TLS as president, signed “DE,” three pages, 7 x 10.25, White House letterhead, October 18, 1958. Lengthy letter to friend Irving Geist, in full: "As I am on my way to the West Coast on a political trip, I have just realized that I have not had, as I had hoped, an opportunity to talk to you about what I consider to be the vital and basic issues for which Republicans are fighting in 1958. Because I am so convinced of the necessity that the Republican programs, in which we both deeply believe, are maintained and furthered, I send you this note to ask your help in the final weeks that are left to us.
Here then—as briefly as possible—are the reasons I hope the votes of America—Republican, Independent and discerning Democrats—will assure that the 86th Congress is solidly Republican in character. In the first place I stand squarely on the record of this Administration. It is a good record. It reflects a growing America—prosperous and at peace. America must and can stay prosperous and at peace.
Secondly, if we do not have a Congress that is guided by the basic principles in which we believe, the bright promise of this nation’s future will be dimmed or will disappear. This I say because of the signs of fiscal irresponsibility I see in the ranks of the radical opposition; I know, as you know, that a mounting Federal budget, with increasing Federal deficits and the inevitable cheapened dollar, means more trouble for the household budget, and is immediately translated into less food, less clothing, poorer housing and less security for the future of the individual family.
Another seriously damaging result of reckless Federal spending is its accelerating effect upon the wage-price spiral. When demagogues seek votes, they like to spend. Useless procurement is, of course, inflationary.
Another bad feature of governmental procurement is its volume, which is so vast as to defy careful supervision. The alleged need of an item, as well as its urgency, often tend to push up prices and, in the defense area especially, procurement officers tend to negotiate contracts that in effect subsidize inefficiency and extravagance.
I think that most of us see, as the two principle causes of inflation in this country, badly unbalanced Federal budgets and the ever mounting wage-price spiral.
Thirdly, I believe strongly, as I have so often stated, that government should do for the people only what they cannot well do for themselves. The Federal government can and should always be ready to extend a helping and guiding hand, no matter what major problem may confront the American people, but it should not ever attempt to provide the complete solution for any problem that properly belongs to individual localities or states. I do not want my grandchildren to become wards of a welfare state; I want them to be sturdy and self-reliant, with as much—if not more—initiative and opportunity as we of our generation have had. I want them to stand squarely on their own feet, not to depend upon a centralized government in Washington to take care of them.
And finally, I must not fail to mention the matter of racketeering in certain important sections of the labor movement. I see little hope of straightening out this problem, highlighted by the McClellan Committee investigations, unless the political complexion of the Congress is changed. Probably you know of my efforts last session to get legal weapons enacted that would give a remedy and probably you also know of the weird parliamentary maneuvering that took place to defeat my recommendations and to substitute a pallid, ineffective bill in its place. Here indeed is a good cause, in itself warranting an allout effort for a Republican Congress.
There are many other issues in this campaign; I cannot touch on them all in this letter, which is already much too long, But if you believe as I do, I hope you will urge your friends and associates, by every means by which you can reach them to vote Republican on November fourth. The opposition has been working hard and has made our job difficult. But with your help, and with the help of people of integrity and a deep love of and desire to preserve our way of life, we will have the kind of Congress we need.
I send you herewith a list of items that, even though it is abbreviated, will bring to your mind a few of the accomplishments of the past five and one-half years. I want to be even prouder of the record of this Administration on January 21, 1961. So, I think we need to ring bells, use the telephone, write letters—in short, give ourselves during the next three weeks the job of electing a Republican Congress and Governorships.”
Included is the reference list of “ACCOMPLISHMENTS,” which reads: “The Korean war stopped — Largest tax cut of all time — The Defense Department reorganized — Satellites launched — Standards of living raised to highest ever — Highest employment ever — Social Security coverage expanded — Unemployment insurance expanded — Statehood of Alaska — The St. Lawrence Seaway — A new agency for outer space — Inflation braked — Positive effort to return power to the States — Economic controls removed — New interstate super highways — A new aviation agency — Federal employees reduced by over a quarter of a million — Atoms for peace.” In fine condition. A magnificent, neatly outlined letter that essentially reads like a 'State of the Union' address in lead up to the 1958 United States elections.
Provenance: Christie’s, Lot 230: May 19, 2006.
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