EISENHOWER, Dwight D. (1890-1969). Typed letter signed ("D.E.") as President to Edgar Eisenhower, Washington, 3 April 1953.

Two pages, 275 x 203mm., on White House letterhead, marked "Personal and Confidential" (two punch holes at top, typical mailing fold spanning signature.)

Eisenhower writes to his brother Edgar and discusses the burdens of the Presidency and of speechmaking: "...It is really discouraging; either a man gives himself up completely to the grinding round of engagements and meetings which are the result of tearful calls made upon him for his presence at some notable occasion -- or he has to become so austere, remote and arbitrary that he tells them all 'No.'...Congress could conceivably still be in session and there would simply not be a vacation period in the cards for me. In this case, I should be close by and I might find it advisable to accept one or both of the invitations to which I refer. On the other hand, I do not want to give up the idea of a vacation. Over and beyond this, I went to the Bar Association in 1949 after a protracted argument. In fact, I had once refused to go and then reconsidered upon your personal appeal. All of this would be easier for me if I liked to make addresses. Actually, I have so little faith in the efficacy of words and get so tired of the stream of them that is constantly being poured out upon us all, that I have an instinctive revulsion against the whole business of speech making. The tone of this letter probably implies to you exactly what is the truth. It is for the past couple of days I have been completely fed up and it is high time I was getting away from here for three or four days. Sometimes I think only a miracle will make it possible."