Beschreibung:

EISENHOWER WARNS RNC CHAIRMAN TO AVOID PARTY STRIFE IN 1968 ELECTION. Typed Letter Initialed ("D.E."), 2 pp, 4to, Gettysburg, PA, November 25, 1966, to Ray C. Bliss, on personal letterhead, with autograph inscription at bottom of p.2, page lightly toned, otherwise fine. Ohio politico Ray C. Bliss took over as chair of the Republican National Party after Barry Goldwater's embarassing loss to Lyndon Johnson in 1964. During his four-year tenure as chair the Republican Party gained 14 governorships, 11 U.S. Senate seats, and 52 seats in the House of Representatives. Eisenhower writes this note to Bliss in November of 1966 arguing for an end to the divisiveness that had plagued the party in the past. In part: "One of my correspondents suggested that I hold a luncheon to which I should invite NIxon, Romney, Percy, Reagan, Rockefeller, Hatfield, and of course, yourself. It would be the purpose of you and me to urge upon prospective aspirants the need for speaking of all the others only in favorable terms. (If this were impossible, the next best thing would be to keep silent.) During 1967, all these prospectives, when questioned by the press, would reply merely in the equivalent of 'no comment.'" Eisenhower then goes on to suggest another strategy for avoiding divisive tactics among members of the Senate and House. He closes with a characteristically humble comment: "All of this may be completely cockeyed but if so, you have only to drop it in the wastebasket. At least it is between you and me only." See illustration.