The Letters of President Dwight D. Eisenhower & Herman R. Purdy

The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XV - The Presidency: The Middle Way
Part VI: Crises Abroad, Party Problems at Home; September 1954 to December 1954
Chapter 13: "A new phase of political experience"

Dear Milton: Don't for a second concern yourself about any "discomfort" caused me by the incident of which I spoke to you.1 Actually my only concern was the possibility that the story I related to you would be repeated at Rio. Such evidence of disunion in our inner councils would, of course, cause some confusion and lead different South American governments to hope that they could play one side against the other.2

I am interested in your impressions as to George Humphrey's attitude. I have not encountered it in the same form as you have. Possibly he has merely been less objective with me.3

In any event, so long as he is the good soldier that I believe him to be, I must say that I don't see that anything is hurt by the presence in the highest councils of different kinds of thinking.4 It is in the combination of these various attitudes that we hammer out acceptable policies; enthusiasts for or against anything usually go too far.

I wonder whether you know that I wrote a special message to be delivered by George at the Rio Conference, a message that was as warm in its tone as I could possibly make it.5

Tomorrow afternoon Mamie and I intend to go to Augusta. We expect to return the following Monday. After we return, I expect to be here steadily until Christmas time. I would hope that we could have a talk with Mr. Purdy some time during that period.6 Incidentally, although George--in his usual impulsive way--is gathering up a lot of cattle (most of them very good, I believe) in a big hurry, I shall go slowly in this regard, not only because of limitations imposed by my present job, but because I do not believe you can build up a really fine herd in too much haste.7

With warm regard, As ever

1 Eisenhower was referring to a conflict that had developed between his brother and Treasury Secretary Humphrey in connection with the Conference of the Ministers of Finance and Economy of the American Republics (Rio Conference) to be held in Quitandinha, Brazil, from November 22 to December 2. For background on the conference and the disagreement see no. 1124. On November 18 Secretary Dulles had told Eisenhower that there was "widespread gossip" of a split between the President's brother and the Treasury Secretary; it was rumored that Milton really represented the U.S. position and would "take over with more liberal policies" if the conference failed. "I think it necessary," said Dulles, "to `knock this on the head,' the more so as I believe that George Humphrey will, in fact, espouse your policies however much he may personally dislike some of them" (Dulles to Eisenhower, Nov. 18, 1954, AWF/D-H).
2 On November 20 Eisenhower had told his brother that Humphrey's position--"that aid to Latin American countries simply meant aid to political crooks"--had been disclosed and could be embarrassing to him in Rio (Telephone conversation, Eisenhower and Milton Eisenhower, Nov. 20, 1954, AWF/D).

"I'm distressed that I should have said anything about George Humphrey that has caused you uneasiness," Milton had written after this conversation. He reviewed the background of his decision not to attend the conference if Humphrey were to head the U.S. delegation and added: "I thought I had talked about this only with Dulles and [Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs Henry] Holland, but evidently I spoke to someone else whom I trusted mistakenly" (Milton Eisenhower to Eisenhower, [Nov. 22, 1954], AWF/N; for background on Milton's decision see no. 1124).

U.N. Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., had also warned Eisenhower about the dangers of adopting a "big business approach" at the conference (Lodge to Eisenhower, Nov. 22, 1954, and Eisenhower to Lodge, Nov. 24, 1954, both in AWF/A; see also Telephone conversations, Eisenhower and Dulles, Nov. 20, 1954, and Dulles and Hagerty, Nov. 23, 1954, Dulles Papers, Telephone Conversations).

3 Eisenhower had told his brother two weeks earlier that he found Humphrey "instinctively isolationist" and admitted that the Secretary had to "force himself" to endorse the Administration's foreign policy. The President did not, however, "sense the complete hostility" that Milton did (Telephone conversation, Eisenhower and Milton Eisenhower, Nov. 9, 1954, AWF/D; see also Eisenhower, The President Is Calling, pp. 337-38).

4 At a duck hunting expedition earlier in the month (see no. 1124), Humphrey had said, according to Milton, "I don't believe in our program, but I am going to be a good soldier. The President has said I am a general in a cold war. I'll try to be a good general. I'll support the State Department program" (Milton Eisenhower to Eisenhower [Nov. 22, 1954], AWF/N; see also Telephone conversation, Eisenhower and Dulles, Nov. 20, 1954, Dulles Papers, Telephone Conversations).

At a subsequent meeting in Washington, however, Humphrey had told Milton that he thought "we were all on the wrong track. He believes that we are supporting corrupt governments, and that the leading commercial people of the several countries are greatly put out with us for doing this." The President's brother praised Humphrey's intelligence and said that although "pretty narrow," the Treasury Secretary was "growing." "If he keeps on growing," Milton added, "he will come out all right. . . . But I still regret deeply that a remark of mine should have caused you any discomfort. Your burdens are too great for me to add to them." For proceedings at the conference see State, Foreign Relations, 1952-1954, vol. IV, The American Republics, pp. 352-64; for Humphrey's report see Cabinet meeting minutes, Dec. 3, 1954, AWF/Cabinet; and for developments see no. 1175.

5 Under Secretary Holland had drafted this message, and Eisenhower had written a conclusion: "To this may I add my best wishes for the success of the Conference and warm personal greetings to each of its members" (Memorandum, Dulles to Eisenhower, Nov. 18, 1954, AWF/D-H; and Telephone conversations, Dulles and Holland, Nov. 18, 1954, and Eisenhower to Dulles, Nov. 20, 1954, Dulles Papers, Telephone Conversations).

6 Milton had described Herman Purdy, a professor at Penn State University, as "our specialist in beef cattle . . . the outstanding man in the country" and had suggested that Eisenhower talk with him (see also Nevins, Gettysburg's Five-Star Farmer, pp. 125-26).

7 For background on the partnership between Eisenhower and George Allen in the operation of their Gettysburg farms see no. 892.

Bibliographic reference to this document:
Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Milton Stover Eisenhower, 23 November 1954. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 1168. World Wide Web facsimile by The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission of the print edition; Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/first-term/documents/1168.cfm

Document #1353; March 21, 1955
To Milton Stover Eisenhower
Series: EM, AWF, Name Series

The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XVI - The Presidency: The Middle Way
Part VII: "Nothing could be worse than global war"; January 1955 to May 1955
Chapter 15: Searching "for an honorable peace"

Dear Milton: I am delighted to have the information on the chisel plow.1 I have been making inquiries everywhere for the past week or ten days, because I am convinced from what I read in a book called "Big Dam Foolishness" that the chisel plow ought to be very helpful in my particular region of Pennsylvania.2

In that area we have a tremendous amount of moisture in the spring, with very dry summers, and so far as I can see no effort has been made to assist the spring moisture in soaking into the ground. I believe the chisel plow would help.3

What you suggest about a meeting at the farm intrigues me mightily. It is possible that Mamie and I will go up there this coming weekend. If we do, I will give you as much advance information as possible. It might be that we could spend Saturday morning on the kind of meeting you suggest.4 I know that Mr. Purdy, Mr. Eakin and Dr. Albrecht could be very helpful, and I should personally like to meet the County Agent.5 As ever

1 On March 17 (AWF/N) Milton had sent a memorandum he had received which described the advantages of using the chisel plow. The associate dean of the College of Agriculture at Pennsylvania State University, Henry Richard Albrecht (Ph.D. University of Wisconsin 1936), had written the memorandum (Mar. 14, 1955, ibid.).

2 Eisenhower was referring to Elmer T. Peterson's book, Big Dam Foolishness: The Problem of Modern Flood Control and Water Storage (New York, 1954).

3 As it turned out, Eisenhower's farm manager Arthur S. Nevins had already ordered a chisel plow (see Telephone conversation, Eisenhower and Nevins, Mar. 25, 1955, AWF/D).

4 Eisenhower would go to the farm on Saturday, March 26, but the meeting would not take place. On March 21 Eisenhower had sent Nevins copies of his correspondence with Milton. In the cover letter to Nevins Eisenhower explained that Mrs. Eisenhower wished to postpone a meeting at the farm until the house was "a little more settled" (AWF/N; see also Telephone conversation, Eisenhower and Nevins, Mar. 25, 1955, AWF/D; and Nevins to Eisenhower, Mar. 27, 1955, AWF/N).

5 Herman Purdy was a livestock expert from Pennsylvania State University (see Nevins, Five-Star Farmer, pp. 125-26). James Eakin was a soil expert from that university.

Bibliographic reference to this document:
Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Milton Stover Eisenhower, 21 March 1955. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 1353. World Wide Web facsimile by The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission of the print edition; Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/first-term/documents/1353.cfm

Document #1881; May 21, 1956
To Herman R. Purdy
Series: EM, AWF, Gettysburg Series

The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XVII - The Presidency: The Middle Way
Part X: Cracks in the Alliance; May 1956 to September 1956
Chapter 20: Confronting "great risks"

Dear Dr. Purdy: There are a number of questions I have wanted to ask you and now I put them down on paper with the request that when you get the opportunity, you give me such answers as you can. I know this is an imposition, but in the past you have been so extremely kind in helping me out that I am presuming further on your friendship.

The questions are:

1. You remarked to me that when your bull was returned from Michigan State, you could probably breed one or two of our best heifers. I have tentatively hoped to select the Moles Hill Kirstie and the Mallardine heifer when the time comes. My question is: When do you expect the bull to come back to Penn State?1

2. You also mentioned that occasionally you sell off from your herd some of your good heifers, bred to your own bull. You said that when next you had any available to dispose of this way, you would make to me some kind of an offer. Under this heading I am curious about two points.

a. When do you think that you may have one or two that you will consider selling?

b. To what families will they probably belong?2

3. My next question involves exclusively the matter of families. Mr. Allen is setting about accumulating some fifteen or twenty more very good heifers to bring to the farm. The question is as to what are the best families to try to get hold of. In some instances, I am unsure from examination of our registration papers the exact name of the families to which our present cows belong.3

a. For example, is "Jilt" a family name or, as actually carried on one set of papers I have, is the family name a particular "Jilt"--for example, "Whitney Jilt?"

b. Is there a book that contains all family names?4

c. Can an individual start a family name just from the progeny of some particularly good producing cow?

d. If so, does he register that family name with the Angus Association?5

4. I told Mr. Allen that if any of the heifers he now plans to purchase are to be bred before being brought to the farm, he should look for a bull that features the Eileenmere, Bandolier and Bardolier blood lines, or any combination of these. At the moment I wouldn't know anything else to suggest. So my question is: What other blood lines would fit in well with this kind of combination?6

When you have read this far, you will be reminded of how little I really know about this whole Angus business, but at least I am trying to learn enough to be classed as a rank amateur.7

A week ago I visited the farm and of course the regular spring transformation has taken place. Everything looked splendid. The cattle seemed to be in particularly good condition. I am sincerely appreciative of your offer to be helpful and I apologize again for asking you to undertake the burden of answering all these questions.8

With warm personal regard, Sincerely

1 Purdy would reply (May 29, 1956, AWF/Gettysburg) that the bull was expected to return to Pennsylvania State University between June 15 and July 1.

2 Heifers representing the Pride of Aberdeen, Blackbirds, Fannie Bess, Barbara and other lines would be available in the fall or winter, Purdy reported.

3 Eisenhower's partner, George E. Allen and his partner, Billy G. Byars, had given Arthur Nevins permission to purchase Black Angus cattle (Byars to Nevins, May 16, 1956; Eisenhower to Byars, May 21, 28, 1956; Byars to Eisenhower, May 29, 1956; and Eisenhower to Byars, June 1, 1956, all in AWF/N). For background on the Eisenhower-Allen partnership see no. 1661; on the Allen-Byars partnership see no. 1155.

Purdy would emphasize the necessity of checking background. Many buyers, he would write, will buy a cow "that traces in the 6th or 7th generation to a famous . . . cow and forget all about the immediate ancestors." With his letter he included a table showing the average percentage of inheritance contributed by each ancestor for five generations.

4 Purdy would explain that "Jilt . . . has many branches; Whitney Jilt simply means that Whitney Farm bred the heifer." He also said he would send Eisenhower a book on families.

5 Regarding registration of a family name with the Angus Association, Purdy said, "An individual can start a family from a good producing cow."

6 Purdy said that Eisenhower's advice to Allen "would be very satisfactory." For developments see no. 1906.

7 "I am convinced that the longer a person is in the cattle business," Purdy would write, "the more he comes to realize how little knowledge he actually has and how much there is to be learned."

8 For developments see no. 1888.

Bibliographic reference to this document:
Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Herman R. Purdy, 21 May 1956. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 1881. World Wide Web facsimile by The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission of the print edition; Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996,

http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/first-term/documents/1881.cfm

Document #1888; June 4, 1956
To Herman R. Purdy
Series: EM, AWF, Gettysburg Series

The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XVII - The Presidency: The Middle Way
Part X: Cracks in the Alliance; May 1956 to September 1956
Chapter 20: Confronting "great risks"

Dear Dr. Purdy: Thank you for your recent letter. It is indeed helpful.

Please enter my name now as one of the prospective purchasers, at the proper time, of a couple of Penn State heifers bred to that outstanding bull of yours. I gather from your letter that it may be a considerable time before you can offer these animals for sale.1

Upon receipt of your letter I telephoned to the farm to direct the Kirstie and Mallardine heifers be held, without breeding, until we could send them to you. I discovered the following:

(a) the Kirstie heifer was bred by artificial insemination to Slater's Eva Bandolier Lad.2

(b) the Mallardine heifer is still too young; I believe she is just slightly over a year old.

However, I have two or three of the very good ones still unbred and there is a great possibility that the Kirstie may yet prove to be not settled (we have had very poor luck with artificial insemination). I have the Mignonne heifer and Tacaro Pride II. Moreover, I believe that my Bosta Blackbird (from Mr. Gall) showed another failure in artificial insemination.3 From this group, if you would indicate the two you might prefer to mate with your bull, I will continue to hold them out.

General Nevins will be in communication with Allan Ryan, and I think will make some arrangements for this summer's breeding of our cows. However, I do appreciate your offer to be of help in this regard and if anything turns up, I shall let you know instantly.4

I was particularly impressed by what you had to say about the people who forget all about the immediate ancestors of an individual merely to get a name like Cherry Blossom or Barbarosa or so on. I brought up this point when I wrote to Mr. Byars and said it was important to look through the entire background of a heifer he was buying.5 It is clear that a name can be completely nullified by some undesirable blood introduced along the line.

Please write to me whenever you think you have hold of something in which I might be interested--and it is hard to think of anything connected with the Angus industry in which I am not interested.

Thank you again for your letter, and with warm regard, Sincerely

P.S. The book on families arrived late this afternoon.6 I shall study it with the greatest interest--many thanks!

1 Purdy's May 29 letter is in AWF/Gettysburg (see no. 1881).

2 On the bull belonging to Ellis D. Slater see no. 1714.

3 John C. Gall owned Amandale Farm in Upperville, Virginia.

4 Purdy said he had spoken to Allan A. Ryan, owner of Ankony Farms in Rhinebeck, New York, regarding arrangements for use of a bull. For developments see nos. 1892, 1906, and 1929.

5 Eisenhower had written to Billy G. Byars of Tyler, Texas, on May 21, 28, and June 1 (AWF/N). For developments see no. 1892.

6 See no. 1881.

Bibliographic reference to this document:
Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Herman R. Purdy, 4 June 1956. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 1888. World Wide Web facsimile by The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission of the print edition; Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996,

http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/first-term/documents/1888.cfm

Document #1929; July 25, 1956
To Herman R. Purdy
Series: EM, AWF, Gettysburg Series

The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XVII - The Presidency: The Middle Way
Part X: Cracks in the Alliance; May 1956 to September 1956
Chapter 20: Confronting "great risks"

Dear Herman: Thank you very much for your letter and for your good wishes for my improvement in health.1

It would appear that we should forget, for the moment, the possibility of mating any of our animals to O. Bardoliermere 32nd. Since you breed by artificial insemination, we would be unable to do anything about the matter. If however, the time should arrive when he returns to Penn State and we should have a couple of our better heifers ready for breeding, I will get in touch with you.2

As you know, up until this time George Allen is running the Gettysburg farms without my participation. Consequently, he should be the one to interview Mr. Hartley.3 While Mr. Allen is temporarily on the West Coast, he will be back soon, I am sure. I shall see that he gets the information you sent on, and know that he will be anxious to make agreeable arrangements with Mr. Hartley in the event that he should like our setup. I am certain that you will be hearing from Mr. Allen within a very few days.

With my grateful thanks for the trouble you have taken in behalf of both of us, Sincerely

1 Beef cattle specialist Purdy had written on July 23 (AWF/Gettysburg).

2 Purdy had offered the bull's services. For background on the bull and Eisenhower's efforts to improve his Black Angus herd see no. 1881.

3 On the Eisenhower-Allen partnership see no. 1661. Eisenhower would write to Allen and send him a copy of Purdy's letter on this same day (AWF/D). Purdy had recommended a former student, Robert S. Hartley, for the job of herdsman on Eisenhower's farm. On November 1 Hartley would begin his duties (see Nevins to Eisenhower, Oct. 15, 1956 and Jan. 11, 1957, both in AWF/Gettysburg; and Nevins, Five-Star Farmer, p. 126).

Bibliographic reference to this document:
Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Herman R. Purdy, 25 July 1956. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 1929. World Wide Web facsimile by The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission of the print edition; Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996,

http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/first-term/documents/1929.cfm