (September 2001).
“military-industrial-congressional”: Michael Waldman, My Fellow Americans: The Most Important Speeches of America’s Presidents, From George Washington to George W. Bush (Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks media Fusion, 2003), 153.