Eisenhower's D-Day Letter

This morning I decided to gather my previous links regarding D-Day and World War II to remember today’s importance. During the process I wanted to update my personal Facebook page with a D-Day quotation and ran across this site regarding the letter then General Eisenhower issued to the troops prior to the invasion.

The site states the D-Day letter to the troops changed the moral of the men and women that helped make the D-Day invasion a success. Without this important document the war could have been drastically changed.

The letter states:

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.
Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-1941. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory! I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!

Good Luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

Signed….Dwight D. Eisenhower

You can find the full text of the letter from the site here

Previously here at American Presidents Blog, Jennie W. posted Ike At D-Day where you can find more information.

New Ronald Reagan Statue Unveiled

A new statue of Ronald Reagan was unveiled today at the Capitol.

President Obama also recently signed the act to set up a commission for Reagan's Centennial, which will be in 2011.

So who is Reagan replacing at the Capitol? Thomas Starr King, a 19th century San Francisco Unitarian preacher. This article also gives a little information on the creation of the statue and Mrs. Reagan's assistance with it:

When Nancy Reagan saw a model of her husband's statue, she complained that the late former president's pants were too long and that he looked a little too serious.

So Chas Fagan, a painter and sculptor from Charlotte, N.C., went back to work. He made the pants break above the shoe and studied videos of the president telling jokes. He settled on Ronald Reagan's expression just before the punch line, which showed a hint of a smile every time.

Mrs. Reagan called the finished statue "a wonderful likeness."

His Accidency Stood the Test

Tyler’s rise to the Oval Office caused great controversy regarding a question of succession after President Harrison’s death on April 4, 1841.

Previously here at American Presidents Blog, Jennie W posted His Accidency, a post about how John Tyler came to be the occupant of the White House. His Accidency was a nickname given to President Tyler by his critics due to the events that opened the Oval Office to him.

Over at History Is Elementary I’ve taken at look at little sidebar to the Tyler presidency called the Dorr Rebellion. You can obtain some background regarding the rebellion from my post here.

Through the process of researching the events that took place I discovered an exchange of letters between Governor King of Rhode Island and President Tyler. Governor King wanted Tyler to issue a letter that would convince the Dorrites (those demanding a new state constitution) that “in a contest with the governor of the state they would be involved with a contest with the government of the United States.”

During this time Tyler was not only having to deal with critics calling him His Accidency he was also attempting to establish a political base so that he could be elected president in his own right. He understood that he would need to tread lightly when involving the executive branch in state legal matters.

In his communications to Governor King Tyler encouraged calm and provided his opinion that more men should be allowed to vote in Rhode Island. Finally, Tyler advised he would only send in troops if violence occurred. He also sent an observer to Rhode Island to assess the situation.

This Britannica link provides text from one of President Tyler’s letter.

An essay at this site and part two of the essay provide more information regarding the communication between President Tyler and Governor King.