Dwight Eisenhower ALS To His Wife on New Years Day 1943

EISENHOWER, DWIGHT D. ALS dated Jan. 1, 1943, to Mamie, 4 full qto pages. At the time he was at his headquarters in Algiers with the role of Allied Commander-in-Chief, the Invasion of North Africa. He was preparing for what is known as the Casablanca Conference and a meeting with F.D.R. This is simply a New Year’s letter to his wife, and there is no mention of war and no hint as to his location. Much of the letter describes his New Year’s Eve celebration with particular detail about a grand slam he made in a bridge game. He complained about the food, mentioned their son John and his brother Milton, and expressed 9 his affection. In part, “Take good care of yourself, all year long, because when I come home I’m going to have so much time to make up in telling you what a wonderful person you are, that you’ll have to be in good condition to listen to all of it. And if you yawn!!! Lookout!” He added this postscript. “Just a few more minutes! The lunch today was not so bad – New Year’s celebration I suppose. Maybe you’ll have a drop of egg-nog today. If I could only be with you I’d cheerfully go to anything without complaining; even a cocktail party! in fact maybe I’d want to – just to show off what a gal I have. Again, love to all - including Ruthie & all the rest in the Wardman & Helen & Mother.” The envelope bears a stamped message “Passed by US Army Examiner” and the examiner’s initials. The return address is simply “Lt. General D. D. Eisenhower” and the postmark reads “U.S. Army Postal Service A.P.O. Jan 1 1943 P.M.” Across the postmark is written “Free”, using the franking privilege granted to all military personnel at that time. On the back is printed “ALLIED FORCE HEADQUARTERS Office of the Commander-in-Chief”. This letter was the subject of an article in Manuscripts magazine, and a typed copy of that article is included. Truly a significant piece of 20th-century American history.

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