Lot 20
Eisenhower, Dwight D. -- War-date ALS to Mamie Mentioning Kay Summersby Twice (1890-1969) 34th President of the United States (1953-61); Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in World War II. Autograph letter signed "Ike," 3 pgs. 10½x8", no date but circa Nov. 10, 1943. To his wife, Mamie, wishing her a happy 47th birthday and describing his own birthday party and the people who make up his official family, in part: "I'm sorry if I failed to tell you anything about my birthday party. Lee worked it up & having heard me express a desire to taste lobster again, he procured some on the black market at the highest prices I ever heard of. Luckily I did not learn the cost until after the dinner, or I would have choked. He had Air Chief Marshall and Lady Tedder; Capt. Briggs (a WAC in office of C/S), Mrs. Kay Summersby, my driver & secretary, Colonel Gault, a British officer I like a lot, Lee himself and one or two junior staff officers. We had a really fine dinner, everybody cleared out at 10:00, and that's all there was to it….When in Algiers--which I am not very much these days--I get in almost an hour's riding every other day. I'm away so much that I don't get to exercise, though, as I should. The people that work for me intimately (my own official family) are: Butch--diary, visitors, house. / Lee--office, trips, transportation, adv. C.P. / Marshall--in charge of clerks--No. 1 stenog. In Charge of office when rest are gone. He is a W.O. / Kay Summersby--1st driver--in charge of unofficial mail from unknown people. / Mickey--Personal orderly and chief factotum. / Sgt. Farr--steward / Miss Chik, Miss Ray, Miss??--stenographers and clerks (enlisted WACS) / Miss Scott & Hargreaves (drivers) WACS. / Several darkies--cooks--houseboys--etc. That is the whole group. All are nice--and I think are all personally devoted to me. So far it's been quite a happy family…." Accmpanied by the original mailing envelope, addressed in type to his wife at the Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, signed on the left side in fountain pen with a censorship signature, "Dwight D. Eisenhower." Estimated Value $4,000 - UP
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| Realized $4,800 |
