European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 14, 1967, Darmstadt, Hesse Mill Magazine by Relman Morin a staff writer Dwight d. Eisenhower wearing Snappy Saffron coloured sports jacket grinned and said i d go to Vietnam and Southeast Asia like a shot if my doctors would give me the from a Man who celebrates his 77th birthday is nearly seven years since Eisen Hower 34th president of the unite states left the e White House and he has never been less retired he busies himself with a spectrum of interest Sand activities National and foreign problems politics and writing a netbook which will be his fifth that wholly belies his the past summer he was hospitalized three times twice for routine checkups and once for an intestinal flare up. Now he appears to be in excellent health. His complexion is Ruddy his Eye Clear and Bright. He is playing Golf again after a lapse of nearly two Yea Sand he has resumed his painting. It embarrasses me when somebody wants to exhibit them he said. About eight ought to be maintains a regular working sched ule beginning around 8 30 . And continuing after lunch through the after noon. The Pace in his office can be gauged by his communications log. An average of 241 letters a Day come to him and he personally answers most of them. In one six week period his staff handled 3,457 Telephone Calls to and from the everything in the passing Parade from last summer s riots to mini skirts interests Eisenhower. In an interview he talked about the Republican presidential Outlook As of now i have no in Tention of endorsing anyone before the convention. Of course everyone knows my opinion about Dick Nixon. I admirand inspect him. George Romney is a Man of integrity and he has exhibited great vote getting ability in Michigan. And we have some other splendid governors who Are quite mentioned goes. James a. Rhodes of Ohio Daniel j. Evans of Washington John a. Love of Colorado Raymond p. Shafer of Pennsylvania and Nelson a. Rockefeller of new York. He said he has twice met California s Reagan. I like him very much. He s personable and he has shown goo judgment Eisenhower said. Overall he said Republican Prospect sin 1968 look Bright. I think the country is ready for a Vietnam from time to time offi cers Are Send from Washington to brie the former president on developments in the War. On the basis of this information he said he is hopeful about ending the is the subject of much of the mail that comes to him. In answering he said i try to make the Point that unless you have All the information that the government has about that Situa Tion unless you have All the facts you have no right to one letter advised him that the family had lost a son in the fighting. Eisen Howei a reply began with an expression that from my heart i Send deep sym Pathy to his he then wrote regardless of the Chain of Circum stances that brought us to the deplorable and almost bewildering situation saturday october 14, 1967 that now exists in Vietnam i think that the determination to defend Freedom is still son As an american citizen has become part of the Price we have paid both at Home and All around the world in our Effort to preserve the opportunities for a free existence. It is a great pity that men of such splendid Promise have to be part of the Sac Rifice but duty to country is still on of the noblest concepts that must in spire us All if we Are to be Good Citi Zens. Again i say my deepest sympathy goes out to your entire family. May the knowledge that he was performing his duty in the finest tradition of american ism give some Solace to you the problem of the cities Eisenhower argues vigorously that the cities themselves not the Federal government should find solutions to the problems growing increasingly acute. We be gone about it in the wrong Way he said. We should have insisted on City plans made by the people on the spot. It s silly and wasteful to design some National plan in washing ton and impose it on the he said the mayor of a City should form citizens committees representing a Cross Section of its population including those who Are disadvantaged to work out a coordinated plan to Deal with everything not just housing and funds to finance the completed plan should then be sought fro state and Federal governments he said. This coincides with the philosophy Eisenhower brought into the White House in 1953more autonomy on local an state Levels less authority in washing new Book Eisenhower is re searching and outlining a Book about the Anglo american Alliance during world War was the first real wartime Al Liance in history he said. There Wasno unified command among the nations that fought Napoleon. The triple entente fell apart in 1914 when Italy backed out. Even by 1918, we did thave a real Alliance. We were co belligerents have Given Eisenhower himself the lion s share of credit forthe smooth efficiency of the Allied High command in the War against times serious differences developed Between the British and Ameri can chiefs of staff nonetheless. In 1942, for example american com Manders argued vehemently for imme Diate landings in France to seize limited objectives on the Cherbourg Peninsula. The British adamantly opposed the project. The memoirs of a number of commanders reflect deep exasperation on both sides. Originally Eisenhower said he favored the plan. But in Retro Spect he added i concluded i was his projected Book he proposes to show the inner Workings of the Alliance and to go on to the formation of the North Atlantic treaty organization of which he was the first commander. The Alliance did t just happen he said. The trick was to keep every body s eyes on the main goal thing pleased me when we had these disagreements More than half of the British on the staff generally went along with me. A the Many faces of Dwight d. Eisenhower from his earliest infant Hood upper left through his Cadet Days his time As supreme Allied commander in Europe his political Grin and finally As he is today in his eighth decade fit and Busy. I warned them not to support my ideas too strongly. 1 pointed out that doing so might just Cost them a his recent Book at ease stories Tell to friends has appeared on a number of Best seller lists. The chicag Tribune called it the most readable presidential autobiography Ever published and with the exception of Jeffer son s Book it s the travel if 1 were free i d go to Vietnam and Southeast Asia right now. I want to. See Thailand and i want to visit Australia and new zealand which i be never my health is so Tricky the Doc tors won t give me an Okay. Until they do you can imagine what my wife would Golf and painting i m not a Strong As 1 used to be so i m going to get some lighter clubs. My game is Ter Rible now and they May lining a Lane that leads to Eisen Hower s farmhouse just outside Gettys Burg Are 50 Trees each the gift of a the stars and stripes Republican state party. There is flow ering quince a Bright Pink Between each of them he said. That s what m painting now. But 1 can t paint from photographs or memory the Way some Fellows can. I have to have the outdoor Light. So 1 can paint Only on saturday Sand his appointments Book reflects his wide Range of interests visits from military men politicians former Mem Bers of his Cabinet businessmen. He gave a lunch for 20 members of his class of 1915 at West Point. Again he entertained the "90th club the Republican members of Congress. The Book also shows that on july 23he saw the Baltimore orioles whip the Washington baseball team 7-3, in 11innings. As usual he plans to celebrate his birthday quietly either at the farm House or at the Home of his son re signed maj. John Eisenhower. At 77, Dwight d. Eisenhower is living life to the Hilt. Page 11
