PRESIDENT RICHARD M. NIXON - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 04/06/1963 - HFSID 87638

THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT ASKS THE FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION FOR PERTINENT IDEAS FOR A SPEECH HE WILL BE GIVING TO THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEWSPAPER EDITORS DURING THE KENNEDY ADMINISTRATION

RICHARD NIXON. TLS: "Dick", 1p, 7x10¼. No place, 1963 April 6. On sheet imprinted with his name to Admiral Lewis L. Strauss, Washington, D.C. Begins: "Dear Lewis". In full: "I want to tell you again how  much I enjoyed having dinner with Alice and you in Washington. It was refreshing and stimulating to see you both again and to talk about some of the problems in which we have such a vital interest. As you may have noted, I have agreed to make the speech before the American Society of Newspaper Editors on Saturday at noon, April 20. Kennedy will be speaking the day before. I am going to talk primarily about foreign policy but have a free choice as to what subjects I may want to discuss. There will probably be a brief question and answer period after the address. If you have any cogent thoughts that you think I should try to get home before this rather influential audience I would apprecite your sending them to me at the Statler Hotel, marked to be held for my arrival. I can't be too partisan but on the other hand I do not want to miss the opportunity to get in a few blows for our side! When I saw the account in the NewYorkTimes of Oppenheimer's receiving the Fermi Award I realized how far the pendulum has swung since we left office in January of 1961. I wonder if anyone will have the courage or the patience to dig out the record and simply set forth the facts objectively for people to judge for themselves. In any event, I hope at least to have a chance to say hello to you when I am in Washington later this month. Pat joins me in sending our best wishes to Alice and to you. Sincerely". RICHARD NIXON (1913-1994) and LEWIS STRAUSS (1896-1974) became close friends during their years with the Eisenhower Administration (1953-1961), and the former Vice President often sought the advice of Strauss on political and personal matters. During the Eisenhower years, Strauss had served as Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). 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 AEC (1953-1958). 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 AEC. There were Senators who voted against Strauss' nomination for that reason alone. The Fermi Award, which Oppenheimer received on April 5, 1963, the day before this letter, is a $50,000 prize presented to those excelling in the field of science and technology. Commentators of the era viewed the award as reparation for the earlier incident. Nixon excelled in foreign relations, the topic he was to address, and he was particularly pleased because he had been asked to refrain from this topic by the Kennedy staff. During his vice presidency, Nixon had toured 60 countries as goodwill ambassador and to determine the need for U.S. aid for underdeveloped nations. In 1959, he visited Russia and met with Premier Nikita Khrushchev (1894-1971). Therefore, the handling of Communist Russia by the Kennedy Administration, particularly the Cuban Missile crisis (October-November 1962), was still a delicate issue. Kennedy would be assassinated in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963, less than eight months after this letter was written. Through encouragement of political allies and friends such as Strauss, Nixon decided to return to politics. Elected in 1968 and re-elected in 1972, he served as 37th U.S. President from 1969-1974. Early in his second term, Nixon made a trip to Communist China (February 1972), at which time he lessened trade restrictions. Nixon revisited Russia in May that year, when he signed the U.S.-Soviet strategic arms control. By September 1972, Nixon worked out a firm trade agreement with Japan, which was signed that month. Later, alleged involvement in the Watergate Scandal precipitated his resignation as President in August 1974. Lightly creased with folds, not at signature. Ink notes (unknown hand) and staple holes at upper left corner.  Fine condition. Framed to an overall size of 30½x20½.