Flashback: Dwight D. Eisenhower in Defense of Robert E. Lee

Civil War Profiles ^

[TigerClaws]

Lee Close-upRobert E. Lee remains one of the most polarizing figures of the Civil War (or War Between the States). Debates and opinions abound in newspapers, books, and social media as to whether Lee is a person to be admired or condemned. Many of the anti-Lee arguments center on his resignation from the U.S. Army to fight for the Confederacy, an act many view as an inexcusable violation of his oath as a West Point graduate and army officer.

Along those lines, surely an exemplary officer and general like Dwight D. Eisenhower would also regard Lee as a traitor, would he not? Basically, that was the question asked of then President Eisenhower in August 1960. During the Republican National Convention of that year, Eisenhower mentioned that he kept a picture of Robert E. Lee in his office. That prompted a dentist from New York to send the following letter to the White House:

August 1, 1960 Mr. Dwight D. Eisenhower White House Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. President:

At the Republication Convention I heard you mention that you have the pictures of four (4) great Americans in your office, and that included in these is a picture of Robert E. Lee.

I do not understand how any American can include Robert E. Lee as a person to be emulated, and why the President of the United States of America should do so is certainly beyond me.

The most outstanding thing that Robert E. Lee did, was to devote his best efforts to the destruction of the United States Government, and I am sure that you do not say that a person who tries to destroy our Government is worthy of being held as one of our heroes.

Will you please tell me just why you hold him in such high esteem?

Sincerely yours,

Leon W. Scott Despite undoubtedly having more important things to do as president, Eisenhower must have felt his answer was of such importance that he took the time to send Dr. Scott the following reply from the White House:

EisenhowerAugust 9, 1960

Dear Dr. Scott:

Respecting your August 1 inquiry calling attention to my often expressed admiration for General Robert E. Lee, I would say, first, that we need to understand that at the time of the War between the States the issue of secession had remained unresolved for more than 70 years. Men of probity, character, public standing and unquestioned loyalty, both North and South, had disagreed over this issue as a matter of principle from the day our Constitution was adopted.

General Robert E. Lee was, in my estimation, one of the supremely gifted men produced by our Nation. He believed unswervingly in the Constitutional validity of his cause which until 1865 was still an arguable question in America; he was a poised and inspiring leader, true to the high trust reposed in him by millions of his fellow citizens; he was thoughtful yet demanding of his officers and men, forbearing with captured enemies but ingenious, unrelenting and personally courageous in battle, and never disheartened by a reverse or obstacle. Through all his many trials, he remained selfless almost to a fault and unfailing in his faith in God. Taken altogether, he was noble as a leader and as a man, and unsullied as I read the pages of our history.

From deep conviction, I simply say this: a nation of men of Lee’s calibre would be unconquerable in spirit and soul. Indeed, to the degree that present-day American youth will strive to emulate his rare qualities, including his devotion to this land as revealed in his painstaking efforts to help heal the Nation’s wounds once the bitter struggle was over, we, in our own time of danger in a divided world, will be strengthened and our love of freedom sustained.

Such are the reasons that I proudly display the picture of this great American on my office wall.

Sincerely,

Dwight D. Eisenhower Detractors will likely point to Eisenhower’s friendship with Lee biographer Douglas Southall Freeman and his use of the term “War between the States” as an indication that he was blinded by the Lost Cause mentality of the time. Nevertheless, there is no disputing that Dwight D. Eisenhower – raised in Kansas, graduate of West Point, Supreme Allied Commander of World War II, five-star general, and President of the United States – admired Robert E. Lee for his character without considering him a traitor to the uniform or the country.

Source: Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, “Dwight D. Eisenhower, Records as President, 1953-1961; White House Central Files, President’s Personal File Series, Box 743, Folder: PPF 29-S Lee, General Robert E.”

[Repeal 16-17]

Now we’ll have to remove any monuments to Eisenhower.

[montag813]

Ike grows more in my estimation with each passing year.

[fella]

Eisenhower is the author of the modern civil rights era that the DemonRATs wrongfully claim and pervert.

[Pontiac]

Eisenhower is the author of the modern civil rights era that the DemonRATs wrongfully claim and pervert.

While Progressive saints Franklin Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson were confirmed racist that practiced segregation.

Thou shalt not speak ill of two of the most racist men to sit in the Oval Office in the twentieth century.

That new monument to FDR in his wheel chair should be melted down and be made in to cartridge cases.

[Bogie]

Me too.

[Vlad The Inhaler]

Confederate Soldiers Are Officially U.S. Veterans

The following is copied from a post by Freeper native texan

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Confederate soldiers, sailors, and Marines that fought in the Civil war were made U.S. Veterans by an act of Congress in in 1957, U.S. Public Law 85-425, Sec 410, Approved 23 May, 1958. This made all Confederate Army/ Navy/ Marine Veterans equal to U.S. Veterans.

Additionally, under U.S. Public Law 810, Approved by the 17th Congress on 26 Feb 1929 the War Department was directed to erect headstones and recognize Confederate grave sites as U.S. War dead grave sites. Just for the record the last Confederate veteran died in 1958. When you remove a Confederate statue, monument or headstone, you are in fact, removing a statue, monument or head stone of a U.S. VETERAN.

18 U.S. Code § 1369 - Destruction of veterans’ memorials

(a) Whoever, in a circumstance described in subsection (b), willfully injures or destroys, or attempts to injure or destroy, any structure, plaque, statue, or other monument on public property commemorating the service of any person or persons in the armed forces of the United States shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.

(b) A circumstance described in this subsection is that—

(1) in committing the offense described in subsection (a), the defendant travels or causes another to travel in interstate or foreign commerce, or uses the mail or an instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce; or

(2) the structure, plaque, statue, or other monument described in subsection (a) is located on property owned by, or under the jurisdiction of, the Federal Government.

[poconopundit]

PING! Well done, TigerClaws. This is exactly the perspective we need at this hour.

[StonyBurk]

Eisenhower’s response to Dr.Scott motivated me to read more about Gen.Robert E. Lee. And I note the Virginian General Winfield Scott was Col.Lee’s superior in the War with Mexico. And When Texas seceded -then shotly after Virginia— Gen.Winfield Scott did not resign his commission -and suggested that Lee had made the biggest mistake of his life when Lee expressed his intent. Later when Gen. Winfield Scott ran for the Presidency he was defeated. Lee lived a life of Virtue and was denied equal protection under the law for 110 years and to this day there are many willing to ignore the Law and the TRUTH to punish Gen.Robert E. Lee and the South for what?

[Bender2]

Re: General Robert E. Lee was, in my estimation, one of the supremely gifted men produced by our Nation. He believed unswervingly in the Constitutional validity of his cause which until 1865 was still an arguable question in America; he was a poised and inspiring leader, true to the high trust reposed in him by millions of his fellow citizens; he was thoughtful yet demanding of his officers and men, forbearing with captured enemies but ingenious, unrelenting and personally courageous in battle, and never disheartened by a reverse or obstacle. Through all his many trials, he remained selfless almost to a fault and unfailing in his faith in God. Taken altogether, he was noble as a leader and as a man, and unsullied as I read the pages of our history.

From deep conviction, I simply say this: a nation of men of Lee’s calibre would be unconquerable in spirit and soul. Indeed, to the degree that present-day American youth will strive to emulate his rare qualities, including his devotion to this land as revealed in his painstaking efforts to help heal the Nation’s wounds once the bitter struggle was over, we, in our own time of danger in a divided world, will be strengthened and our love of freedom sustained.

Such are the reasons that I proudly display the picture of this great American on my office wall.

That is why... and will continue to do so!

http://www.oldpoliticals.com/ItemImages/000007/02327_lg.jpeg

[poconopundit]

(a letter to his son)

You must study to be frank with the world.  Frankness is the child of honesty and courage.  Say just what you mean to do, on every occasion, and take it for granted that you mean to do right.  If a friend asks a favor, you should grant it, if it is reasonable; if not, tell him plainly why you cannot; you would wrong him and wrong yourself by equivocation of any kind. Never do a wrong thing to make a friend or keep one; the man who requires you to do so is dearly purchased at the sacrifice.  Deal kindly but firmly with all your classmates; you will find it the policy which wears best.  Above all, do not appear to others what you are not. If you have any fault to find with any one, tell him, not others, of what you complain; there is no more dangerous experiment than that of undertaking to be one thing before a man's face and another behind his back. We should live, act, and say nothing to the injury of any one.  It is not only for the best as a matter of principle, but it is the path of peace and honor. In regard to duty, let me, in conclusion of this hasty letter, inform you that nearly a hundred years ago there was a day of remarkable gloom and darkness -- still known as "the dark day" -- a day when the light of the sun was slowly extinguished, as if by an eclipse. The Legislature of Connecticut was in session, and as its members saw the unexpected and unaccountable darkness coming on, they shared in general awe and terror.  It was supposed by many that the last day -- the day of judgment -- had come. Some one, in the consternation of the hour, moved an adjournment. Then there arose an old Puritan legislator, Davenport, of Stamford, and said that, if the last day had come, he desired to be found at his place doing his duty, and therefore moved that candles be brought in, so that the House could proceed with its duty. There was quietness in that man's mind, the quietness of heavenly wisdom and inflexible willingness to obey present duty.  Duty, then, is the sublimest word in our language. Do your duty in all things like the old Puritan.  You cannot do more; you should never wish to do less.  Never let your mother or me wear one gray hair for any lack of duty on your part.

[Jumper]

BLM and Antifda have no such people, but are rather the very people Frued warned of whose mental sickness spreads and infects the minds of the unsick until no man or woman anymore is aware of the insanity in their midst.

[Wuli]

They will try to smear Ike, and then everyone will be reminded it was Ike that sent the troops in to enforce desegregation of the segregated schools in Little Rock.

[JimRed]

I liked Ike...the President of my childhood.

[DoughtyOne]

Very nice. Thank you for the post.

You know, in life these are great rules to live by. I know I have breached them at times, but I try not to.

Take care.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

Your Frued statement reminds me of a story about a King and his people.

The Wise King
BY KAHLIL GIBRAN
Once there ruled in the distant city of Wirani a king who was both
mighty and wise. And he was feared for his might and loved for
his wisdom.

Now, in the heart of that city was a well, whose water was cool and
crystalline, from which all the inhabitants drank, even the king
and his courtiers; for there was no other well.

One night when all were asleep, a witch entered the city, and poured
seven drops of strange liquid into the well, and said, “From this
hour he who drinks this water shall become mad.”

Next morning all the inhabitants, save the king and his lord
chamberlain, drank from the well and became mad, even as the witch
had foretold.

And during that day the people in the narrow streets and in the
market places did naught but whisper to one another, “The king is
mad. Our king and his lord chamberlain have lost their reason.
Surely we cannot be ruled by a mad king. We must dethrone him.”

That evening the king ordered a golden goblet to be filled from the
well. And when it was brought to him he drank deeply, and gave it
to his lord chamberlain to drink.

And there was great rejoicing in that distant city of Wirani,
because its king and its lord chamberlain had regained their reason.

Found at:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/58702/the-wise-king