Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Eastern Europe; Soviet Union; Eastern Mediterranean, Volume VIII

Eisenhower Library, Eisenhower papers, Whitman file

No. 616
The President to the Ambassador to the Soviet Union (Bohlen), at Berlin¹

[Washington,] February 6, 1954.

Dear Chip: I suppose that the rule is a good one that frowns upon the practice of the President writing directly to our Ambassadors abroad. Undoubtedly misunderstandings could arise if that kind of thing became a habit; but I still see no reason why a political post should prohibit anyone from an occasional attempt to communicate with old friends.

Not long ago while chatting in a group, your name came up and I was reminded of the many pleasant times we have had on the golf course together. I would truly like to get together again in a foursome that included also Cy Sulzberger² and Bunny Carter.³

The real purpose of this note, however, is to tell you every report I have on you is that no one representing America in Moscow could possibly do better than you are doing. I realize that you must live a life of continuous frustration, but obviously this is not preventing you from doing your job efficiently and well.

I would be grateful if you would convey my greetings and best wishes to the charming Mrs. Chip. My thoughts often go out to you both, and I do hope that you find compensations in your work that repay you to some extent for such disappointments as you encounter.

With warm personal regard,

Sincerely,⁴

1. Bohlen was in Berlin serving as a special adviser to the U.S. Delegation at the Four-Power Conference at Berlin, Jan. 25–Feb. 18. The mode of delivery of this letter cannot be further determined.
2. Cyrus L. Sulzberger, foreign correspondent of the New York Times.
3. Not further identified, but see Sulzberger, A Long Row of Candles, p. 616, for an account of a golfing party at a club outside Paris in March 1951 involving then General Eisenhower, Sulzberger, Bohlen, and a “Bunny Carter”.
4. The source text is not signed.