DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
Dwight D. Eisenhower writes to his friend Lewis L. Strauss saying that his thoughts were correct about his feelings serving on any boards.
Typed Letter Signed: "D.E.", 1p, 7¼x10½. Palm Desert, California, 1961 February 14. To The Honorable Lewis L. Strauss, Mercury Building, Washington, D. C. In full:"Thank you for your letter concerning General Sarnoff's inquiry. Your assumption is correct; I do not plan to accept any offers to serve on boards with commercial connections. Nevertheless, please ask the General for his thought. Your Currier and Ives winter weekend sounded like fun, but I would rather experience the old Rhinehart golden west treatment in the way of daily golf in temperatures of 75-80°. I shared your closing remarks with Mamie who joins in sending our love right back to you and Alice. Sincerely," On his personal stationery. Admiral Lewis Strauss had served on the Atomic Energy Commission from 1946-1950. In 1953, President Eisenhower appointed him Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, a post he held until 1958. On November 13, 1958, Strauss was appointed Secretary of Commerce by President Eisenhower. On June 27, 1959, by a vote of 49-46, the U.S. Senate refused to confirm Strauss as Secretary of Commerce, the first Cabinet nominee to be rejected by the Senate since 1925. There was opposition to his appointment because of Strauss' role as Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. Specifically, in June 1954, J. Robert Oppenheimer, the head of the Los Alamos laboratory for atomic research during WWII, was denied security clearance by the Atomic Energy Commission. There were Senators who voted against Strauss' nomination for that reason alone. Fold creases not near signature. File note at upper left corner. Fine condition.