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Thanks.

What a great letter.

It also reminds us that America once had intelligent and articulate presidents.

And that gentlemen once engaged in reasoned discussion of issues.

It makes Brookes and the current media and political elite look like the whiny, anti-American brats they are.

[x]

If you were at West Point in 1915, you might realize the importance of Americans not killing each other again, of keeping North and South together. Other domestic questions would pale beside that important consideration.

Put concern for national unity and sectional reconciliation together with a shared West Point background and an admiration for Lee's military capacities and you can understand where Eisenhower was coming from.

If you were at West Point in 2015, the necessity of keeping the country together, of blacks and whites not killing each other in the streets might be most important for you and regional considerations secondary (if that).

So today's Eisenhowers and tomorrow's might look at Lee differently than Ike did. Approaching the question with the same values in mind could yield a different answer given the differences in the national context.