Eisenhower, Dwight D.

A group of autograph materials by Dwight D. Eisenhower and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, including:



Autograph letter signed ("Ike"), 2 pages (10 x 7 1/2 in.; 25 x 190 mm, sight), [Granville, France], 19 September [1944], to his wife Mamie Doud Eisenhower; together with the original typed envelope inscribed with DDE's full name in the censor stamp. Matted and glazed with a photograph of DDE in an Eastlake style frame. — Autograph photograph of Eisenhower in uniform, (7 1/2 x 5 in.; 190 x 127 mm, sight), the caption inscribed "To David Paul | Good luck | Dwight D. Eisenhower." — Dwight D. Eisenhower. Crusade in Europe. Garden City: Doubleday, 1948. Limited edition, no. 53 of 1,426 copies, signed by Eisenhower of the D-Day facsimile order and inscribed by him on the flyleaf: "For | Bernadine and Harry Sherman | whose good opinion of this book has meant much to me. | Dwight D. Eisenhower." Tan linen, publisher's green card slipcase and tan label; extremities of slipcase slightly worn. — Autograph photograph of Franklin Delano Roosevelt (8 x 9 in.; 203 x 229 mm), inscribed on the caption "To Mr. Wilfred Pelletier from Franklin D. Roosevelt; tear at the top of the photo, slight fading at edges. Matted and glazed and set within a frame bearing a brass plaque indicating that the wood was taken from the original White House roof (ca. 1817) when the roof was removed in 1927, also decorated with a brass presidential seal. The frame set within another gilt frame, but detached from its backing.  

A group of autograph materials by Dwight D. Eisenhower and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, including: Autograph letter signed ("Ike"), 2 pages (10 x 7 1/2 in.; 25 x 190 mm, sight), [Granville, France], 19 September [1944], to his wife Mamie Doud Eisenhower; together with the original typed envelope inscribed with DDE's full name in the censor stamp. Matted and glazed with a photograph of DDE in an Eastlake style frame. — Autograph photograph of Eisenhower in uniform, (7 1/2 x 5 in.; 190 x 127 mm, sight), the caption inscribed "To David Paul | Good luck | Dwight D. Eisenhower." — Dwight D. Eisenhower. Crusade in Europe. Garden City: Doubleday, 1948. Limited edition, no. 53 of 1,426 copies, signed by Eisenhower of the D-Day facsimile order and inscribed by him on the flyleaf: "For | Bernadine and Harry Sherman | whose good opinion of this book has meant much to me. | Dwight D. Eisenhower." Tan linen, publisher's green card slipcase and tan label; extremities of slipcase slightly worn. — Autograph photograph of Franklin Delano Roosevelt (8 x 9 in.; 203 x 229 mm), inscribed on the caption "To Mr. Wilfred Pelletier from Franklin D. Roosevelt; tear at the top of the photo, slight fading at edges. Matted and glazed and set within a frame bearing a brass plaque indicating that the wood was taken from the original White House roof (ca. 1817) when the roof was removed in 1927, also decorated with a brass presidential seal. The frame set within another gilt frame, but detached from its backing.
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"God, I hate the Germans!" Eisenhower's letter from his headquarters outside Paris combines the affection of a father and husband with the private views of a military commander. First he apologizes for the irregularity of his letters, "... In times such as these time just rushes by." He asks his wife not to judge him too harshly and defends himself as a dutiful correspondent: "... over a period of more than 2 years, I think I have a pretty good record."

He reports that the failure of the operation "Market Garden" meant the loss of any chance to end the war that year. "Every time I have to order another big battle I wonder how the people at home can be so complacent about finishing off the job we have here. There is still a lot of suffering to go through. God, I hate the Germans!"

As his aides hurriedly pack up his office, he mentions that he had news recently from their only son, John. "Had a letter from Johnny about a week ago. He was talking a bit about paratroopers! He can get more different ideas about the branch of service he desires than almost anyone else I ever saw."  John Eisenhower had graduated from West Point on 6 June 1944, the very day of the epic Normandy landing his father was commanding. He served in the army during World War II and the Korean War. A decorated soldier, young Eisenhower found his World War II military career thwarted by fears for his safety and concern from the top brass that his capture would be an unwanted distraction to his father, the Supreme Allied Commander.  He attained the rank of brigadier general in the U. S. Army Reserve, and later became a respected military historian.