April 5, 1950
My dear Mr. President:
Thank you very much for your most kind letter.
Mary continues to improve and both X rays and doctors' reports assure us that the first operation achieved all that had been hoped. She now faces the second one. Alice will go to Saranac on Sunday and the operation is scheduled for a week from today. They will take out portions of three more ribs which will complete the collapse of that part of the lung which has been affected. We are all very hopeful that after this hurdle has been surmounted, her recovery will be rapid and complete. She is very touched at the interest which both you and Mrs. Truman have taken in her troubles and asked me to add her gratitude to Alice's and mine.
I was very glad to have the transcript of your press conference and was again grateful for the strong and effective support which you gave in the clear analysis of the issue which is involved. Bridges is, I believe, coming around, although he may feel it is necessary to have one last fling in response to your press conference. I am hoping that he will not do this, but he has a date to spend some time with me on Friday afternoon at my house. We are going over the various grievances which he has against me. I do not know yet what they are, but hope that a good talk, eased with some bourbon, may result in eliminating what I am sure are misunderstandings.
After talking with you yesterday and receiving your most helpful instructions, I kept my appointment with Vandenberg. The poor fellow has great troubles-he went to the hospital this morning to have painful lumbar punctures in an effort to find the reasons for very acute pains which he has been having in his right leg. And Mrs. Vandenberg is very ill, indeed.
He was greatly cheered by the message which I brought him from you that we could accept his suggestion of inviting Dulles to become an advisor here. We went over that matter thoroughly, as well as the whole question of the bipartisan approach. He assured me that, to the full limits of his strength, he would keep in touch with us and support us with his colleagues on the Hill.
He also agreed, and kept his agreement, to telephone Dulles last night and urge him strongly to accept our invitation and not haggle about titles, duties, et cetera, but to pitch in and help to the best of his ability.
This morning I talked with Dulles who went so far toward accepting the invitation as to ask me to prepare a statement on the subject to be discussed with him this afternoon at four o'clock. He asked me whether I thought it was desirable that he should talk with you before reaching a final decision. I told him that I thought that this was not necessary because I understood your views very fully and had reflected them faithfully to him. Furthermore, I told him that if his decision was delayed for a week, pending your return, the matter was sure to leak and be presented in a way which would not be nearly as satisfactory as a clear-cut announcement. I hope that this meets with your approval. It seemed to me that an interview with you at this stage would tend to unduly magnify the significance of this step.
He inquired what I thought he should say if he were asked whether this announcement was connected in any way with the possibility of his running for the Senate this fall. He said that his own view was that his real interest lay in work upon the matters now pending in the Department and that he was quite clear that he would not be interested in seeking elective office. I told him that I was very clear that it was not in your mind or in mine to make any deal of any sort and that he could say, if he wished, that no commitments of any sort were asked for by either of us, or given by him. We are interested solely in the job to be done here and the most effective way of doing it. He seemed quite satisfied with this. It seemed to me most important that no unfounded rumors of a supposed deal should get abroad or exist in any way in his own mind. When I hear from him I shall let you know at once, but thought that you might be interested in this more detailed account of our discussion.
Last night at dinner I had a good talk with John Snyder who is very happy indeed at this development. We both agreed most emphatically with the views expressed in your letter that we are winning this fight and we are clear that the reason for it is the unwavering firmness and support which you have given throughout these difficult weeks.
I hope that the days in Key West have done everything that could be hoped to give you rest and health. Those are national assets of great importance.
Most respectfully,
Dean Acheson
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