Notes+from+President+Eisenhower's+Speech+Writer

Excerpts from notes from the day by C.D. Jackson, Speechwriter and Special Assistant to the President, November 27, 1953: http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/dl/McCarthy/CDJacksonNotesfromday112753pg1.pdf

[...] Tuesday night McCarthy made sensational radio and television talk. My impression was aside from open season on lambasting Truman, that McCarthy had...attempted to establish McCarthyism as Republicanism, and anybody who didn’t agree was either a fool or a protector of Communism.

Wonderful syllogism—I am the only effective rooter-outer of Communists; there are still Communists in Government; this Government headed by Eisenhower; therefore unless Eisenhower roots them out my way, he is a harborer of Communists.

Wednesday, James Reston [a prominent newspaper columnist] phoned to talk about this, and I told him I knew nothing about it, as [the] Pres[ident was] out of town and I had had no discussions on the subject.

He asked me personally what I thought, and I replied that I thought McCarthy had declared war on the President.

Sent memorandum to [White House Chief of Staff] Sherman Adams to that effect, suggesting President be prepared with right question and answer for next press conference.

Excerpts from notes from the day by C.D. Jackson, Speechwriter and Special Assistant to the President, November 30, 1953: http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/dl/McCarthy/CDJacksonnotesfromday113053pg1.pdf

Staff meeting of White House staff called by [White House Press Secretary James] Hagerty.... Hagerty opened up by mentioning recent Reston, Folliard, and Harsch pieces [newspaper columns] each one of which contained anonymous attribution to White House personnel. He cautioned against talking, saying that it inevitably was embarrassing to the President, etc., etc....

After moment of dead silence, I said that I had told Reston on the telephone the item he had in quotes, namely, that McCarthy had declared war on the President—and that this gave me an opportunity to say some more on the subject.

I went into the matter completely, including going back to Campaign speech in Milwaukee when Marshall reference deleted. Warned them that this Three Little Monkeys [See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil] act was not working and would not work, and that appeasing McCarthy in order to save his 7 votes for this year’s legislative program was poor tactics, poor strategy,...and poor arithmetic, and that unless the President stepped up to bat on this soon, the Republicans would have neither a program, nor [the upcoming midterm election in] 1954, nor [the presidential election in] 1956....

Also I made proposition that the President substitute television appearance Wednesday for his scheduled press conference and face up before the nation to this declaration of war. Was appalled to discover that it had been planned to cancel the press conference and have the President go to Bermuda having said nothing. Big rhubarb [“Big deal”]....