LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2008 Feb Grand Format Book & Manuscript #682  / 

56228

Dewey Short Military Archive Eisenhower McCarthy

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,200.00 USD Estimated At:2,500.00 - 5,000.00 USD
Dewey Short Military Archive Eisenhower McCarthy
<B>Dewey Short Archive of military and legislative letters,</B></I> carbons, and reports, 1952-1956, to and from Dewey Short (1898-1979), Republican Congressman from Missouri, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee (1953-1955), and Eisenhower's Assistant Secretary of the Army (1957-1961). Known as the "Orator of the Ozarks," in a memorable speech on the floor of Congress in 1935, Congressman Short criticized the Democratic controlled Congress's support of all of FDR's New Deal legislation: "I deeply and sincerely regret that this body has degenerated into a supine, subservient, soporific, superfluous, supercilious, pusillanimous body of nitwits, the greatest ever gathered beneath the dome of our National Capitol."<BR><BR>Includes: <B>(1) Dwight D. Eisenhower.</B></I> Typed Letter Signed "Dwight D. Eisenhower" as President, one page, 8" x 10.5". The White House, Washington, May 5, 1953. Just four months after his inauguration, President Eisenhower informs Short, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, that "<I>pursuant to the provisions of Section 101(b) of the Mutual Security Act of 1951, as amended, that it is necessary for the purpose of that Act to transfer $125 million from the appropriation granted pursuant to Section 101(a)(1) thereof for military assistance to Europe, to the appropriation granted pursuant to Section 101(a)(2) thereof for defense support and economic assistance to Europe. </B></I><B><I>These funds will be used to provide necessary defense support assistance to France and Yugoslavia and for the continued augmentation of an adequate stockpile for Berlin</B></I></B></I><I>...I am enclosing for the information of your Committee the recommendation that I have received from the Director for Mutual Security and which was concurred in by the Departments of State and of Defense...</B></I>" The two page unsigned carbon "Memorandum For The President," dated May 2, 1953, from Harold E. Stassen, Director for Mutual Security, is present. With original White House envelope, torn open at left edge. Eisenhower's letter, Stassen's memorandum, and the envelope are each rubber stamped: "Confidential/Security Information<B>." (2) Dwight D. Eisenhower.</B></I> TLS "Dwight D. Eisenhower" as President, one page, 8" x 10.5". The White House, Washington, April 27, 1953. President Eisenhower tells Chairman Short that he has "<I>issued an Executive Order entitled 'Security Requirements for Government Employment.' This Order extends the application of the provisions of the Security Act of August 26, 1950 (64 Stat. 476) to all Executive departments and agencies of the Government to which it has not heretofore been applicable...</B></I>" Minor soiling and paper clip imprint in upper blank portion. Present is the five page mimeographed press release of this Executive Order, dated April 27, 1953, stating that this order is necessary because "<I>the interests of the national security require that all persons privileged to be employed in the departments and agencies of the Government shall be reliable, trustworthy, of good conduct and character, and of complete and unswerving loyalty to the United States...</B></I>"<B> (3) G. David Shine Affair.</B></I> TLS "<I>C. J. Hauck, Jr.</B></I>" as Colonel, U.S. Army, Chief of Legislative Liaison, one page, 7.75" x 10.5. Washington, March 11, 1954. In part, "<I>In response to your request...for information with respect to service in the Army of G. David Shine...I am inclosing herewith a chronological statement of various discussions with respect to Private G. David Shine and with respect to his assignment and treatment in the Army...</B></I>" Attached to this letter with a rusted paper clip is a 34-page photocopied report of 44 "events" relating to Shine beginning with "<I>1. Mid-July 1953. Major General Miles Reber, then Chief of Army Legislative Liaison, received a phone call stating that Senator McCarthy desired to see him. He went to the Senator's office and Senator McCarthy there informed General Reber that he was very interested in securing a direct commission for Mr. G. David Shine, a Consultant to the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations...Senator McCarthy said that speed was desirable since Mr. Shine might be inducted into the Armed Forces under the Selective Service Act. During the meeting Mr. Roy Cohn, Chief Counsel of the Subcommittee, came into the room and emphasized the necessity for rapid action...</B></I>" In October 1953, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy began investigating communist infiltration into the military. Attempts were made by McCarthy to discredit Secretary of the Army Robert Stevens. President Eisenhower was furious and now realized that it was time to bring an end to McCarthy's activities. The U.S. Army passed information about McCarthy to journalists who were known to be opposed to him. This included the news that McCarthy and Roy Cohn, chief counsel to his Government Committee on Operations of the Senate, had abused congressional privilege by trying to prevent G. David Schine, Cohn's chief consultant, from being drafted. When that failed, it was claimed that Cohn tried to pressurize the Army into granting Schine special privileges. Investigative columnist Drew Pearson published the story on December 15, 1953, resulting in a congressional investigation. <B>(4) Confidential Aircraft Accident Statistics. </B></I>TLS "<I>M. B. Gardner</B></I>," Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, one page, 8" x 10.5". Washington, January 19, 1953. Stamped "Confidential/Security Information," Vice Admiral Gardner attaches a two page detailed listing of aircraft accidents, fatalities, and injuries in the Navy and Marine Corps, 1951-1952, identifying the aircraft manufacturer.<BR><BR>Plus 58 letters of various military and legislative personnel including Admiral Arthur W. Radford (signed "<I>Raddy</B></I>"), Lewis L. Strauss, Ira Eaker, John W. McCormack (two TLsS, one ALS, each signed "<I>John</B></I>"), Carl Vinson (two), and John Foster Dulles ("<I>Confidential Security Information</B></I>," signed by Autopen). Reports and carbons are attached to many of these letters which are mostly authentically signed. Also 13 photographs. Condition of the entire collection is mostly fine with minor defects. In all, over 200 pages.<BR><BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Flat Material, Small (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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