6 signed letters Dwight Eisenhower autograph Wht. House Start Price USD 2,999.00 Current Price USD 2,999.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Friday, October 24, 2008 End Time Sunday, November 23, 2008 Location Silverdale, Washington See more about '6 signed letters Dwight Eisenhower autograph Wht. House' Description Here is a rare package of 6 original hand-signed letters from Dwight Eisenhower on White House Stationary 1953-1959     These letters all address the project of the family Plot at the Abilene Cemetery. The last 2 letters mention the 7th Eisenhower brother Paul, who died in infancy (very rare). I felt these letters should be kept together so they are offered here as a package. We will consider all offers for all or any portion of the letters.   Also included are the following inserts mentioned in the letter from May 13th, 1959. 1 Photo of the family plot and 1 vintage COPY of a letter from Florence Etherington to Dwight Eisenhower. Also included is a bonus vintage photo of the family on the porch of their Abilene home.   A great piece of history.   All of the letters are vintage original hand-signed letters except for the copy of a letter from Florence Etherington to Dwight that was mentioned and included in the letter from Dwight to Edgar dated May 13, 1959.    There are a limited number of letters signed by Dwight and even less written to his brothers. Here is your chance to get a set of letters with unique content that can never be replaced. These will hold their value better than some investments as there will never be any more created and the number of letters to family members is very limited. All of these letters are also on White House stationary and were written while Dwight was President of the United States which adds to their value.    Contents of this package     Dwight Eisenhower signed letters 1. 2-page letter dated February 19, 1953 8”X10” Ivory stationary with presidential seal watermark “The White House Washington” in blue at the top 2 faint fold marks(from mailing) and 2 punched holes at the top. (Edgars Secretary put all of his       correspondence in a legal folder, which is why these vintage letters are in such good condition. Words underlined to highlight portions. Dwight did this as he proofread the letters. 2. Letter dated October 18, 1958 7 1/8” X 10 3/8” Ivory stationary with Whiting Woven Linen watermark “DDE” and “The White House” in Gold at the top 2 faint fold marks and 2 punched holes at the top 3. Letter dated May 13, 1959 6 ¾” X 8 7/8” light pastel green stationary with Whiting Woven Linen watermark “The White House Washington” in blue at the top No holes or folds as this was sent with photo and stored together in a plastic sleeve. 4. Letter dated June 27th, 1959 6 ¾” X 8 7/8” light pastel green stationary with Whiting Woven Linen watermark “The White House Washington” in blue at the top 1 fold and 2 punched holes at the top 5. Letter dated July 13, 1959 7 1/8” X 10 3/8” light pastel green stationary with Whiting Woven Linen watermark “The White House Washington” in blue at the top 2 faint fold marks and 2 punched holes at the top 6. Letter dated July 21, 1959 7 1/8” X 10 3/8” Ivory stationary with Whiting Woven Linen watermark “DDE” and “The White House” in Gold at the top 2 faint fold marks and 2 punched holes at the top   Extra contents   7. Photo-Vintage 5 X 7 photo of the family plot that was included with the May 13th letter   8. Vintage copy of the letter dated May 5, 1959, from Florence Etherington to Dwight that was also included in the May 13th letter from Dwight.   9. Vintage photo of the Eisenhower family on their front porch in Abilene.     These are from Edgar Eisenhower’s personal collection (Dwight’s brother).   You will get a signed letter from Edgar’s granddaughter, specific to these letters to accompany the letters in the future.  I will ship this with extreme care. Priority Shipping in the US is FREE with Insurance included All others please email for shipping quote 30-day return allowed if signature is not authentic.     The letters read: Letter 1   February 19, 1953   Dear Ed:   I am referring to the letter you have from Arthur dated February sixteenth.  I think he is pursuing a mistaken course.   In the first place, I do not recall that we as a family ever gave the Foundation  at Abilene any money whatsoever.  We merely gave it the old property, which we did in lieu of tearing down the little house and then attempting to sell the land.  Beyond this, I do not feel that we should be in a position of allowing someone else’s bounty to take care of our parents’ graves.   My next thought is this.  You and I know Kansas summers and winters and how bleak the best of grounds can become unless it is cared for.  The mere placing of flowers on the graves at specified days in the year strikes me as being a beautifully inadequate way of expressing anything of the affection and debt I feel to our parents.  In lieu of what Arthur proposes, I suggest the following.   We propose to Emmett Graham at Abilene that the Foundation undertake, a part of its activities, to administer a special fund that we boys (especially Arthur, you, Milton and I) would build up.  The purpose would be to use the income from this little fund to take perpetual care of the plot. I imagine that if one of us could get out there, we would find that the plot itself is now not in good condition.  Consequently, an initial expenditure of a few hundred dollars might       Mr. Edgar Eisenhower – 2                                                               February 19, 1953   be necessary in order that the income from the little capital fund should thereafter be sufficient to keep the place in good condition. My idea of a start would be as follows:   1.      If Emmett Graham will agree that the Foundation can undertake this responsibility, each of the four of us put $500 apiece into it at once. 2.      As an initial capital expenditure - - assuming that the place now needs some real rehabilitation – each of the four donate an additional $100 for this purpose.   The first step. of course, will be to telephone Arthur and ask him whether he would agree.  I can almost answer for Milton, but I will contact him very quickly.   The next step would be to contact Emmett to determine whether the Foundation would undertake this job for us.   Now I wonder whether you would, from this point, take this chore in your hands and try to follow it up.  I don’t mean to be shoving off a burden on you that I might be doing, but I am just too busy to follow through on the details.   If you disagree with any of the above (and some of it, of course, is exactly what you have already proposed) please let me know by return letter.   Love to Lucy and Janis, and of course all the best to you,   As ever,   DE     Mr. Edgar Eisenhower   Letter 2   Denver, Colorado October 18, 1958   Dear Ed:   While visiting the Abilene Cemetery this morning, I was struck by the fact that there is no way of showing the exact limits of our family plot.  As you know, it was purchased jointly by Uncle Chris and Dad.  In it now are buried our parents, Uncle Chris and Aunt Amanda, and on the far side of the family stone is Beulah Musser, who was a first cousin of ours.  I think it would be a nice thing to put a solidly built, iron picket fence (two to two and a half feet high) around it.  I asked Florence to contact the Cemetery Association to see whether they would have any objection to the erection of such a fence.   Assuming that the Association has no such objection, and that you, Earl and Milton would agree, my next step would be to find in the Abilene area a firm that could manufacture and install the fence.   Looking at the plot casually, I believe that its dimensions are something like twenty feet square, possibly a little more.  But before going ahead, of course, I would get an estimate, although I cannot believe that the cost would be more than something on the order of two to three hundred dollars.  I would be quite willing to bear the expense individually, if you approve of the idea.   I am sending this not from Denver so that it will not slip my mind.  I hope that you will reply to the White House (I shall be back there next Thursday).   With Affectionate regards to Lucy and all the best to yourself,   Devotedly, D.E.   Mr. Edgar N. Eisenhower   Identical letters to: Mr. Earl Eisenhower Dr. Milton S. Eisenhower   Letter 3   May 13, 1959   Dear Edgar   Herewith a photograph of the completed project at the graves of our parents.  The pictures were sent to me by Charlie Case.   The actual work was carried out by Harry Darby, one of my warm person friends.  I have already written to Harry to express my thanks and have asked him for a bill.  So he has been silent on this point.  I suspect that further prodding will not be any more fruitful but I shall try once again.   I enclose also a copy of a letter from Florence Etherington, who provides a description of the completed work.   Give my love to Lucy and, as always, the best to yourself.   As ever, D.   Mr. Edgar N. Eisenhower Puget Sound Bank Building Tacoma 9, Washington   Letter 4   June 27, 1959   Dear Ed:   I understand your feeling about cost of the cemetery fence, but frankly I do not have any hopes of getting Harry Darby to accept payment for the construction cost.  He has steadfastly refused to answer my queries on the subject; he is a very good friend of mine and I believe that to press him further would embarrass and perhaps offend him.   You have no obligation to write Harry, of course.  I have adequately expressed the thanks of all the brothers.   With warm regard,   As ever, Ike   Mr. Edgar N Eisenhower Puget Sound Bank Building Tacoma Washington   Letter 5   July 13, 1959   Dear Edgar:   You will remember that our brother, Paul, who died in infancy, is buried in the Belle Springs Cemetery (some eight or ten miles south of Abilene).  In this same cemetery are also buried our great-grandfather and grandfather.   I understand that the church in Belle Spring has been abandoned, although the cemetery is cared for by someone.  It has been suggested to me that we have Paul’s remains removed from Belle Springs and brought to Abilene, to be buried in the family lot behind the graves of our parents.  I have no convictions about this proposition one way or the other, but I rather think it might be nice to have him buried in Abilene because we would be certain that the grave would have perpetual care.  If you think the idea is a good one, I imagine the Cemetery Association in Abilene could make the necessary arrangements.  I would appreciate having your reaction to this matter.   With warm regards,   As ever, Ike   Mr. Edgar N. Eisenhower Puget Sound Bank Building Tacoma 9, Washington     Letter 6   July 21, 1959   Dear Ed:   Since you and Milton both feel that we should leave Paul’s remains in the cemetery in Belle Springs, a viewpoint with which I tend to agree, I have abandoned the idea.  I have not yet heard from Earl, but I suspect he will share your conviction.   With warm regard,   As ever, Ike   Mr. Edgar N. Eisenhower, Puget Sound Bank Building, Tacoma, Washington.   Letter 7 (Original Vintage COPY that was included in the May 13th letter))   COPY   Tuesday May 5, 1959   Dear Dwight:   Last Saturday, I went to the country and found the fence completed.  As you no doubt know Mr. Darby sent his construction men here, (two of them) and they erected it in two days.  With the fence were four pieces of wrought iron furniture, two chairs and two settees.  They placed the two chairs on the east side and the settees one beside the south fence the other on the north.  The fence is shiny black in a grape design, the furniture the same design in white.  I am wondering if you knew about the furniture.   Ther was a beautiful basket of flowers gold colored carnations and whit stock.   After Decoration Day I will write to you and tell you about the flowers placed for your mother and father.  For years after your mother’s death, there was a tiny glass filled with the ordinary pink roses, the old fashioned kind, on her grave, but last year it wasn’t there,  but I could never find out who it was, perhaps the person has also died.   The 1909 graduation class is disappointed you will not be here, but they surely realize how impossible it would be with so many big things for you to do.   The “Deserted Barn” is placed in an old walnut frame and I just love it.   Thanks again.   Devotedly, (S) Florence         Powered by eBay Turbo Lister The free listing tool. 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