World War II-dated ALS signed “Ike,” three pages, 8 x 10.5, no date but circa November 10, 1943. Letter to his wife, Mamie D. Eisenhower, in full: "Happy Birthday!! By coincidence your request for some socks came in just as Lee was wrapping up two pairs of supposedly good ones that I had finally gotten out of Italy for your birthday present. It was the best I could do, but if I can get some more I will. Anyway, they come with all my love for your 47th birthday on Nov. 14. I‘m sorry if I failed to tell you anything about my birthday party. Lee worked it up & having heard me express a desire to taste lobster again, he procured some on the black market at the highest prices I ever heard of. Luckily I did not learn the cost until after the dinner, or I would have choked.
He had Air Chief Marshall and Lady Tedder; Capt. Briggs (a WAC in office of C/S), Mrs. Kay Summersby, my driver & secretary, Colonel Gault, a British officer I like a lot, Lee himself and one or two junior staff officers. We had a really fine dinner, everybody cleared out at 10:00, and that's all there was to it. Your presents were all I received except one or two items from total strangers. This country is too stripped of things to buy to have any luck getting presents. When in Algiers—which I am not very much these days—I get in almost an hour's riding every other day. I‘m away so much that l don't get to exercise, though, as I should.
The people that work for me intimately (my own official family) are: Butch—diary, visitors, house. / Lee—office, trips, transportation, adv. C.P. / Marshall—in charge of clerks—No. 1 stenog. In Charge of office when rest are gone. He is a W.O. / Kay Summersby—1st driver—in charge of unofficial mail from unknown people. / Mickey—Personal orderly and chief factotum. / Sgt. Farr—steward / Miss Chik, Miss Ray, Miss ?? } stenographers and clerks (enlisted WACS). / Miss Scott & Hargreaves (drivers) WACS. / Several darkies—cooks—houseboys—etc.
That is the whole group. All are nice—and I think are all personally devoted to me. So far it's been quite a happy family. Most of them seem to feel they know you and John—you‘re often talked about…I’ve had several letters from Gettysburg. Naturally I don’t know the writers but they all speak so glowingly of you that I’ll answer. I love you—how I’d like to be with you on the 14th.” In fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope, addressed in type to his wife at the Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, signed on the left side in fountain pen with a censorship signature, “Dwight D. Eisenhower."
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