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TLS as president signed “D. E.,” one page, 6.75 x 9, White House letterhead, September 12, 1960. Letter to Sigurd S. Larmon, chairman of the global advertising and marketing agency Young & Rubicam, in full: “This letter comes to you — and to a few of my other friends — because of some things I learned about a remarkable individual in the Reader's Digest for May. Later I met and talked with him at Notre Dame. His name is Tom Dooley. The story of this man is high drama. Through some years of service in the United States Navy he met thousands of Asiatics who, in great areas, were not only starving, almost naked, and badly sheltered, but were in addition suffering from many diseases. The wholesale misery, suffering and privation made an indelible impression upon him — in fact preyed continuously on his mind. He finally decided something had to be done about this — and started a one-man crusade of assistance. He found a couple of willing helpers, and with the most meager of equipment, set up a hospital in Laos. (I hope you will read the account of this adventure in the enclosed reprint from the Reader's Digest.)
He and his assistants get nothing — their need is solely for medicines and facilities. They are truly dedicated men.
Some years after starting this enterprise Dr. Dooley contracted cancer of the most malignant character. A few months ago he had an operation but has been clearly informed that there is no chance for him to live longer than a few additional months. Instead of allowing himself to be brokenhearted and defeated by this circumstance, he is devoting his remaining time on earth to establishing similar hospitals in a number of the backward countries.
You will be interested to know that he refuses to take a cent of public money, even though the International Cooperation Administration has in some instances offered to support his efforts. Moreover, he charges something for the services he renders to every individual that comes under his care. He told me that at times the payment is nothing but a potato, at others a chicken, or even two or three bananas. But he is as determined to sustain the self-respect of the patient as he is to restore his bodily health.
His brother, who operates his supply service, gave up a $20,000 year job to help provide the required material assistance for the project. As you will note in the copy of the attached letter this brother sent to me, the organization is qualified under Treasury regulations for gifts that are tax exempt.
Dr. Dooley, himself, is momentarily in this country making a whirlwind trip to major cities, seeking funds required for medicines, tentage, equipment, etc. He is returning to Laos in two or three weeks where he lives in the most primitive of conditions.
If you should become sufficiently interested in the project to want to give anything to the enterprise, I assure you I would be more than pleased. Incidentally, Dr. Dooley told me that most of his contributions come in nickels, dimes, quarters and dollar bills. He prefers modest gifts. I also want to assure you I would be most embarrassed if you would conclude that I suggest any large gift. While of course money is necessary to any such work as is described in the enclosed reprint, what I am particularly concerned in is the assurance of broadened interest and concern in helping to further a cause which I think so well-conceived and well-executed.” In fine condition. Accompanied by a vintage color glossy photo of Eisenhower with several gentlemen on a porch, one of whom is Larmon.
Larmon served as president of the advertising firm of Young and Rubicam, Inc. and was Vice Chairman of Citizens for Eisenhower and, in this capacity worked in press and public relations in the 1952 and 1956 presidential campaigns. Young and Rubicam directed the public relations effort in both campaigns. Larmon was one of a nine-member committee chosen by Eisenhower in 1953 to help perfect the country's psychological warfare program.
Thomas Anthony Dooley III was an American physician (1927–1961) who worked in Southeast Asia at the outset of American involvement in the Vietnam War. While serving as a physician in the United States Navy and afterward, he became known for his humanitarian and anti-communist political activities up until his early death from cancer. After his death, the public learned that he had been recruited as an intelligence operative by the CIA, and numerous descriptions of atrocities by the Viet Minh in his book Deliver Us From Evil had been fabricated.
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