The collection contains personal and business-related correspondence consisting of over 200 typed and handwritten notes and letters covering the years 1947-1968. Many of the letters and notes acknowledge gifts of books given to the President by Mr. Black, while a few discuss political issues policy questions. Also included are correspondence to the Blacks from Eisenhower’s White House staff, contracts, inauguration programs and other Eisenhower ephemera. Numerous copies of Eisenhower’s book Crusade in Europe, written in 1948, many of which are translated into Arabic, Hebrew, Danish, Polish and other languages, are included in the collection.
Douglas Black with Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Collection Overview
Dwight David “Ike” Eisenhower (1890-1969) served as the 34th president of the United States from 1953-1961. Eisenhower was Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during World War II and a five-star Army general. In this role he was responsible for planning and execution of Allied invasions of France and Germany which led to the end of the war in Europe. Following WWII, Eisenhower served as supreme commander of the newly-created North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Eisenhower is generally regarded as one of the greatest presidents in U.S. history. Under his leadership, negotiations with China ended U.S. involvement in the Korean conflict and the U.S. kept pace with the Soviets as the Cold War intensified. Domestically, Eisenhower signed legislation creating the interstate highway system and the St. Lawrence Seaway, expanded social security and removed Sen. Joseph McCarthy from power.
Douglas M. Black was president of the publisher Doubleday and Co., which published Eisenhower’s four autobiographical books. Eisenhower and wife Maime became close friends with Black and his family over the course of some 20 years.