GENERAL ALFRED M. GRUENTHER - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 04/08/1959 CO-SIGNED BY: BASIL O'CONNOR - HFSID 313669

GENERAL ALFRED GRUENTHER
As President of the American Red Cross, he invites a predecessor, Basil O'Connor to the annual convention, penning a personal postscript. At top, O'Connor has initialed his own note to a staffer, regarding a response.
Typed Letter signed: "Alfred M. Gruenther", 1 page, 8½x11. National Headquarters, the American National Red Cross, Washington, D.C., 1959 April 8. To "Dear Mr. O'Connor", in full: "It is a pleasure for me to invite you to attend the 1959 Annual Convention of the American Red Cross which meets in Atlantic City, New Jersey, June 1, 2 and 3. You will be welcome to attend all the convention sessions and to participate in the discussion at the conference meetings. Because of the many matters of mutual concern which will be discussed, I believe you will find much which will be of interest to you. It is my earnest hope that through a thoughtful exchange of experiences we can make Red Cross an even more effective instrument of humanitarian service. A special registration desk for distinguished guests will be provided at the Red Cross delegates' center in the Convention Hall where the convention sessions will be held. Red Cross volunteers will be on duty to direct you to the sessions and events in which you are interested and to furnish you with information about the convention. Please let me know if we may plan to have you, or a representative of your selection, in Atlantic City, so that I may have members of our staff provide you with further information. Sincerely". Gruenther's handwritten postscript: "This would be a good rest for you too." At upper left, responding to a query from a member of his own staff regarding a reply, Basil O'Connor writes: "Not going/BOC/4.20.59". In 1941, ALFRED M. GRUENTHER (1899-1983) was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of the Third Army; Brigadier General Eisenhower was Chief of Staff. In 1943, he was named Chief of Staff of General Mark Clark's Fifth Army in North Africa and Italy. Later he was Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe (1953-1956), and was a member of the Draper Committee set up by President Eisenhower in 1958 to review US military assistance programs. He was President of the American Red Cross (1957-1964). This letter was addressed to BASIL O'CONNOR (1892-1972), who served as National Chairman and President and CEO of the American Red Cross from 1944-1949. O'Connor, who had established a law practice in Boston, became a partner of Franklin D. Roosevelt in the law firm of Roosevelt & O'Connor in 1925. In 1932, when FDR was elected President, he asked O'Connor to join his administration, but O'Connor declined to continue to serve in his private practice and with the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation. As head of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, O'Connor raised millions of dollars through his "March of Dimes" and other fund-raising efforts. He was at the helm of the organization when Jonas Salk introduced the polio vaccine credited with conquering the disease. O'Connor, who was called "Doc" by FDR, was one of the executors of the President's will. Edges and corners lightly worn. Toned. Normal mailing folds. Blue ink stamp dated April 14, 1959 on verso (lightly shows through). Otherwise, fine condition.