Eisenhower, Dwight D. A large archive of correspondence and other materials between Eisenhower and Sir James Gault

Property from the Collection of John M. and Elly B. Beard

EISENHOWER, DWIGHT D. 

A LARGE ARCHIVE OF CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER MATERIALS BETWEEN DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER AND SIR JAMES GAULT, A BRITISH BRIGADIER AND MILITARY ASSISTANT TO GENERAL EISENHOWER IN THE UNITED KINGDOM DURING WORLD WAR II

Collection of 110 typed letters signed ("Ike"; "Ike E"; "DE"; "Ike Eisenhower" [including, inevitably, a few autopen signatures]), totaling 121 pages on a variety of letterheads (including War Department The Chief of Staff; DDE; The White House), various places, 22 November 1945–18 October 1968, a few with autograph postscripts, many with autograph salutation ("Dear Jimmy"); some hole-punched in upper left corner for filing and a very few torn there. — Together with: an autograph note signed by Douglas MacArthur on a copy of an article by P. H. Spaak ("Doug Mac A") to Eisenhower, which Ike has annotated "De Gaulle ought to have a copy D.E."; a portrait photograph of Eisenhower by Bertram Park, mounted, signed by the photographer in pencil and inscribed by the sitter "To Jimmy Gault—with lasting appreciation for loyal and official service on the Mediterranean campaign of ’45 and in the ETO. From his friend Dwight D. Eisenhower"; letters signed by Mrs. Eisenhower, John Eisenhower, and various of Eisenhower's military and civilian aides; a large collection of photographs (ca. 300) of Eisenhower and others both during and after the War, many with captions and credits of the U.S. Army, British War Office, or civilian press agencies; ephemera relating to various events, including the Service of Commemoration of American Dead, St. Paul's Cathedral, 4 July 1951; and a large group of correspondence and other papers of Gault, many relating to arrangements for visits to Great Britain by the Eisenhowers and to the establishment and organization of the Eisenhower Room at Culzean Castle.

A correspondence of more than two decades between Eisenhower and his former military assistant, frequently discussing the President's apartment at Culzean Castle, as well as forthcoming visits and arrangements. While the later letters tend to be brief and informal notes of thanks, requests, and birthday greetings, the letters written in the aftermath of World War II are frequently substantive and illuminating. Among other topics, Ike writes about his memoir, Crusade in Europe ("I am attempting to be completely and thoroughly honest in the whole business. This means that I have to drag out into the open the differences of conviction and opinion that I had from time to time with such people as Mr. Churchill, Field Marshal Brooke and Field Marshal Montgomery. I do the same in my occasional differences with some of the Americans, for instance George Patton. However, I am trying to be completely objective and certainly in no instance do I believe that anything I shall say can be considered belittling or hurtful"; 1 March 1948), his painting ("You may possibly have heard of my latest hobby—that of dabbling in oil. I have found this truly to be an excellent form of relaxation, and I frankly must admit that after a year, even I can see some improvement in my 'works of art'"; 10 March 1949), and politics ("The papers have just announced that our old friend Harold Macmillan is to be the new Prime Minister. I suppose if anyone had told the two of us in Algiers in '43 that one day he was to be Prime Minister of Britain and I the President of this country, we would have thought such a prophet to be completely mad. The wheels of the Gods apparently not only grind slowly, but they grind along unexpected and wholly astonishing courses"; 10 January 1957). 

PROVENANCE:

Sotheby Parke Bernet, 29 April 1980, lots 26 and 27 (undesignated consignor)