Among the thousands of congratulatory messages received by Dwight Eisenhower on the morning of his election was a telegram from the man he was soon to succeed. Wired Harry Truman: "Congratulations on your overwhelming victory. The 1954 budget must be presented to Congress before January 18 . . . You should have a representative meet with the Director of the Budget immediately." Then came a typical Truman slur: "The Independence will be at your disposal if you still desire to go to Korea."
Ike's first reaction to the implication that his promise to go to Korea was...
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