FIRST LADY MAMIE DOUD EISENHOWER - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 04/20/1965 - HFSID 295463

MAMIE DOUD EISENHOWER
Typed letter to a friend, discussing the sale of the Doud family home in which she and Ike had been married
Typed Letter signed: " Mamie Eisenhower", 1 page, 6½x9. Palm Desert, California, 1965 April 20. On personal letterhead to "Dear Frances" [Strecker], in full: "I appreciated your enclosing the clipping re the sale of 750 Lafayette. This was a complete surprise to me and I must say I am happy that some family is going to live there. I always felt that Mrs. Tiley only bought it as a speculation and as she gave the first offer I was told that I must accept it. I am sure that you could never be happy living in Denver again with your grandchildren and Roger in Lake Forest so far away from you. Your return to Illinois, I think, is a wise move on your part. We expect to leave here in about ten days for home. This has been a rather hectic winter with our stay broken up with the General's trips to England and New York, Los Angeles and so on. We hope to see some of the spring flowers when we return to the farm - usually we miss them. Affectionate regard to you and your family". Accompanied by original mailing envelope with her stamped frank.On July 1, 1916, 25-year-old Second Lieutenant Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) and 19-year-old Mamie Geneva Doud (1896-1979) were married in Denver, Colorado, at the Doud family home, 750 Lafayette, referred to in this letter. They had two sons: Dwight Doud Eisenhower (1917-1920) and John Sheldon Doud Eisenhower (born in 1923). As an Army wife for 37 years, Mamie grew accustomed to entertaining groups of influential people, a talent she drew upon during her eight years as the White House hostess (1953-1961). In their 53 years of married life, the Eisenhower's lived in 33 homes; their last in Gettysburg was the only home they owned together. During Ike's final illness, Mamie moved into Walter Reed Army Hospital to be with him during the final months of his life. Dwight D. Eisenhower, the fifth general to be elected President, served as the nations' 34th President from 1953 to 1961. From the collection of George Strecker, an advertising executive at the Chicago Tribune who became close to the Eisenhower's through his wife, Frances, a long-time friend with Mamie Doud Eisenhower. Lightly toned. Multiple mailing folds. Otherwise, fine condition.