Bob Michel and His Presidents: Selections from the Presidential Scrapbook Series, Dwight D. Eisenhower

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Bob Michel and His Presidents: Selections from the Presidential Scrapbook Series, Dwight D. Eisenhower As a member of the House of Representatives, Robert H.

Michel s contact with Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon Johnson was limited and perfunctory. In the case of Kennedy, for example, no unique documents appear in the scrapbooks.

1 Bob Michel and His Presidents: Selections from the Presidential Scrapbook Series, Dwight D. Eisenhower As a member of the House of Representatives, Robert H. Michel served with nine presidents, from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Bill Clinton. In what he called his Presidential Scrapbooks, Michel kept selected photographs and correspondence with each of the nine. Michel s contact with Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon Johnson was limited and perfunctory. In the case of Kennedy, for example, no unique documents appear in the scrapbooks. The selection below reproduces what does exist for Eisenhower. Michel s most lengthy and substantive relationship with Richard Nixon is posted at In the future we will add Presidential Scrapbooks selections for Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George Bush. 1

2 Bob Michel and His Presidents: Dwight D. Eisenhower -... N... ~oltflress of tbe 1!Inittb & tates "OUlt of l\t:pn lentatibui. utllngton.. C:. November General Dwight D. Eisenhower President, Columbia University New York. New York Dear General: I address you as General simply becauae it 1s rather d!t'!leul.t to get out or the habit. I served more than two years under your eonmjand as an In!'antryman with the 39tb Intantry. I have always admired you tor your guidance or our destinies in Europe and tor the manner in whicb you have spoken out tor good sound American principles or government dnee retiring f1"ol:l the Arrq-. While reading the morning newspapers, I was a 11 ttle disturbed to read that you are being groomed more or lea8 as a protege or the East tor the 1952 presidenti al election. That 18 probably good polities tor the time being &s long &8 you do not 10e8 eight or the fact that millions or li1d- Westernere are proud that you originally 0" :from Kansas and are loold.ng to y ou as our standard bearer. President Truman' s election last year indicatea to me that it takes a Mid- Westerner to aell any program to the majority of the whole American population. \'li th the popul.ation of the V/eat increuing, a Republ1can presidential candidate muat come 1'ron the J.!1d- West in order to win. Eaatern Republi cans are too stinted i n their polltical views. We of the Mid"'1Jeat look to you, General, as the man best qual1fied add auited to represent the Republican Party and sell ita platform to the majority or the voters. You are our onl.y hope, and I sincerely hope when the time co~s that you will again offer your services to preserve America '\. ~lnc 1y. '.. ~dj.. J RM Icm,~./ ert H. l11chs1 Suite 1604 Firat National Bank Building Peoria, I l linoia.- 2

$PersollB.l a!xi Confid ential <!Whnll:Jria Q![niblttliitp rnlbemil!' of.netu ~m:k N I!:W YO 10 1\ 27, N Y November 16, 1949 Dear Mr.$

3 PersollB.l a!xi Confid ential <!Whnll:Jria Q![niblttliitp rnlbemil!' of.netu ~m:k N I!:W YO 10 1\ 27, N Y November 16, 1949 Dear Mr. Michel: It i s al'''''ys nice to hear from a n old soldier, JlElrticularly one who served in the Infantry, my old arm. Addi tionslly, of course, I must t.'lank you for the very great compliments paid me in your letter of the 12th. While it is obviously necessary that, so long as I em connected with Columbia University, I be officially classed as an "Easterner", it is equally true t..lo:lat the roots of my family a!xi my life are buried too deep in the West for me to ever think of myself as allything but a mid-westerner. I assure you, though, that these facts have no implications of ally ki!xi in the political "orld - at least so f a r as ally personal politics may be concerned. I have earnestly a!xi honestly tried to mnke my own position clear about these matters, and I assure you I have not changed my mi!xi 1n the slightest degree. Wit.'" best wishes to a former comrade of El'O. })~ Honorable Hobert H. Michel Representative in Congress Suite 1604 First National Bank Bldt. Peoria, Illinois Siilcerely, 3

THE WH I TE H O USE WASH I NGTO N D ear Bob: T hank you very much for your thoughtful message. Mrs. Eisenhower and I very d eeply appreciate your g racious comments.

4 THE WH I TE H O USE WASH I NGTO N D ear Bob: T hank you very much for your thoughtful message. Mrs. Eisenhower and I very d eeply appreciate your g racious comments. And, of course, you know the tremendous treat it was for u s to b e with you, your friends and ne ighbors -- our friends i n Illinois. We will not soon for get the warmth of that welcome in P eoria. A s your own campaign moves a long, it occurs to me I might well r epeat one thought t o which y ou and I attach great importance. That is, the need t o hold one political party accountable, during anyone Administration, for the management of governme nt. We can fix this responsibility under our system only wh en the Administration and the Congress are under the s ame political leadership. Obviously I am convinced, as I know you a r e, that the needs of all Americans will be best served by the return of the present Republican Administration to office, and by the election, at the s ame time, of a Republican Senate and a Republican House of R epresentatives. Your efforts a re a vital part of that great undertaking, and my earnest good wishes are with you. With warm regard, Sincer ely,,;()7~ A':.. "--'-> Mr. Robert H. Michel 1029 North Glenwood Avenue P eoria, Illinois 4

THE WI-liTE H O US E WAS H INGTO N November 10, 1956 Dear Mr. Michel: I am delighted t o j oin your host of friends in congratulating you on your election to the House of Representatives.

5 THE WI-liTE H O US E WAS H INGTO N November 10, 1956 Dear Mr. Michel: I am delighted t o j oin your host of friends in congratulating you on your election to the House of Representatives. During the 85th Congress the problems facing the peopl e of your District and the nation will demand the very b est of all of us. 1 look forward to working in full cooperation with you in advancing the well-being and happiness of a ll our people. Agai n, my warmest congratulations. Sincerely, AJ~h-~~ M r. Rob ert H. M i chel Congressman-elect 1029 North Glenwood A venue P eoria, Illinois 5

6 This photograph was taken at the White House on June 21, 1957, following a breakfast meeting with Republican Congressmen. Bob Michel, smiling, is third from the left in the third row. 6

7 c... Q ' S.. VN;II TW,Io.f ~ ftlho~. d... <"......,,'nd_ b,,..., _,..boi. WESTERN UNION TELEGRAM Tbot,u..... oi.ow"',,,!>cd... 1"'" _ domntlc '...,. ST"'NCMR.DTlM~., w......'... H.LL. ~..,D...' poi.,of... n-or..ul... STAN I SB287 rl S- W-A -'8-2 XV G O:;V;:;-T ~P~D;;:-:;T:-;: H;;:E---;;;\'I~H;CI T~E:-;H;-;O~U:;S-;:E--'\~'I UccX::-: \'I:-:A"';;S"'H-:- 1 :en G:cT::-0,--N----::D-C-7~ HONORABL E EVERETT M DI RKSEN, UNIT ED STAT ES SENATOR CA RE PAUL CATION BANQUET HOTE L CARE ASST HOTEL MGR ON CHA I RMAll = 448PME=,.". DEC J PII 4 25 pere MARQUETT DU TY PE OR I A I LL= PLEA SE GI VE MY GREETI NGS TO THE CITI ZENS OF THE EI GHTEE NTH DIST RI CT OF ILLI NO I S GA TH ERED AT THE TE STI MON I AL BANQU ET FOR THE I R REPRESEN TATI VE I N CONGRESS, THE HONORABLE ROB ERT H. MICHEL q AS A SOLDIER WHO FOUGH T AND SACR I FI CED FOR THE HI GHEST T RAD ITI ONS~F AMER I CAN DE MOCTORATCHYE' NCA01NGI OR,;;~MAN 1_ I.IICHEL BR I NGS T COURAGEOUS SPIR I T " v CAPIT OL. HIS L EG I SL ATI VE EXPER I ENCE, H I ~ YA LTY TO - CONSTIT UEN TS AND TO COUN TRY, MAKE HI M A SPLE ND I D ASSET -1-_ TO TH E GOVERNM ENT. q I AM DE LI GHTED TO J OI N I N THI S TRI BU TE TO BOB MI CHEL. MY BEST WI SHE S TO HU;\ DW I GHT 0 EI SEN HOVI ER. AND TO HI S FRIENDS= T'" CO.. r.-'" WILL ".,UCMTI SUGonT'O'" no... In,..T"O'" CO.. CUNINO I n URV,CI 7

8 This photograph was taken on May 12, 1960, following a breakfast for Republican Congressmen. Michel is at the President s right shoulder. 8

9 DDE GETTYSBURG PRNSSYLVA':lri"lA May 18, 1964 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Congressman: 1 am astonished that Dr. and Mrs. Reed M. Smith can be so confident in their conclusions concerning the confused and unsatisfactory situation in Vietnam. Bradley is a splendid Univer sity and I am sure every individual dedicating his life to the teaching of youth can always be certain of my respect and admiration. but 1 think that opinions of the kind they express can have validity only as they reflect intimate knowledge of the situation and actual experience in the region. I quite agree that the present situation cannot be ascribed to either Democrats or Republicans. Indeed the difficulty goes a long ways back in point of time. Every experienced soldier and every serious s tudent of world affairs cannot fail to understand that in these modern times invading forces can never by force preserve peace and prosperity in any large and rebellious population unless they are ready to use the methods of the Kremlin or of a Hitler. 1 a people genuinely ask for and are given military help from the outside to preserve their own independent national institutions and culture, that is another matter. This means that the nation and the mass of its population must be working cooperatively with the foreign forces -- only in this way can success be achieved. PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL 9

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL - 2 - The Vietnam War started almost instantly after the close of World War II and was in the first instance nothing m ore than an effort of the French to maintain the

10 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL The Vietnam War started almost instantly after the close of World War II and was in the first instance nothing m ore than an effort of the French to maintain the integrity of their IIpre_ war empire. 11 A great mistake, and one that has never been fully rectified, was the French failure to win an enthusiastic cooperation of the population by pledging to all three countires of the Associated States their complete independence as 800n as the military victory was won, and to make sure that this information would promptly reach every last individual in all Indochina. Today, as I see it, two things are necessary: one, if we are to save the remnant of Southeast Asia, we must provide the kind of strength that will prevent a complete Communist take-over and at the same time must do more to acquaint all citizens of the region with the probity and decency of our intentions and the assurance that we have the capacity. with the populations I cooperation, to win. To follow "DeGaullels lead" and to asswne that the Free World can have a satisfactory solution through so-called neutralism in the area is just wishful thinking. Anyone who will read the postwar expressions of beneficient Communist intentions regarding the Eastern tier of European States and then look to the fate of those Wlbappy nations should certainly hesitate before making a "bargain with the devil. II The Korean conditions of 1953 had little relation to the situation now existing in Vietnam. President Trwnan did not send troops into Korea to reunite the nation in freedom. The move was labelled a "police action" to defend the RepUblic from Communist aggression from the north. All the world, including the Korean people, knew of this commitment and when in 1953 the Communists recognized the punishment that they would take unless they agreed to an armistice on this basis, there was no longer any hesitation on their part. However. that agreement was not made on sheer faith; Korean forces supported by two divisions of American troops have been on guard to make sure that the truce is kept. PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL 10

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL - 3 - I aitl far froitl being in close touch with the situation as it now stands.

11 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL I aitl far froitl being in close touch with the situation as it now stands. But of one thing I feel sure: to believe that the free world is going to protect its rights in the Southeast Pacific based on a so-called neutralized VietnaITl is unwise. With best wishes, The Honorable Robert H. Michel House of Representatives Washington, D. C. PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL This is the final document in the Eisenhower series of the Presidential Scrapbooks. 11

HIST1302 Dr. Butler MAP EXERCISE FOUR

HIST1302 Dr. Butler MAP EXERCISE FOUR Instructions: For this exercise, students will examine a variety of maps relating to the decades immediately following World War II. Links to these maps are provided