Eisenhower, Dwight D.

An unusually extensive archive of autograph letters signed, typed letters signed, autograph notes, and documents signed by Eisenhower to Kay Summersby or her mother, Vera-McCarthy-Morrogh, various places, 1943–1952, being the principal documentary evidence of the relationship between the Supreme Allied Commander and Summersby, who served as his driver, secretary, and personal assistant in the African and European theaters, Speculation that the General had a romantic as well as professional relationship with her began during the war and persisted throughout his presidential campaigns. Much of what is known about their interaction comes from two memoirs Summersby wrote about her time with Ike: Eisenhower Was My Boss (New York, 1948) and Past Forgetting: My Love Affair with Dwight D. Eisenhower (New York, 1976). The earlier book heatedly denied the allegations being whispered about Eisenhower and her, but the later volume—as is clear from its sub-title—sought to confirm those same rumors. For his part, Eisenhower's own published account of the war years, Crusade in Europe (Garden City, 1948), mentions Summersby but once, summarizing her duties in a roll call of his personal staff: "Kay Summersby was corresponding secretary and doubled as a driver" (p. 133).

Bequeathed by Summersby to a wartime colleague (Sotheby's, 13 June 1991, lots 187, 189; Sotheby's 26 June 1998, lot 196)

An unusually extensive archive of autograph letters signed, typed letters signed, autograph notes, and documents signed by Eisenhower to Kay Summersby or her mother, Vera-McCarthy-Morrogh, various places, 1943–1952, being the principal documentary evidence of the relationship between the Supreme Allied Commander and Summersby, who served as his driver, secretary, and personal assistant in the African and European theaters, Speculation that the General had a romantic as well as professional relationship with her began during the war and persisted throughout his presidential campaigns. Much of what is known about their interaction comes from two memoirs Summersby wrote about her time with Ike: Eisenhower Was My Boss (New York, 1948) and Past Forgetting: My Love Affair with Dwight D. Eisenhower (New York, 1976). The earlier book heatedly denied the allegations being whispered about Eisenhower and her, but the later volume—as is clear from its sub-title—sought to confirm those same rumors. For his part, Eisenhower's own published account of the war years, Crusade in Europe (Garden City, 1948), mentions Summersby but once, summarizing her duties in a roll call of his personal staff: "Kay Summersby was corresponding secretary and doubled as a driver" (p. 133).
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The veracity of Summersby's autobiographies has been widely debated by historians and other members of Eisenhower's staff. Eisenhower's predecessor in the White House, Harry Truman, further clouded the issue by claiming that he had destroyed an exchange of letters between Ike and George Marshall in which the former had stated his desire "to come back to the United States and divorce Mrs. Eisenhower so that he could marry this Englishwoman" (Merle Miller, Plain Speaking: An Oral Biography of Harry S. Truman, pp. 339–40; Summersby was actually Irish).

Perhaps the most balanced view of the Eisenhower-Summersby "affair" is given in David Eisenhower's biography of his grandfather, Eisenhower at War (New York, 1986), which concludes that "Either she was special to Eisenhower, or her personal tragedy affected him in a special way, a concern that lifted him out of his own preoccupations" (pp. 198–99). There is no doubt that Eisenhower was concerned about Summersby, and perhaps David Eisenhower is correct in attributing the source of that concern to her "personal tragedy": the wartime death of her fiancé, Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Arnold. The following group of correspondence, much unpublished, certainly reveals Eisenhower's profound and continuing interest in Summersby and his constant willingness to assist her. The papers, originally bequeathed by Summersby to a wartime colleague and close friend, comprise:

i)                    Autograph letter signed, 2 1/2 pages on Allied Force Headquarters, Office of the Commander-in-Chief letterhead, [Algiers], 7 August [1943], to Vera McCarthy-Morrogh, with original typed envelope with censor's signature, regretting that he cannot provide Summersby's mother with a position on his staff, and expressing his willingness to stay in touch: "Never hesitate to write me frankly and fully. I truly like Kay—I regret I was denied the opportunity of meeting you while I was in London." (Unpublished)

ii)                    Autograph letter signed, 2 pages on Allied Force Headquarters, Office of the Commander-in-Chief letterhead, [Algiers], 27 August [1943], to Vera McCarthy-Morrogh, with original typed envelope with Eisenhower's censor signature, regretting that he cannot provide Summersby's mother with a position on his staff, and expressing concern for Kay and his affection for her: "She is quite tired and run down of course, as an inescapable result of her grief and torn emotions. ... She has been loyal, efficient and a great help for well over a year—so I feel that she is indeed a very dear friend, and one I'd like very much to help." (Unpublished)

iii)                    Autograph letter signed, 3 pages on Allied Force Headquarters, Office of the Commander- in-Chief letterhead, [Amilcar, Advance Command Post], 14 September [1943], to Vera McCarthy-Morrogh, with original typed envelope autograph endorsement signed ("Censored by: Dwight D. Eisenhower, General, U.S. Army, C-in-C"), detailing Summersby's attempts to cope with the severe depression that gripped her after her fiancé was killed in action in North Africa: "A day or so ago Kay asked me whether I couldn't drop you a line saying that every time she picks up a pen to write she goes to pieces. ... Over the span of say, a week at a time, Kay is immeasurably better. But when some incident or some person suggests poignantly to her all that she has lost, she has spells of complete despair." (Unpublished)

iv)                    Autograph letter signed, 2 pages on Allied Force Headquarters, Office of the Commander- in-Chief letterhead, [Amilcar, Advance Command Post], 30 September [1943], to Vera McCarthy-Morrogh, with original autograph envelope with autograph endorsement signed ("Censored by Dwight D. Eisenhower, General, U.S. Army, C-in-C"), encouraging Summersby's mother that Kay's health is improving and reporting on her affection for Telek, a Scotty pup given to her by Eisenhower. At the time, for the sake of appearances, it was reported that Eisenhower got the puppy for himself as a birthday present. The rather odd name, which was bestowed by Eisenhower, was meant to stand for Telegraph Cottage, his retreat in the London suburbs. This, at least, is the etymology Summersby gave in Eisenhower Was My Boss. In Past Forgetting, however, she revealed another element of the name: "It's a combination of Telegraph Cottage and Kay," Eisenhower purportedly told Summersby, "two parts of my life that make me very happy" (p. 67). (Unpublished)

v)                    Autograph letter signed, 3 pages on blue-ruled notebook paper, [Amilcar, Advance Command Post], 25 October [1943], to Vera McCarthy-Morrogh, with original autograph envelope signed with initials ("D.E.") on verso and with autograph endorsement signed ("Censored by Dwight D. Eisenhower, General, U.S. Army, C-in-C"), requesting that she assist Kay in preparing and settling her income taxes and sending a very detailed accounting of his driver's finances. (Unpublished)

vi)                    Autograph document, in pencil, 1 page on blue-ruled notebook paper, [Algiers, ca. 1 December 1943), being a list of five clerical duties for Summersby. Including the final instruction, "Sign my name—just on a scratch pad—over & over & over." (Unpublished)

vii)                    Autograph letter signed, 2 pages on Allied Force Headquarters, Office of the Commander- in-Chief letterhead, [Algiers], 2 December [1943], to Vera McCarthy-Morrogh, with original autograph envelope with autograph endorsement signed ("Censored by Dwight D. Eisenhower, General, U.S. Army, C-in-C"), informing her of a new responsibility for Kay: "She continues to drive my car, but has now taken on the added task of working on my 'personal-public' correspondence. That is, she takes charge of the letters that come to me from strangers and casual acquaintances and gets the replies all ready for my signature." (Unpublished)

viii)                    Autograph letter signed, 1 page on Allied Force Headquarters, Office of the Commander- in-Chief letterhead, [Algiers or Amilcar, Advance Command Post], before 14 December 1943 (when postmarked in London), to Vera McCarthy-Morrogh, with original autograph envelope with autograph endorsement signed ("Censored by Dwight D. Eisenhower, General, U.S. Army, C-in-C"), putting her on watch for two items being sent to London by Kay: Fruit and bank deposits. (Unpublished)

ix)                    Typed letter signed ("Ike"), 1 page on Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force, Office of the Supreme Commander letterhead, [Reims], 4 April 1945, to Vera McCarthy-Morrogh, with original typed envelope with Eisenhower's censor signature, thanking her for her letters and copies of Spheres magazine—and hoping that London has "had some relief from flying buzzers and rockets." (Unpublished)

x)                    Typed letter signed ("Ike Eisenhower"), 1 page on Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force, Office of the Supreme Commander letterhead, [Reims], 23 April 1945, to Vera McCarthy-Morrogh, again thanking her for her letters and gifts and expressing relief that there has been no recent report of Germany "trying to launch any fly-bombs against London." (Unpublished)

xi)                    Autograph note, in pencil, written on the verso of an envelope printed "Souvenir from the Garden of Gethsemane," [ca. June 1944–May 1945], which was found in Kay Summersby's wallet after her death; creased and wrinkled. In Past Forgetting, Summersby gives a vivid account of the frenzied year between D-Day and V-E Day. The demands on Eisenhower's time were so great, she recalled that "We were rarely alone even in the car" (p. 209). Despite being under constant observation, Eisenhower still managed some personal communications: "If it had not been for Ike's habit of scribbling little messages on scraps of paper that he tucked into my hand almost every day, I would have felt lonely—even though we were always together" (p. 209). The present note is a moving example of Ike's epistolary affection: Good night! There are lots of things I could wish to say—you know them. Good night." (Unpublished)

xii)                    Autograph note signed ("DE") written on the verso of a tiny card to which is affixed a four-leaf clover, [June 1944–May 1945]: "Good luck to Kay, a friend."  (Unpublished)

xiii)                    Typed letter signed ("Ike Eisenhower"), 1 page on Headquarters, U.S. Forces, European Theater, Office of the Commanding General letterhead, [Frankfurt], 18 July 1945, to Vera McCarthy-Morrogh, with original typed envelope, describing a vacation to White Sulphur Springs with Mamie and promising to stay in touch. (Eisenhower, Papers 6:192)

xiv)                    Autograph letter signed, ("Ike"), 2 pages on War Department, The Chief of Staff letterhead, 15 January [1946], to Kay Summersby, enclosing a typed document signed, 1 page, [Washington, D.C.], 15 January 1946, with original autograph envelope from the War Department, marked "c/o General Clay." Eisenhower's warm letter both seeks and offers help—and may have triggered the inspiration for Summersby to write Eisenhower Was My Boss. Ike begins with a request that sounds a bit like an order: "I've asked Gen. Clay to allow you time to type your diary so that I might have a copy. I do hope you can do it so that I may have the paper in my records." Summersby did provide a transcript of the journal she kept from June 1944 through April 1945, now in the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library in Abilene, Kansas. If she had not already thought of writing a book about her wartime experiences—and many people closely associated with Eisenhower already had—Summersby might have gotten the idea from Ike's plea for a copy of her diary: "I promise I'll never publish it, if there is ever anything to make out of it, that is certainly yours. (Possibly a poor joke, but I mean to say I recognize that you have a better claim to that diary than anyone else ever had for another.") The accompanying document is a recommendation for Summersby, summarizing her duties, mentioning her reliability, and emphasizing her engaging personality. After offering to furnish readers of the letter with any details they may require, Ike concludes, "Lt. Summersby is definitely a superior type." (letter, unpublished; document, Eisenhower, Papers 7:647) 

xv)                   Typed letter signed ("Ike"), 1 page on War Department, The Chief of Staff letterhead, Washington, D.C., 11 March 1946, to Kay Summersby, with original typed envelope, thanking her "for the trouble you are taking in typing up your diary and to assure you that it will be of the most tremendous help to me if I ever need to refresh my memory concerning those years when we were serving together." Of course, Eisenhower was already gathering materials for his 1948 memoir, Crusade in Europe. (Eisenhower, Papers 7:770) 

xvi)                 Autograph letter signed ("Ike"), 2 pages on War Department, The Chief of Staff letterhead, Washington, D.C., [ca. March 1946], to Kay Summersby, with original typed envelope endorsed by Eisenhower, "Kindness Gen. Betts"), bringing her up to date on staff and personal news, including the recent publication of Harry Butcher's diary, My Three Years with Eisenhower: "Haven't seen Butch for weeks—about half the people seem to think he has published a masterpiece—the other half thinks he is a skunk. Curious." He closes by urging her to retain her optimism, while acknowledging the limitations of his clichéd, if sincere, advice: "Easy to say! I know, but it's all one can do." (Unpublished) 

xvii)                 Autograph letter signed ("Ike"), 1 page on War Department, The Chief of Staff letterhead, Washington, D.C., [26 April 1946], to Kay Summersby, enclosing a typed letter signed ("DE"), 1 page on Chief of Staff letterhead, of the same date, with original typed envelope, both letters sympathizing with Kay's desire to leave her position on General Clay's Berlin staff and offering assistance in finding her a position at the United Nations. The hurried autograph letter reads, "I just dictated a brief note for you. ... This scrawl is just to say that whatever I can do for you will be done—I don't know whether the citizenship thing will enter the picture, but all we can do is try to get you a job. I believe the organization will be stationed near N.Y. City. In any event, don't get downhearted."  (autograph letter, unpublished; typed letter, Eisenhower, Papers 7:875) 

xviii)                  Typed letter signed, 1 page on War Department, The Chief of Staff letterhead, Washington, D.C., 14 January 1947, to Vera McCarthy-Morrogh, thanking her for Christmas wishes. (Unpublished) 

xix)                 Typed letter signed ("Ike Eisenhower"), 1 page on DDE 5-star letterhead, [Washington, D.C.?], 27 December 1947, to Vera McCarthy-Morrogh, sending typewritten New Year's and adding in an autograph postscript, "Heard you were ill—hope you're better now." (Unpublished) 

xx)                    Typed letter signed ("DE"), 1 page on DDE 5-star letterhead, [New York], 1 June 1948, to Kay Summersby, sympathizing with Kay about the death of her sister before expressing his astonishment that she is writing a book. After cautiously wishing her well and congratulating her on her choice of George Bye (who specialized in helping celebrities with autobiographies) as literary agent, he firmly puts off the possibility of meeting with Summersby: "I was somewhat astonished to learn that you were in New York working on a book. ... I can scarcely estimate when there might arise an opportunity for you to come past the office. The days are an unending series of conferences and work, and within a very few days I must take over direct responsibility for administration (of Columbia University). My time is practically solidly booked through June and July, and in August I hope to take a trip to the west." (Eisenhower, Papers 10:78)

xxi)                    Typed letter signed ("DE"), 1 page on DDE 5-star letterhead, [New York], 28 July 1948, to Kay Summersby, with original typed envelope, indirectly rebuking her for the proposed title of her book: "Recently I have had letters from both your agent Mr. Bye and from your publisher regarding the suggested title for your book. The suggestion they made to me seemed to be a bit out of line and I informed them to this effect. You know, of course, I wish you the best of luck in this publishing venture; but since these people asked me for my honest opinion, I had to give it to them." The title that Eisenhower objected to, and which was ultimately rejected, was Eisenhower's "Girl Friday." (Eisenhower, Papers 10:135)

xxii)                    Typed letter signed ("DE"), 1 page on DDE 5-star letterhead, [New York], 30 September 1948, to Kay Summersby, recording Eisenhower's rather tepid gratitude for a presentation copy of Eisenhower Was My Boss. "I have just got around to opening the package that contained your book. Thank you very much for your thoughtfulness. Leisure time is no [sic] nearly non-existent that I scarcely ever get to read but will seek an early opportunity to go through your account of the war. I have never gotten to read, completely, any book of the war except the one by General DeGuingand [Operation Victory, 1947], but possibly it will be different after I get through this hectic winter." The opportunity Eisenhower foresaw never came, for in a letter to Harry Butcher a few months later, Ike reported that he "never got to read Kay Summersby's book except for the first and last chapters." In the same letter, he comments on the serialization of Summersby's memoir by Look, which had employed the rejected "Girl Friday" title and focused on the more suggestive elements of the book: "Mr. Bye wrote me a note saying that they had been 'taken for a ride' by Look magazine. The hew and cry was taken up by one or two columnists and, of course, the result was not pleasant for me. However, I have simply gone on in my own way and offered no word of criticism or defense to anyone. This again is in accordance with fixed practice" (Papers 10:311). (Eisenhower, Papers 10:186)

xxiii)                    Typed letter signed ("DE"), 1 page on gilt  DDE letterhead, New York, 16 December 1952, to Kay Summersby, with original typed envelope, offering congratulations on her marriage to Reginald T. H. Morgan. Although he was preparing to occupy the White House, Eisenhower took time to send best wedding wishes to St. Croix, where the couple was honeymooning: "It was good to hear from you particularly such happy tidings! Congratulations to the lucky groom, and to both of you my very best wishes for your continuing happiness." After a word about General James Gault (who served in the European Theater as Eisenhower's military assistant) leaving Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Ike acknowledges Summersby's congratulations on his election to the presidency and again sends his regards to her and her bridegroom. This was the last letter Eisenhower sent to Summersby. In Past Forgetting, Summersby remembered this letter as "a very sweet note wishing us happiness, but she also recorded that "From that time on, there was no contact whatsoever between us. I did write to him when my mother died, but he never responded to that letter" (p. 249). 

Together 25 letters, notes, and documents, accompanied by 4 copies (2 marked "Secret"; 2 marked "Restricted") of 29 June 1944 orders directing Summersby and other members of Eisenhower's staff to Washington; a photograph of Eisenhower, Summersby, and an unidentified second woman taken by Lieutenant H. H. Park Jr., aide-de-camp to General Baehr, and so stamped on the verso; a photograph of Eisenhower and Summersby at the Prince of Wales Theatre, 22 April 1945, with General Omar Bradley, Lieutenant John Eisenhower, and two others; and a photograph of Summersby with Telek.