54Light, I forgot about conductors! They used to wear bell caps too, as a matter of fact some still do. I see Amtrak conductors wearing them, and I believe NJ Transit conductors wear them as well. They look OK on conductors and firefighters, I'm not so sure about Marines at this late date.
I remember the story about Captain Eddies uniform, read it in his biography years ago. Rickenbacker wasn't the only American aviator who had a British-styled uniform blouse made, quite a few of them did. That high choker coller on the standard uniform was just too much for combat pilots who had to keep turning their heads constantly to look out for the bad guys, rubbed their necks raw!
In addition to advocating for air power, General Billy Mitchell also argued for an open collar blouse for the air service, and the rest of the army for that matter. Photos of General (then colonel) Mitchell at his court-martial show him wearing one. That was one suggestion the general made that the army didn't have a problem with.
The current dress blue uniform blouse the Marines wear is essentially the same as the First World War era US Army and Marine blouses, except for color. I can say from experience it's actually quite comfortable to wear if it's sized and tailored correctly, although I wouldn't want to fight in it.
Firelock, that Bell Cap looks a lot like a conductor's cap on the Long Island Rail Road when I was a kid. Not just generals designed thier own unforms. In the First World War, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker had a London tailor make him a suit along British lines. He was walking in London and an American general asked him "What the hell army are you in? He said, "Don't you like it?" and the general said yes and asked him for the address of his tailor. Eddie sure looked swell in that uniform.
And yes, thanks a lot for the pictures of Ike's train. What a way to travel!
jeffhergert Depots at Newton, Brookyn, Marengo, and Iowa City, Iowa on the Rock Island. The one at Marengo is where I spent many Saturdays back in the late 1970s. Also the line I model in N gauge. Thanks for the pictures. Jeff
Thanks for the pictures.
Jeff
From the National Archives, here is what seems to be the basic schedule of an 11-day train trip from Fort Wayne to Richmond. There may have been other stops not listed. Ike took one day off (Sept. 17) to fly to New York for a speech, and then to Davenport.
9-15-52 Fort Wayne, Indiana [whistle stop; comments on political campaign, Korea, Communism, and national debt; press release and notes; correspondence and clippings; background information on city]
9-15-52 Warsaw, Indiana [whistle stop; comments on Poland, Communism, and religious faith; press release, drafts, facts on town, and notes]
9-15-52 Plymouth, Indiana [whistle stop; agriculture, government programs, inflation, and economy; press release, draft, facts on town, and notes]
9-15-52 University of Notre Dame [whistle stop; football; spiritual values;
happiness]
9-15-52 South Bend, Indiana [whistle stop; the greatness of America and its future; faith, values, and idealism; press release, notes, and facts on city]
9-15-52 LaPorte, Indiana [whistle stop; politics, “mess in Washington,” Fair Deal, corruption, inflation, taxes, waste, Communists in government; press release, notes, and facts on town]
9-15-52 Gary, Indiana [whistle stop; Eastern Europe, freedom and right of self-determination; government spending; press release, drafts, notes, and facts on city]
9-15-52 Indiana Harbor, Indiana [whistle stop; Korea, taxes, inflation, corruption]
9-15-52 Englewood, Illinois [whistle stop; need to clean up government in
Washington; honesty; peace]
9-15-52 Joliet, Illinois [whistle stop; Korea, peace, high prices, taxes, corruption in government, crusade]
9-15-52 Aurora, Illinois [whistle stop; Communism; right to vote; problems of Korea, deficit spending, and taxes]
9-15-52 Ottawa, Illinois [whistle stop; Korea, high prices, taxes, corruption, decentralization of government power, need for change; press release, drafts, and facts on town]
9-16-52 Albert Lea, Minnesota [whistle stop; farm program; press release, draft, notes, and facts on town]
9-16-52 Owatonna, Minnesota [whistle stop; Korean War; corruption in government; inflation, taxes, national debt, rights and responsibilities of citizens; press release, draft, notes, and facts about town]
9-16-52 Faribault, Minnesota [whistle stop; inflation; partial press release copy]
9-16-52 Northfield, Minnesota [whistle stop; tribute to small colleges; moral values; Communism; growing up poor; press release, drafts, notes, and facts on town]
9-16-52 St. Paul, Minnesota [Minnesota’s clean-up of state government; draft, notes, and facts on city]
9-17-52 New York City, American Federation of Labor (1)-(5) [labor problems and issues, strikes, Taft-Hartley Act; press release, drafts, notes, and outline]
9-18-52 Davenport, Iowa [whistle stop; political campaign; Korea; Communism; national debt; taxes; corruption in government; press release, draft, and notes]
9-l8-52 Wilton Junction, Iowa [whistle stop; problems in America; need for new leadership to clean up the government]
9-18-52 West Liberty, Iowa [whistle stop; corruption in government; Communist infiltration of government]
9-18-52 Iowa City, Iowa [whistle stop; politics; peace; religious faith; atomic age; national debt and wasteful spending]
9-18-52 Marengo, Iowa [whistle stop; political campaigning; problems in world; corruption in government; high taxes]
9-18-52 Brooklyn, Iowa [whistle stop; corruption in government; inflation; taxes; communists in government]
9-18-52 Grinnell, Iowa [whistle stop; inflation; taxes; budget deficit]
9-18-52 Newton, Iowa [whistle stop; inflation; taxes; government waste; Korea; Jasper County, Iowa]
9-18-52 Des Moines, Iowa [Biblical text, “A time to keep and a time to cast away;” compares Republican and Democratic parties; need to clean-up corruption in government; inflation; taxes; trend toward the “super-state;” rights of states and communities; drafts and press release]
9-18-52 Atlantic, Iowa [whistle stop; farm program; Americanism; all-powerful central government]
9-18-52 Omaha, Nebraska (1)-(3) [government waste and corruption; “Farm Speech”-major speech on farm programs]
9-19-52 Plattsmouth, Nebraska [whistle stop; clean up Washington]
9-19-52 Nebraska City, Nebraska [whistle stop; traditional American values; government waste and corruption]
9-19-52 Auburn, Nebraska [whistle stop; problems of current administration; budget deficits; inflation; leadership]
9-19-52 Falls City, Nebraska [whistle stop; problems of current administration; budget deficits; inflation; taxes; government waste and corruption; guiding principle what is good for U.S.]
9-19-52 St. Joseph, Missouri [whistle stop; campaigning; problems of current administration; centralization of power; need to clean up government]
9-19-52 Kansas City, Missouri [major speech on government waste and corruption and inflation; taxes; central government; drafts and press release]
9-19-52 Kansas City, Missouri--Remarks on Nixon Fund
9-20-52 Pleasant Hill, Missouri [whistle stop; story re Sgt. Kuhlen and hedgerow cutters at Normandy; appeal to young Americans]
9-20-52 Sedalia, Missouri [whistle stop; Hoover Commission; need to streamline and decentralize government; budget deficits; “cleaning house”]
9-20-52 California, Missouri [whistle stop; waste and corruption in government; taxes; inflation; farm programs]
9-20-52 Jefferson City, Missouri [whistle stop; good government vs. bad
government; budget deficit]
9-20-52 Hermann, Missouri [whistle stop; government waste and corruption; budget deficit; moral values; inflation; current problems]
9-20-52 Washington, Missouri [whistle stop; good government vs. bad government; Democratic National Convention--controlled by bosses]
9-20-52 St. Louis, Missouri, National Federation of Republican Women’s Clubs (1)(2) [speech on crusade for good government; example of clean up in Kansas City; ethics and morality; government waste; national debt; need to streamline government; decentralize government; drafts, clipping, and press release]
9-20-52(?) Mississippi River Town--Draft
9-20-52 Natural Resources, Incomplete Draft
9-22-52 Evansville, Indiana [whistle stop; World War II; Korea; Berlin airlift; leadership; containment of Communism]
9-22-52 Henderson, Kentucky [whistle stop; deficit spending; tobacco]
9-22-52 Owensboro, Kentucky [whistle stop; deficit spending; need to end waste and inefficient government]
9-22-52 Louisville, Kentucky [whistle stop; rights of individuals; world crises; need for South Koreans to defend themselves; Communist subversion; taxes; peace; threat of global war]
9-22-52 Louisville, Kentucky (?) [foreign policy; Iron Curtain; crusade of ideas; U.S.-Soviet relations; policy of containment; NATO; corruption in government; draft; note--this speech may not have been delivered]
9-22-52 Louisville, Kentucky, Press Conference [comments on telephone
conversation with Senator Nixon re Nixon’s need to present his case to the public]
3 9-22-52 Cincinnati, Ohio, “Of Peace and War” (1)-(3) [major speech; Cold War; Korea; need for peace; advance of Communism; need for unified foreign policy; wasteful spending; better government; Senator Robert A. Taft; Senator John W. Bricker; drafts and press release-one draft is annotated by Robert Cutler]
9-23-52 Dayton, Ohio [whistle stop; leadership problem; inflation; budget deficits; rights of citizens; need to vote]
9-23-52 Springfield, Ohio [whistle stop; World War II; campaign; inflation; honest government]
9-23-52 Columbus, Ohio [whistle stop; references to Abraham Lincoln and President McKinley and football; the mess in Washington; record of the “fair deal” administration; corruption in government; taxes; farmers and food prices; budget deficit; Communists in government; need for clean-up in Washington]
9-23-52 Cleveland, Ohio (1)(2) [“The Menace of Inflation;” drafts; not delivered]
9-24-52 Chillicothe, Ohio [whistle stop; prestige and respect for government at home and abroad; wasteful spending; inflation; corruption; mess in Washington]
9-24-52 Portsmouth, Ohio [whistle stop; peace; Soviet threat; budget deficit; taxes; inflation; need for honest government]
9-24-52 Ironton, Ohio [whistle stop; wasteful spending; inflation]
9-24-52 Kenova, West Virginia [whistle stop; political campaigning; Senator Nixon; leadership in past seven years; peace and war; national debt; inflation; taxes; corruption in government; right to vote; clean up mess in Washington; Senator Revercomb]
9-24-52 Huntington, West Virginia [whistle stop; values; corruption in
government; budget deficit; inflation; taxes; prosperity and peace]
9-24-52 Point Pleasant, West Virginia [whistle stop; Senator Nixon; mess in Washington; security for older citizens; national debt; farm programs; corruption in government; Senator Revercomb]
9-24-52 Parkersburg, West Virginia [whistle stop; mess in Washington; budget deficits; inflation; taxes; peace; honesty in government]
9-24-52 Wheeling, West Virginia (1)(2) [general campaign topics-emphasis on domestic economic problems; two-party system; taxes; inflation; unemployment after the war; peace; prosperity; equality; responsive government; drafts; press release with introduction by Eisenhower and statement by Nixon]
9-25-52 Hagerstown, Maryland [whistle stop; poor leadership in government; Bill of Rights]
9-25-52 Frederick, Maryland [whistle stop; Nixon; pay for soldiers; rotation and tours of duty for soldiers; federal employees; first voters; women; spiritual and moral integrity]
9-25-52 Point of Rocks, Maryland [whistle stop; need for change in government]
9-25-52 Silver Spring, Maryland [whistle stop; Nixon; government failures abroad and waste and inefficiency at home; honesty and integrity; civil servants; what is good for America]
9-25-52 Baltimore, Maryland (1)-(4) [major speech on national defense; wasteful spending; budget deficits; overseas bases; defense planning; leadership; unification of armed forces; National Security Council]
9-26-52 Charlotte, North Carolina [whistle stop; commitment to campaign in the South; Fair Deal; inflation; subversion and disloyalty]
9-26-52 Winston-Salem, North Carolina [whistle stop; notes only]
9-26-52 Roanoke, Virginia [whistle stop; campaigning in the South; mother’s home state; problems in U.S. and world; budget deficits; inflation; corruption in government; honesty]
9-26-52 Petersburg, Virginia [whistle stop; Leonard Gerow; Democrats for Eisenhower; Harry F. Byrd; Robert E. Lee; reference to his mother being a “pacifist;” DDE born in Texas; pledge to voters]
9-26-52 Richmond, Virginia [government for all America; Democrats for
Eisenhower; Dr. Henry Southall Freeman; Thomas Jefferson; budget deficits; central government too powerful; Democrat control of South; mother’s roots in Virginia; Korean War; crusade to end corruption in government]
wanswheel
Depots at Newton, Brookyn, Marengo, and Iowa City, Iowa on the Rock Island. The one at Marengo is where I spent many Saturdays back in the late 1970s. Also the line I model in N gauge.
All I can say Schlimm was those two old vets were pretty annoyed about the whole thing, the WAC CO was downright indignant.
Enough on that. We'll never know for certain, what's it matter anyway?
NOW, on the cool uniforms...
The genesis of the Eisenhower, or "Ike" jacket was the battle dress jacket and uniform the British Army adopted prior to World War Two. Smart, stylish and practical it was very popular with officers and enlisted men alike. As a matter of fact the Germans were impressed with it as well. After overrunning France in 1940 the Germans captured a large stock of British BDU's. Liking them but not knowing what to do with them, they issued the Brit uniforms to U-Boat crews as on-board working uniforms.
When Eisenhower got to Britain he saw the battle dress jacket and liked the look of it himself. (He might have said "Hey, that's cool!" had the phrase existed back then. More than likely he said "Hey, that looks swell!")
Back in the World War Two era US Army general officers had the priviledge of designing their own uniforms. Considering the best men's tailors in the world happen to be in Britain it was a simple matter for Ike to have had an Americanized battle jacket made for himself. Other US Army generals liked the look so they just had to have one too. And so a trend was started that eventually spread to the whole army.
On the other side of the world the US Marines picked up on the look, but from another source. When the 1st Marine Division was withdrawn from Guadalcanal to Australia their uniforms were in tatters, so they were re-uniformed from Australian stocks. Lo and behold the Aussies were using British style battle dress as well, but with a greenish cast to the material, which suited the Gyrenes just fine. Eventually the Marines wound up with their own version of the Eisenhower jacket. And yeah, it looked swell!
Oh, those funny-lookin' hats the Marines were pictured wearing in a previous post? Those are actually a throw-back to the "bell caps" Marines wore around the First World War period. If you've seen modern day firefighters in their dress uniforms you've seen "bell caps." The reason for the attempted revival is the manufacturer of the female Marine caps has gone out of business and apparantly the Corps can't find anyone else to make them, so the "bell cap" was dusted off after a 90 year absence as a unisex substitute. Not going to happen as far as I know, nobody likes the look. It was OK in 1918 but it's hopelessly out of date in 2015. Like wearing a Civil War kepi.
Firelock76When asked why Kay Summersby would make a claim of an affair so many years later, the WAC CO said, "Well, I suppose she was just a lonely old woman trying to call attention to herself."
Maybe so, but the rumors/stories about Ike and Kay Summersby were around for many years before she "went
public." When she dictated the book about the affair, she was dying of cancer.
Additionally, Omar Bradley in his autobiography wrote that the two were in love and that "Their close relationship is quite accurately portrayed, so far as my personal knowledge extends, in Kay's second book."
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Hmmmm, Eisenhower and Kay Summersby....
Back in the 90's I was watching a series of documentaries commemorating the 50th anniversary of World War Two. One of the shows was concerned with the top generals, Eisenhower of course being a major subject.
Two of the people being interviewed were Eisenhowers orderly and the woman who commanded the WAC detachment assigned to Ikes HQ. When the subject of the affair with Kay Summersby came up they both said the same thing, "It never happened, and it couldn't have happened."
According to Eisenhowers orderly, as a VIP, in fact THE American VIP in Europe Ike was never alone. Everwhere he went he had his entourage and MP guards. When Ike turned in at night, anywhere from midnight to 1:00 AM, he had two MP guards stationed outside his room, and there was only one door. In fact, Ikes orderly had a room next to the general in case he was needed and his door was always open. No-one got past those MPs when Ike had retired.
The former WAC officer said Kay stayed in the WAC officers barracks, lights out were at 10:00, and there were MP guards stationed outside the barracks to insure the women were left alone. No-one got in or out of those barracks after they'd been secured for the evening.
When asked why Kay Summersby would make a claim of an affair so many years later, the WAC CO said, "Well, I suppose she was just a lonely old woman trying to call attention to herself."
Take it for what it's worth folks. They were there, we weren't.
I'll comment on the Ike jacket and other cool uniforms later.
tree68 BaltACD Like Ike didn't really have a wandering eye (even though we didn't know it at the time) Wasn't there something about an aide in Britain? And people in power tend to have groupies, too...
BaltACD Like Ike didn't really have a wandering eye (even though we didn't know it at the time)
Wasn't there something about an aide in Britain?
And people in power tend to have groupies, too...
Kay Summersby was his mistress in the UK, but that didn't seem to have a negative impact on his leadership.
BaltACDLike Ike didn't really have a wandering eye (even though we didn't know it at the time)
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
For BaltACD & Norm48327:
"Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac"
-----Henry Kissinger 28 Oct 1973
That seems to be a rather common trait in men of power.
Norm
Today (October 14) is the 125th anniversary of Ike's birth.
Didn't want that to slip by unnoticed in this thread.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
Regarding Slick Willie, I read that a female reporter said regarding his charisma, "I had a full-body sexual experience with Bill Clinton and all I did was shake his hand." Wish I had what Bill has.
Norm48327 wanswheel Do you suppose women would favor Slick Willie for first husband? Sorry, The Devil made me do it. LOL
Do you suppose women would favor Slick Willie for first husband?
Sorry, The Devil made me do it. LOL
Like Ike didn't really have a wandering eye (even though we didn't know it at the time)
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
wanswheel1952 marked the first presidential campaign in which the spouses of a presidential ticket were consciously marketed to women voters as part of a larger effort.
CSSHEGEWISCH When you consider that there are still a lot of people out there who consider Joseph McCarthy to be a national hero, Eisenhower had to tread very carefully around him to avoid being branded as "weak on Communism".
When you consider that there are still a lot of people out there who consider Joseph McCarthy to be a national hero, Eisenhower had to tread very carefully around him to avoid being branded as "weak on Communism".
Being intimidated by right wingers and going easy on McCarthy didn't protect Ike from the Bircher attacks on him from Koch Bros. father Fred (a founder) and especially leader Robert Welch in his book, The Politician. Here is the worst, which was removed from later printings: "Could Eisenhower really be simply a smart politician, entirely without principles and hungry for glory, who is only the tool of the Communists? The answer is yes." He went on. "With regard to ... Eisenhower, it is difficult to avoid raising the question of deliberate treason."
Personally I don't think that things in this country have EVER been the same since that day in Dallas.
schlimm NKP guy Here's what Joe McCarthy said about Gen. George C. Marshall in the early 1950's: ("General Marshall)... having made common cause with Stalin" in "a conspiracy so immense and an infamy so black as to dwarf any such venture in the history of man," and other such reckless and untrue charges. Mr. Eisenhower soon thereafter shared a stage with Sen. McCarthy and declined to reply to or comment on McCarthy's outrageous lies. Eisenhower kept silent; after all, Joe McCarthy was an important fellow-Republican. Considering that Eisenhower was Gen. Marshall's right-hand man since at least 1932 and, in fact, made Eisenhower's career for him, Harry Truman thought it was awful that Eisenhower wouldn't rise to Marshall's defence, especially given the position Ike was in on that stage. How would any of us feel when one of our best friends wouldn't come to our defence from such a lying bully? I can "like Ike" and yet be very disappointed in his failure to speak up for the truth about such a great American patriot and friend of his as Gen. Marshall, especially to the attacks by a half-crazy drunk and fool. Eisenhower was a fine President, but like all of us he had his flaws and shortcomings. So I respect what you said, Murphy Siding, but to me this wasn't about a mere difference of opinion between two political rivals, Eisenhower and Truman. Harry Truman did have lots of opinions (many of which I share), but he stood up for his friends. May JoeMcCarthy and his ilk rot in Hell. Agree. I like Ike, too. I think he was one of our better presidents since WWII, but his standing on a platform in WI with a scoundrel like "Tailgunner Joe" was not a profile in courage.
NKP guy Here's what Joe McCarthy said about Gen. George C. Marshall in the early 1950's: ("General Marshall)... having made common cause with Stalin" in "a conspiracy so immense and an infamy so black as to dwarf any such venture in the history of man," and other such reckless and untrue charges. Mr. Eisenhower soon thereafter shared a stage with Sen. McCarthy and declined to reply to or comment on McCarthy's outrageous lies. Eisenhower kept silent; after all, Joe McCarthy was an important fellow-Republican. Considering that Eisenhower was Gen. Marshall's right-hand man since at least 1932 and, in fact, made Eisenhower's career for him, Harry Truman thought it was awful that Eisenhower wouldn't rise to Marshall's defence, especially given the position Ike was in on that stage. How would any of us feel when one of our best friends wouldn't come to our defence from such a lying bully? I can "like Ike" and yet be very disappointed in his failure to speak up for the truth about such a great American patriot and friend of his as Gen. Marshall, especially to the attacks by a half-crazy drunk and fool. Eisenhower was a fine President, but like all of us he had his flaws and shortcomings. So I respect what you said, Murphy Siding, but to me this wasn't about a mere difference of opinion between two political rivals, Eisenhower and Truman. Harry Truman did have lots of opinions (many of which I share), but he stood up for his friends. May JoeMcCarthy and his ilk rot in Hell.
Here's what Joe McCarthy said about Gen. George C. Marshall in the early 1950's:
("General Marshall)... having made common cause with Stalin" in "a conspiracy so immense and an infamy so black as to dwarf any such venture in the history of man," and other such reckless and untrue charges.
Mr. Eisenhower soon thereafter shared a stage with Sen. McCarthy and declined to reply to or comment on McCarthy's outrageous lies. Eisenhower kept silent; after all, Joe McCarthy was an important fellow-Republican.
Considering that Eisenhower was Gen. Marshall's right-hand man since at least 1932 and, in fact, made Eisenhower's career for him, Harry Truman thought it was awful that Eisenhower wouldn't rise to Marshall's defence, especially given the position Ike was in on that stage. How would any of us feel when one of our best friends wouldn't come to our defence from such a lying bully?
I can "like Ike" and yet be very disappointed in his failure to speak up for the truth about such a great American patriot and friend of his as Gen. Marshall, especially to the attacks by a half-crazy drunk and fool. Eisenhower was a fine President, but like all of us he had his flaws and shortcomings.
So I respect what you said, Murphy Siding, but to me this wasn't about a mere difference of opinion between two political rivals, Eisenhower and Truman. Harry Truman did have lots of opinions (many of which I share), but he stood up for his friends.
May JoeMcCarthy and his ilk rot in Hell.
Agree. I like Ike, too. I think he was one of our better presidents since WWII, but his standing on a platform in WI with a scoundrel like "Tailgunner Joe" was not a profile in courage.
How do you feel about Pres. Obama choosing to socialize with Bill Ayers and the delightful former Bernardine Dohrn?
54light15 A biography I read of McCarthy wrote that the only reason he joined the Marines was that it would make him a better political candidate. He like to pose for photographers in a tent and say to the Marines, "what kind of hell did you give the japs today?" An oppurtunistic piece of something unmentionable. Rot in hell, indeed along with J. Edgar Hoover, Roy Cohn, Bull Connor and other "fine upstanding Americans."
A biography I read of McCarthy wrote that the only reason he joined the Marines was that it would make him a better political candidate. He like to pose for photographers in a tent and say to the Marines, "what kind of hell did you give the japs today?" An oppurtunistic piece of something unmentionable. Rot in hell, indeed along with J. Edgar Hoover, Roy Cohn, Bull Connor and other "fine upstanding Americans."
+1
Like many pols, Joe McCarthy made up a lot of things to burnish his bio.
[Wiki] "He flew twelve combat missions as a gunner-observer, earning the nickname of "Tail-Gunner Joe" in the course of one of these missions. He later claimed 32 missions in order to qualify for a Distinguished Flying Cross, which he received in 1952. McCarthy publicized a letter of commendation which he claimed had been signed by his commanding officer and countersigned by Admiral Nimitz, then Chief of Naval Operations. However, it was revealed that McCarthy had written this letter himself, in his capacity as intelligence officer. A "war wound" that McCarthy made the subject of varying stories involving airplane crashes or anti-aircraft fire was in fact received aboard ship during a ceremony for sailors crossing the equator for the first time."
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