Letter, President Dwight D. Eisenhower to Clyde Miller Regarding Julius and Ethel Rosenberg

THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON June 10, 1953. Personal and Confidential Dear Clyde: Thank you very much for your thoughts on the Rosenberg con- viction. It is extremely difficult to reach a sound decision in such instances. Not all the arguments are on either side. I started studying the record of the case immediately after Inauguration, and have had innumerable conferences on it with my associates, Several of the obvious facts which must not be forgotten are 3 "0 these. The record has been reviewed and re-reviewed by every appropriate court in the land, extending over a period of more than two years. In no single instance has there been any sug- gestion that it was improperly tried, that the rights of the ac- cused were violated, that the evidence was insufficient, or that there was any factor in the case which justified intervention on the part of the Executive with the function of juridical agencies. As to any intervention based on considerations of America's reputation or standing in the world, you have given the case for one side. What you did not suggest was the need for considering this kind of argument over and against the known convictions of Communist leaders that free governments and especially the American government -- are notoriously weak and fearful and that consequently subversive and other kind of activity can be conducted against them with no real fear of dire punishment on the part of the perpetrator. It is, of course, important to the Communists to have this con- tention sustained and justified. In the present case they have even Personal and Confidential