Eisenhower, Dwight David, as Chief of Staff

Typed letter signed ("Ike E"), 1 page on War Department, The Chief of Staff letterhead (10 1/2 x 8 in.; 267 x 203 mm), Washington, D.C., 14 May 1947, to Kay Summersby, at Hamilton Field, California, with a 2-line autograph postscript signed ("D"), with original typed envelope; formerly folded. Maroon cloth drop-box.

Eisenhower, Papers 8:1500

formerly folded
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Counsels against leaving the WAC.

The extent of the personal relationship between Eisenhower and his secretary / driver Kay Summersby had been rumored for years until she wrote of it in her memoirs (1976). While he wrote many love letters to Mamie during his years stationed in Europe, after the war he wrote often to Kay, giving her news and fatherly advice.

In November 1946, Summersby received a transfer stateside, where she was assigned to public relations duty in California. One of the stories that she and her staff produced for the local military newspaper was a purported interview with the famous Scottie "Telek" from European headquarters. Eisenhower here offers his thanks for a copy of the article: "The story about Telek was most cleverly done. I think the Sergeant must have a real sense of humor as well as a knack of writing. Possibly I am prejudiced a bit because of my affection for Telek but I thoroughly liked the story."

After asking about Mrs. McCarthy-Morrogh, who was visiting her daughter in California, Ike next counsels Summersby against leaving the military: "While it is understandable that you should look forward to something more interesting than remaining in the WAC's, my feeling, of which I told your mother, is that until something definite and specific turns up, you could render good service as a WAC, and of course it is a highly respected position." Despite Ike's arguments, Summersby — who by then felt like "just another civilian who had been in the army too long" (Eisenhower was My Boss, p. 282) — received her discharge papers two months after his letter was written.

The remainder of the letter is devoted to news of Eisenhower's activities: his busy schedule, plans to go fishing with General Walter Bedell Smith, and the impending marriage of his son John. At the conclusion of the letter, Eisenhower reminisces, as often, about his wartime staff: "Of the group that went to Africa with me in '42 only Sergeants Dry and Moany are left. I hope I can keep them with me for many years, although what is going to happen when I can get out of this job is wholly in the lap of the gods." His autograph postscript brings family news of a member of his European command staff, Lieutenant Colonel Ernest Lee: "Tex Lee has a baby boy — named 'Dwight D. Eisenhower Lee' — Laugh that off!"