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Dwight D. Eisenhower

Dwight D. Eisenhower

(October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969). At the time of these entries, serving in the American Military Mission to the Commonwealth of the Philippines (1935-1939) or the war Plans Division (1941-1942).

June 28, 1937

a. General has directed me to get up estimates on total needs in mobilization equipment for next two years, to end of 1939. This amount,

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July 31, 1937

Have begun a campaign to instill in Philippine Army, particularly in officers, a higher regard for regulations, orders, and care of government property. Recently two

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August 25, 1937

The last week has been one of the most trying ones I’ve had on the P.I. There has been an unusually large number of difficult

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October 1, 1937

The General, a few days ago, put in his application for retirement, effective Dec. 31. Possibly that will dispose of the question of his immediate

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October 8, 1937

At 12:15 today the General had a conference (called a conference by courtesy. It was nothing but a monologue –since even when given “2 minutes”

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October 11, 1937

These notes were originally started more as an “aide memoire” –and as a matter of possible future interest have obviously become necessary as a protection

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October 18, 1937

Jim is on a trip to Hong Kong. Was offered a free ride the other day on a plane chartered by the Chinese minister of

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December 13, 1937

We had considerable excitement recently due to forced landings by three of our airplanes while they were returning from a southern island trip. On eastern

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November 10, 1938

Arrived in Manila from the States on Nov. 5, and found a vastly different situation, so far as it affects me and my work, than

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November 15, 1938

As a result of my inspection of American Armament Equipment, and of the information we’ve received from the U.S. Ord (Ord. mortars & amm.) will

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December 12, 1938

I’ve played bridge recently with Pres. Q: once for a weekend on the Casiana; once for an afternoon at Malacañan. He’s a peach of a

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January 10, 1939

Recently I gave a luncheon for 40 people at the Manila Hotel in honor of Gen. Santos, retiring Chief of Staff, and of Gen. Valdes,

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January 18, 1939

Major De Lalande, representative of Brant Co. (Paris) made another visit to Manila. He’s frightened we are going to buy a small amount of mortar

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January 21, 1939

I’ve been discussing lately, with Mamie, exactly what to do in the way of asking for a definite terminating date for my tour. When we

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March 9, 1939

Last week the 1st Boeing clipper arrived in Manila, on the same day that the first unit of Mosquito fleet, a 55-foot Thornycroft motor torpedo

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March 18, 1939

A situation has arisen that looks desperately serious for the prospects of ultimate success in the MacA. defense plan. Our annual mobilization (for training purposes

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April 5, 1939

Several days ago the President called me personally to the phone, about 6:30 P.M., asking me to come immediately to Malacañan. This was on the

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April 17, 1939

Secretary Vargas has called me on the phone several times to ask about particular subjects and each time has told me he has been instructed

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July 16, 1939

Have brought home a typewriter with the idea of using it hereafter in letter writing and in making these notes. Dictation to Filipino stenographers is

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July 20, 1939

I took my exams, early this month for “private airplane pilot,” under both the American & Philippine Bureaus. Passed successfully. So now I’m a a

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September 3, 1939

This evening we have been listening to broadcasts of Chamberlain’s speech stating that Great Britain was at war with Germany. After months and months of

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November 15, 1939

The typewriter is too intricate for me. The date of our going has been definitely fixed as Dec. 13, sailing on the SS Pres. Cleveland. Our

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December 14, 1939

We sailed yesterday on the S.S. Cleveland, via Hong Kong-Shanghai-Kobe-Yokohama-Honolulu-San Francisco. In Shanghai we are doing some shopping, principally with respect to fur coats, of

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Saturday, January 3, 1942

Becoming increasingly evident that something must be done in China. War effort lagging there; and China shows sipns of being willing to quit. Apparently the

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