LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 Apr Books, Manuscripts & Autographs #658  / 

25185

Drafts of Eisenhower's "Chance for Peace" Speech

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:2,250.00 USD Estimated At:9,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD
Drafts of Eisenhower's Chance for Peace Speech
<B>Four Typewritten Drafts of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's 1953.<I>The Chance for Peace</B></I> Address.</B></I> Regarded as one of the finest speeches of Eisenhower's presidency, on April 16, 1953, in his third month as president, Dwight D. Eisenhower delivered an address before the American Society of Newspaper Editors at the Statler Hotel in Washington, D.C. In a panel discussion at the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis Energy Conference in 2003, Susan Eisenhower, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Eisenhower Institute, said that her grandfather "had originally intended the Atoms for Peace speech to be the first major foreign policy address of his administration. But Stalin's death at the outset in March of 1953 prompted the Eisenhower administration to think about articulating some opening to the people of the Soviet Union, which resulted in the 'Chance for Peace' speech." In this speech, broadcast over radio and television, President Eisenhower compared peaceful expenditures with the expenditures both the United States and the Soviet Union were making for armaments in the Cold War. Each of the four drafts, pages stapled together in the upper left corner, is stamped in red at the top of the first page <I>"Top Secret".</B></I> Comprises:<BR><BR><I>"3/31/53 (6th Draft)".</B></I> Nine pages, 8" x 12.5". Over 350 words handwritten in pencil by President Eisenhower. Just beneath the title, he's penciled:<I> "First paras must establish identity with audience of Editors. Their functions, opportunities etc."</B></I> Other handwritten edits include: <BR>On page 3, after the typed "It is humanity hanging from a cross of iron," he's added<I> "and always in the background there is the threat of war."</B></I> In his address, it became: "Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron."<BR>On the page 4, after referring to the recent death of Stalin and the new Soviet leadership, after the typed "But the Soviet Union confronts this above all: a moment - a precious chance - to awaken, with the rest of the world, to the point of peril reached, and to help turn the tide of history," Eisenhower has added<I> "Recent statements of its leaders give some evidence that they may recognize this opportunity. The rest of the world values nothing else at this moment but evidence of their sincerity. Certainly for either or both of us</B></I> Eisenhower continues on the verso of this page <I>either through the processes already established by the U.N. or in exploratory discussions outside that organization this nation stands ready to meet half way every honest offer it will do everything that honesty and self-respect permit. We know there is a different and better way for mankind than it is now compelled to follow. It is a way as fully protective of the rights of the U.S.S.R. as of ourselves."</B></I> <BR>On page 5, in the left margin,<I><B> "We are impatient of propaganda; we want no rhetoric, no glittering generalities or spacious promises. We are not particular as to procedures and protocol; we want only sincerity on the part of all participants."</B></I></B></I> <BR>On page 6, in the left margin, referring to the Korean War, <I> "The immediate exchange of all sick and wounded; pressed by many months by the U.N. the immediate cessation of hostilities, coincidentally with the voluntary exchange of prisoners the disposal of others as recently proposed by India."</B></I><BR>On page 7, in the left margin, after proposing giving "a percentage of the savings achieved by disarmament to a Fund for World Aid and Relief to help the needy and undeveloped areas of the world," Eisenhower adds, <I>"Indeed, over and above a United Nations effort in this field, in recognition of the strength and power of both the U.S.S.R. and the United States, our government would be glad to propose to its people the forming with that country of a…partnership…to be jointly administered in work of this kind."</B></I><BR>At the conclusion of page 9, he writes, in parentheses,<I> "(I rather feel a good ending would be an appeal to editors to help.)"</B></I><BR><BR><I>"(8th Draft)".</B></I> 11 pages, 8" x 12.5". Over 200 words handwritten in pencil by President Eisenhower. On page 3, he's penciled in the left and upper margins:<I> <B>"Regardless of our desire now, and always, for peaceful decent and friendly relations with all peoples I assert again, for all to know, that America will never again be so unprepared for the possibility of war that any can hope to conquer her unbreakable determination</B></I>…No cost, no sacrifice…spared the worth of our freedom so long as we are…to that freedom our guard will never for an instant be lowered."</B></I><BR>On page 6, after the typed "Recent statements and gestures of its leaders give some evidence of recognizing the critical moment before us," Eisenhower inserts,<I> "We welcome and applaud every act that fits into programs toward peace, but"</B></I> typed "we are impatient of mere rhetoric." Eisenhower has crossed out "are impatient of," replacing it with <I>"want no more"</B></I>.<BR>On page 9, <I>"We believe it to be in our own enlightened self-interest to see all nations steadily advance in material, cultural…standards. We believe that…towards this end are formed the true road to peace."</B></I><BR>On page 11, after the typed "The purpose of the United States, in stating these proposals, is simple and clear," Eisenhower has added<I><B> "It conforms to their indestructible faith that the Almighty created men to enjoy, not destroy, the fruits of the earth and of their own toil."</B></I></B></I> Towards the closing of his actual speech, he said, "They conform to our firm faith that God created men to enjoy, not destroy, the fruits of the earth and of their own toil."<BR><BR> Two carbon copies of the "8th Draft" are also present. Speechwriters Emmet John Hughes and Charles D. Jackson helped President Eisenhower write "The Chance for Peace" speech. Hughes had written Eisenhower's famous "I shall go to Korea" speech in the 1952 campaign. According to files in the Eisenhower Library, Jackson's "main function was the coordination of activities aimed at interpreting world situations to the best advantage of the United States and her allies and exploiting incidents which reflected negatively on the Soviet Union, Communist China and other enemies in the Cold War." Most likely, Hughes and Jackson were each given a carbon of the "8th Draft" to edit and these carbons are the ones in this collection. All four drafts are in fine condition.<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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