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Rose Mary Woods Name/Subject File: Bobst, Elmer
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DOCUMENT WITHDRAWAL RECORD (NIXON PROJECT)
DOCUMENT
DOCUMENT
NUMBER
TYPE
SUBJECT/TITLE OR CORRESPONDENTS
DATE
RESTRICTION
1
Tel
Elmer Bobst to RM W [oods]
3/16/69
D
con
re: [ Comments on Presidential
IP.
memo
supporter]
Elmer Bobst toRM Weoods] re',
7/27/71
B, D
2
[Tel?]
[FTC and proposed arrangement
Poss.E
Con
memo
of warner-Lambert with
3pp.
Parke Davis] Cover memo
C.
to case file; top item
now : Node for Peter [Flanigan?]
n.d., ["Hold separate"
arrangement FTC
has requested Warner- Lambert
company to use in regard to
Parke- Davis company]
FILE GROUP TITLE
BOX NUMBER
WHSF President's Personal Files
[RMW] Alpna- Subject File
9521
FOLDER TITLE
Bobst Elmer
RESTRICTION CODES
A. Release would violate a Federal statute.
E. Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or finar
B. National security classified information.
cial information.
C. Pending or approved claim that release would violate an individual's
F. Release would disclose investigatory information compiled for law
rights.
enforcement purposes.
D. Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy or a
G. Withdrawn and return private and personal material.
libel of a living person.
H. Withdrawn and returned non-historical material.
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
GSA FORM 7279 (10-79
Elmer Bobst to rmw
Cancer Project: I spoke to the President about this over a year
ago. Yarborough got it. The majority of the Sanators voted for
this to go ahead. It is completed. I have been to severam meetings --
it is in a form where the Congress will act on it. I have included
in my letter to you a letter from Ted Kennedy - - he, I think, widx
would like to initiate this. I don't want him to. I would like
to see this in the President's State of the Union message.
It will be about 330 million dollars this year. It is the most
vital thing and emphasize this.
Health: RN should talk to Dr. Charles Edwards best informed man
FDA - he is well informed in medicine and business. I would like
the Boss to have kxtax a talk with him.
Talk to Ed Morgan Elmer wants this in the President's speech.
It is kind of a quick report that the President ought to read.
You ought to read it too. I don't want Kennedy to put ixxx it in.
Get the special attention.
HEW should do this.
The President ought to take a deep interest in this because it
probably is one of the most important facing us.
February 25, 1969
Dear Mr. Bobst:
Just before leaving for Europe, Rose Mary
asked me to tell you how much Tricia and
Julie enjoyed seeing the booklet which you
mentioned to them when you had lunch
together in December.
She asked that, as you requested, I return
the booklet to you for your files.
Rose Mary, I know, would want me to send
her very best wishes to Mrs. Bobst and
to you.
Sincerely,
Marjorie Acker
Secretary to
Rose Mary Woods
Mr. Elmer Bobst
201 Tabor Road
Morris Plains, New Jersey
ma
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS PROJECT
DOCUMENT CONTROL RECORD
ITEM REMOVED FROM THIS FILE FOLDER
Restricted document has been removed. See document
entry number
/
on Document Withdrawal Record
(GSA Form 7279) or NARS Withdrawal Sheet (GSA Form
7122), located in the front of this folder, for a
description of the item and an explanation for its
removal.
NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS SERVICE
NLN Form 101 (6-79)
ELMER HOLMES BOBST
7 EAST 60TH STREET
NEW YORK, N.Y. 10022
December 15, 1970
Miss Rose Mary Woods.
Dear Miss Woods:
Mr. Bobst asked that I send these to you
for transmittal.
Do hope you have a very nice holiday.
Sincerely,
Carolyn Jackson
Elmer Bobst to rmw
4/15/71
He said when he was at the WH for the dinner following the session
in Stans' office, the President asked him what he thought of the
meeting and he said he would write. Then he decided to call and
tell rmw:
He thought McCracken made a very bad impression on this group.
He is not a good speaker - siven onk imgxmxmx
he does not know how to talk effectively. The
questions he was asked by the group - major question - will there be
any control of wage and prices - hi S answer XX was a stazz stock
answer -- that the President would not go for it. He did not go into
any reasons why or anything else.
When he was asked about the economy it was julax jumbled - you could
not get much out of it one way or the other. He did not say the economy
will be better -- people who were there were disappointed by his
performance.
I got tired of the same question - wage and price controls and asked
"How long are we going to permit the unions to run the United States
of America? Are we going to go to the point where Great Briain is
-- where we have no control?
I don't have much for economists -- I use my own judgment. We will
have a better record than last year. January was bad - February picked
up -- March came along good. First week in April was not too good but
we are looking for a very good second quarter. Superior to last year.
9% higher per share ****** earning for the first quarter of last year.
I have b een against the policy of high cost of money. I think
XXX didn't think it would work -- the only way it can work is to bring
about a depression.
George Murphy communications media -- find out about it. They
****** came down to see me to get financial help. I know it is necessary
to put out the true facts -- but industries should do bxxx that by threatening
the networks that unless they tell the trut - upgrade this country rather than
down grade it.
Mexex Davies*
Meyer Davis -- of course would like to pax play for THE WEDDING
there would be no charge, etc. rmw said I thought they had already
chosen the orchestra. He could go ahead and send in his song but
HOW DO YOU UNSCRAMBLE EGGS?
We were a little surprised and a little disturbed to read that the Federal Trade
Commission seriously charges that the Warner-Lambert's last year's merger with
Parke-Davis violates the Federal anti-trust act. The FTC is a proliferating
bureau staffed with hundreds of lawyers. As set forth in Parkinson's Law, they
know they all must keep busy doing something and, of course, they know also that
if one of the young lads comes up with a bright idea that sounds like headlines
"the management" may give it a try.
The courts must eventually decide whether such trial balloons float on prejudice
or merit. With every such try many more lawyers are kept working, and eventually
again, the public must pay the bill either in taxes or in higher prices for what
they buy.
However, in the Warner-Lambert--Parke-Davis Case, the two large companies involved
were not ingenues. Both had experienced executives who knew all about the anti-
trust laws, and who hired the advice of competent and experienced counsel. Their
study showed that the chosen skillet was not hurtfully hot before they scrambled
the eggs.
From our window it looks as if the public might be better served through the
combined resources of the merger than by courting damage to public confidence
in trying a costly court attempt at unscrambling. Also, there is an almost
facious tinge coloring the FTC charge. It points out that the merger of W-L
and P-D moves them from 12th and 14th position into third largest. What's so
guilty about that? How guilty was the old third place holder? It's about as
realistic an argument as the answer of the old lady who was told that in train
collisions most of the deaths occurred in the last car. With the economic
acumen of some bureaucrats, she asked, "Why don't they leave the last car off?"
THE APOTHECARY- June 1971
Leavitt C. Parsons - Publisher
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS PROJECT
DOCUMENT CONTROL RECORD
ITEM REMOVED FROM THIS FILE FOLDER
Restricted document has been removed. See document
entry number
2
on Document Withdrawal Record
(GSA Form 7279) or NARS Withdrawal Sheet (GSA Form
7122), located in the front of this folder, for a
description of the item and an explanation for its
removal.
NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS SERVICE
NLN Form 101 (6-79)
The staff of the FTC has requested the company
have a "hold separate" commitment in respect to Parke Davis.
Such a commitment on the part of the company would make it
impossible to manage Parke Davis in a way which is necessary
to revitalize it and to make it a truly competitive unit in the end. >
xAs If such a "hold separate" arrangement is imposed on the company
by the government, it would be tantamount to a divestiture order
against the merger since Warner Lambert management and board of
directors would have absolutely no control or direction over
Parke Davis. The point here is that if the staff of FTC is
successful in their efforts to obtain the "hold separate" arrangement
they NX will have indirectly cxxx accomplished theirxxxx purpose through
a procedural means even though a court might ultimately rule against
the staff afxthesex on these substantive merits of the merger. In
order for the staff to get the "hold separate" arrangement they
must obtain the agreement of the Commission itself. It is
imperative therefore that the commission not grant the staff the
"hold separate" arrangement. In view of the history of this 4NX
case and the present agreement of the company not to diminish the
reliability of the Parke Davis such a "hold separate" arrangement
is totally unnecessary and XX inappropriate. It should be kept in mind
also that "hold separate" arrangements are quite unusual when opposed
by the company and have been granted by the courts only once or twice
in highly unusual circumstances.
Dear Rose:
and
I found this article among some of my souvenirs,
and have also sent a copy to Dr. Arthur Burns.
Perhaps some day you can bring it to the
attention of the 'boss'.
Elmer Bobst
9/21/71
ADDRESS DELIVERED TO
LITITZ HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI, LITITZ, PA.
FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1951
By
MR. ELMER HOLMES BOBST
Some thousands of years ago, & thoughtful. youngman, early in. his
journey through life, sought counsel of the King as to what steps he might
take to make the journey a success. So he asked the King -- a very wise man
whose name happened to be Solomon -- what he should acquire to make his life
fruitful and successful. King Solomon stroked his chin for a while, then
said, "Young man, acquire knowledge -- yes, that is the principal thing --
therefore, acquire knowledge. But, hold a moment, not knowledge alone, but
with all your getting be sure to also get understanding." And, that is my
theme tonight.
Abysmal ignorance of the basic laws of harmonious living is man's
greatest tragedy. From this lack of knowledge springs every social calamity
that can befall mankind, such as, suspicion, greed, hatred, suffering, poverty,
and war. All men instinctively know that these evils were not meant to be.
Every thinking person is surely aware that if the inestimable amounts of money
and human energy dissipated in war and lesser social and class conflicts were
diverted into constructive channels, there would be a peace and security that
would pass all understanding.
Men the world over are seeking a plan for improving human relations.
They are looking for a sort of blueprint to guide them in the erection of a
permanent structure for peaceful living. Alas, no such blueprint exists
today. Nor, I may add, is there any truly unselfish concerted effort on the
part of all the so-called free nations of the world to produce one. Due mainly
to selfish interests, it seems impossible for even free nations to see eye to ey
The vigorous and phenomenal growth of Communism during the past
two decades, however, can be attributed, in the main, to the fact that it
has, and has had, a well defined blueprint for its course of action. Every
school child in Russia and the satellite nations is taught Marxist ideology
and thoroughly familiarized with the plan for world domination.
- 2 -
But, has it ever occurred to you that such an ideology cannot be
implanted into the minds of people and grow and flourish unless the ground
be fertile? Have you not observed that throughout the world, Communism
follows in the pathway where poverty, suffering, and disease -- yes,
starvation and death -- have been rampant for many years? It has pushed
forward as destructively and surely as a swiftly moving avalanche where there
have been inefficient and inhuman governments
in most cases, the
result of exploitation by stronger nations
nations such as
Great Britain, France, and, sorry to say, our own United States.
Possessed of an insatiable greed, we and these companion nations
have fed on the very life blood of struggling millions of our fellow beings
with eyes blind to their terrible suffering. Is it any wonder that the
whole of Asia, including India with its teeming millions, may well become
engulfed by Communism? Surely everyone knows that year after year hundreds
of thousands of Chinese, Indians, and other Asiatic peoples needlessly die
of starvation. The average life span of these unfortunate peoples is less
than forty years, in sharp contrast to our span of sixty-seven years.
Have England and the United States taken any steps to eradicate
or even to mitigate this terrible situation? Certainly none on any wide
scale. Bear in mind that these Asiatic people ask only the bare necessities,
not the luxuries, of life -- are seeking only the right to live. But from
the days of the Clipper ships right down to the present time, the Western
world has fattened on the misery of the East instead of striving to help
the Eastern peoples solve their sad economic problems. Right now -- today --
even with the full knowledge that the goods she sells serve to kill her boys
in Korea and our boys as well, England is loathe to cut off business relations
with the Chinese Reds in Hong Kong.
- 3 -
Greed is, indeed, a loathsome and terrible monster. Our own country
has spent hundreds of millions of dollars for guns, aeroplanes, and other
implements of war which were sent to China. Yes, millions and millions for
weapons of death for these starving, impoverished people, but scarcely a
dollar for rice to keep them from starving. What a sad commentary on our
knowledge and understanding of the basic problems of Asia.
And so today, we are reaping in Korea the full and bitter harvest
of our lack of knowledge and true understanding. The same lack that has been
responsible for most of our national and international follies through the
years. Our interest and England's interest in China is a business interest --
an interest in gaining as many dollars or pounds as possible -- and nothing
more or beyond this. And the result is that we must stem the tide of
Communism in the East with bullets and the sacrifice of American lives because
we would not bother to develop a plan that would give these people the right
to live.
Even in the future, as right now, in the event that we stay the
progress of Communism after killing a million or more Chinese and Koreans,
we still will have no plan, no blueprint for living harmoniously with the
peoples of the East. What a terrible lack of understanding! What a
frightful penalty to pay!
The issue of Communism versus Democracy will never be finally
solved on the battlefield. It will only be solved when the free and
relatively prosperous nations of the world unite in the development of an
intelligent plan or course of action that will materially decrease and
eventually eliminate needless sorrow, suffering, privation and want that
prevail among at least half of the world's population. This is, indeed,
a formidable and gigantic problem but it is entirely due to man's woeful
- 4 -
and willful ignorance of the economic and political phases of his existence.
Today, we know very little more about these phases than we knew
about the physical or material phases of our existence a few centuries
ago. Despite our imperfect knowledge of the fundamental facts, momentous
decisions are reached and important laws are made. And, one of the most
discouraging features of man's ignorance of the basic and true facts of
his economic and political existence is his refusal to learn or benefit
by past mistakes.
The peoples of the world have been making at least a half-hearted
effort to get along with one another for five or six thousand years that we
know of. Several times during this period of time, great civilizations
and nations have arisen and progressed to proud heights of development only
to eventually collapse through their own weaknesses. Historical documents
which record the true and basic facts of these failures are available to
anyone who has the desire to consult them. Yet, no really comprehensive,
constructive effort has ever been made to gather the essential truths that
would establish the definitive reasons for the self-destruction of these
civilizations and nations. Our delvings into history have been more out of
curiosity, for amusement, or as a pastime, then for the advancement of
humanity. Serious, even profound, students of history have acquired at
best a fragmentary knowledge of the subject and developed equally fragmentary
theories of a very nebulous nature. This lack of a total, complete, and
comprehensive knowledge of the economic and political phases of his existence
must be responsible for man's repetition, time and again, of age-old errors.
When we are charting economic and political courses, why do we
completely ignore the tragic and costly mistakes of past generations?
"
not knowledge alone, but also acquire understanding." We must
- 5 -
seek the truth, constantly bearing in mind that until we find it or truth
finds us, we are groping our way, guided only by unstable theories based on
half truths.
Tremendous benefits flow to the earnest searcher for the truths
of life. One such benefit is the gradual freeing, the emancipation, from
prejudice, of prime importance if understanding is to be acquired. Prejudice
is one of the major obstructions to harmonious living. Prejudice begets
fragmentary thinking which, in turn, precludes complete knowledge of the
whole. Without complete knowledge of the whole, it is impossible to reach
intelligent conclusions. We are as the three blind men examining an elephant.
The one holding the tail said, "It's a vine!" The one holding the trunk said,
"No, it's a huge snake!" The third, who had hold of 2. leg, cried, "My friends,
you both are wrong; it is a tree!"
During the past fifty years, there have been great advances in
all fields of the material or physical sciences: physics, chemistry, medicine,
engineering. There have been countless inventions perfecting our means of
communication and travel and lessening toil. This has permitted more hours
of relaxation and rest. Unfortunately, however, not much, if any, progress
has been made in improving human relations. Within considerably less than
a half century, there have been two World Wars, and perhaps another is in
the making. Millions of lives have been lost and billions and billions of
dollars have been spent. The people of the world's nations do not want war,
but, sadly enough, no one seems able to find the way of preventing war.
I cannot help but feel that the fault is due mainly to lack of
knowledge and, of course, understanding. I have mentioned how deficient
we are in our knowledge and understanding of the economic and political
phases of our existence. I have dared to express the hope that a complete
- 6 -
and comprehensive review of history might provide the true and total knowledge
that could lead to a permanent and enduring peace in the future.
Now, I want to mention another field of knowledge in which we
are again all too deficient. It is, using the term in its broadest sense,
the field of psychology. We must know more about the process of thinking.
To sum up, I strongly feel that all of us should pay more attention
to history -- ancient, medieval, and modern. Serious study of history may
provide at least a working knowledge of the basic facts of the economic
and political phases of our existence. Lastly, we should all strive for
some insight into the marvelous workings of the human mind. If the world
is to survive and America to retain its place as the leading free nation,
then we Americans must acquire more and more knowledge and, particularly,
understanding. These are the components of wisdom.
Remember, too, that every American must actively and intelligently
participate in the affairs of the Nation, the State, the City, and the
Community. This is imperative if we are to safeguard the freedoms we have
so dearly won. We must overcome our inertia and indifference to the
problems of the future. We must no longer debate to what end and to what
purpose we embark upon philosophic speculation about the morrow. We dare
not subscribe to the spirit-soothing concept that much of today's unknown
will be well understood tomorrow, simply because matters of common knowledge
today were baffling mysteries yesterday. It is for us to determine today
what the morrow shall bring forth.
"Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom and with all
thy getting, get understanding. Exalt her and she shall promote thee! She
shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine
- 7 -
head an ornament of grace -- a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee."
Heed these exhortations of wise King Solomon. If you do so, my young friends,
when taking an inventory of your accomplishments 50 years hence, you will
not find, as so many do in the autumn of life, only fragments of fond hopes
and fine dreams
and long-faded pictures of castles built in the
air.
ELMER HOLMES BOBST
7 EAST 60TH STREET
NEW YORK, N. Y. 10022
October 15, 1971
Dear Rose:
As you probably remember, through the offices of the New
York University, a book concerning the life of Elmer Holmes
Bobst is being written. Unfortunately, the efforts of the
original writer, selected by the University, produced a manu-
script which was not acceptable to Dr. Hester, the President,
and several of his top professor-advisors. So, instead of
a biography, they have persuaded me to produce an autobiog-
raphy. A well equipped pro has been engaged to put together
various episodes of my life as produced by me through tape
recordings and, to an appreciable extent, by direct dictation.
The writer in question has asked for. all kinds of articles,
speeches, etc. that I have been guilty of delivering in past
years. I came across two of these yesterday which I thought
might prove interesting reading for you, in view that the
one indicates I envisioned the untoward economic state of
our country already in 1946. The conditions, which I
referred to at that time, were in respect to quantity and
cuality of productivity.
The second letter was sent to President Kennedy, Jan. 7, 1963.
It brought to his attention a message which I gave to all
the Roche employees in the midst of the great depression in
1932. Perhaps you will find that message of some interest
to you.
Trusting and hoping that each day serves to make you both
stronger and closer to your normal zest and mental satis-
faction in your wonderful help to the 'Boss'.
As ever,
Elmer
Miss Rose Mary Woods
The White House
Washington, D. C. 20500
An address by Mr. E. H. Bobst at
the Maldorf-Astoria Hotel on
October 30, 1946 at a Dinner sponsored
b; the Federal Reserve Bank for the
purpose of launching a U.S. Savings Bond
Drivo - Attended by 450 industrialists
ropresenting about 1,000,000 employees
I am choosing for my subject tonight a topic
with which I am well acquainted and in which everyone is vitally
interested. My subject is health, and I am familiar with it be-
cause I have been engaged in the drug business practically all of
my business life. Now I could talk to you for hours about the
many wonderful discoveries in modicino since I first bogan to
fill prescriptions about forty years ago. I could toll you all
about the old treatments for the dovastating diseases that beset
mankind and, as a striking contrast, toll you of the modorn methods
for bridling diphtheria, smallpox, tuberculosis, diabetes, pnoumonia
and syphilis. I could deal with the amazing action of the sulfa
drugs and the antibiotics, Penicillin and Streptomycin, but, in-
stead, I am going to turn from physical health or well-being to
the subject of moral health and, noodless to romark, the latter
depends vitally ori the former. Of course, real happiness in life
is dopondont upon both physical and moral well-being, and the
point I wish to make is that we cannot have olthor of them for
any length of time in full measure unless WO have economic good
health.
You and I tonight can woll be concerned about the
economic hoalth of our beloved country. My forefathers settled
along an Indian trail in eastorn Pennsylvania back in 1732. Within
a short period thereafter, forty thousand immigrants settled in
those parts, built their log cabins, cleared the land and raised
their crops.
-2-
Those early Pennsylvania Dutch helped mightily
to make our country great, for their philosophy was woven about
two groat virtues, WORK and THRIFT. When George Washington noeded
monoy badly during the sagging period of the Revolution, he sont
Robert Morris to get the cash from the Ponnsylvania Dutch. When
Abc Lincoln found the Treasury becoming lean during the Civil War,
hc sent Jay Cook up to the Pennsylvania Dutch togot the cash, and
during the first and second World Wars, the samo Pennsylvania
Dutch again made onviable records in supplying the cash by buying
War Bonds. Not only the Pennsylvania Dutch, from which I sprung,
but all of our carly pionoors bolioved in the virtue of both work
and thrift. It was on those mighty foundation stones, quarried
from the rugged character of our forefathers, that our great
Country was built.
Today, and ever since the end of the war, com-
montators, and editorial writers alike, keep screaming and ranting
about the Rod menace, warning us of the dirc things which are
happening because of the inroads of Communism. If we can maintain
our oconomic good health, I hold we need have no roal worry about
Communism or any other "isms", any more than a man of vigorous
well-being need worry about catching a cold. Every one of us
every day has a multitudo of deadly gorms breathed into our lungs
or takon in with our food, but we don't get sick as long as our
body defonse is up to par. Thore will not be any destructive in-
road of Communism to weaken or kill our domocracy so long as we
keep the economic health of our wonderful country up to par.
No, I am not worried about the Rods, but with
you fellow industrialists, I am sadly disturbod because of the
falso philosophy which has taken deep root among our people those
past ton or fiftoon years. I mean the fallacious idea that it is
-3-
progressively possible for man to work less and less and to ro-
coive more and more in return. It just doesn't make senso'. We
must do something about it. We must take the responsibility for
our oconomic health out of the hands of monte banks and charlatans -
and by we I mean you and mc. The battle cry for Election Day noxt
Tuesday is "throw the incompetents and radicals out. If I am for
that; lot's throw them out. What I am worried about is the fostor-
ing focal infection which is gnawing at the vital guts of America;
the mass disinclination to work hard and the mass desire to got
something for nothing. Our country did not become great because
of political strategists. It bocame great in spite of politicians.
The strength of any country is novor greater than the moral strength
of its citizenship. There must bo, first of all, strength in the
home. Strength is born of self-depondence. There must be self-
interost in home and self-interest in our country.
And so, my fellow industrialists, let us begin
to preach the doctrine of work and thrift and strive, by & close
and ever fairer brotherly relationship with our employees, to woan
them away from the fallacious concepts that are fast leading to
economic bad health and disease.
Let us start by selling our employees America -
each one of them a small part of it - by solling them U. S.
Savings Bonds. Lot us secure our vast public dobt by getting it
out of our banks and into the hands of every wago earning country-
man.
Let us make every American conscious of his
responsibility to his Government by virtuo of his financial in-
terest in his country. Let us drive home to him the fact that
-
the integrity of the bond he now holds is dependent vitally on
his buying more bonds. We follow industrialists have within our
hands the rosponsibility of kooping our country healthy. Lot us
strive to our utmost to soll true Americanism to our workers and
lot us, ourselves, exemplify in every way by our treatment of our
fellow countrymen, rogardless of raco, color, or creed, that we
are roal Americans. Let's so hero, there and yonder, preaching
the sound doctrine of work, thrift, tolerance and brotherly lovo.
In a fow minutos you will SOC a wonderful moving
picture entitled, "Amorica the Beautiful". It will show you the
wonders of our beloved country - magnificont snow-covered moun-
tains, groat rivers, giant trees and the broad oceans lapping our
shoros. It will also show you fiolds of goldon grain, smoke belch-
ing factories and fovorish industry, properly shaded by scenes of
America at play. Oh, America is boautiful and America is great.
Lot us keep it SO. Let us hood the ringing call for true American-
ism. For Columbia is calling -- calling as she nover called be-
foro, "Give me mon to match my mountains; give mo mon to match my
vales; give me men to match my rivors! Givo me mon -- give me mon!"
January 7, 1963
The President
The White House
Washington, D. C.
My dear Mr. President:
The following letter, which I
addressed to some 2000 employees during the dard days
of 1932, might prove to be an inspiration to the members of
both houses, regardless of their respective parties.
"Everyone of us is fully aware of
the chaotic state of the economic situation in our
country and in every other country of the world. As to
when the untoward conditions will improve, no one knows
nor dare to venture an intelligent opinion. Certainly we
cannot look for any improvement in our country until
there are some indubitable signs of a return to sanity
shown by our floundering, sadly inofficient Congress.
Incidentally, soon we will all have the highly welcomed
privilege of again selecting our representatives for
Washington. When that day comes, I admonish you to put
aside the question of political party and your past affilia-
tions. Put aside such questions as wet or dry, capital,
labor, veterans' bonus, and tariff, in the selection of your
men. Blow away all smoke screens and disregard the hales
painted over the heads of favorite candidates by the
professional politicians. Instead say, 'No vote until I turn
the searchlight on him. , Then look into his past and see
whether bis private and business life has been clean.
Determine definitely whether the candidate is first of all
honest; secondly, capable; thirdly, resolute. Send men to
Washington who will think first and last of our country's
interests and not their own. There are too many men in
public service today, who, Judas like, kiss the Stars and
-2-
Stripes and then betray our noble flag for a bag
of gold. Furthermore, apply the same standard
in choosing your men for municipal county and
state administration. Cry aloud to your fellow men
and to the heavens: 'We will have honest, capable
and resolute men only as our public servants'. "
Best wishes,
Sincerely,
Chairman of the Board
Warner-Lamhert Pharmaceutical Cc
]
Miss Woods -
From your friend Elmer Bobst.
CFJ
11/1/71
COMMITTEE TO ERECT A STATUE OF JOHN V. LINDSAY
Dear Sir:
We have the distinguished honor of being members of the Committee to raise
$50,000 to be used for the placing of a statue of John V. Lindsay in New York. The
Committee was in a quandary over the selection of a site for the statue. We thought
it was not wise to place it beside that of George Washington, who never told a lie,
nor beside that of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who never told the truth, since
John V. Lindsay does not know the difference.
After some careful consideration we decided that it should be placed beside
that of Christopher Columbus, the greatest frontiersman of them all. He started out
not knowing where he was going, or where he was when he got there -- and upon return-
ing he did not know where he had been -- and he did it all on borrowed money.
The inscription will read: "I pledge allegiance to John V. Lindsay and to
Fun City debt for which he stands, one màn, expendable with socialism and taxes for
all, except welfare takers."
Moses said to the children of Israel: "Pick up your shovels, mount your
asses and camels, and I will lead you to the Promised Land." Nearly 6,000 years
later, FDR said: "Lay down your shovels, sit on your asses, light up a Camel this
is the Promised Land." NOW John V. Lindsay is stealing your shovels, kicking your
asses, raising the price of Camels, and taking over the Promised Land.
If you are one of the few people who have money left after taxes, we expect
a contribution from you.
Very truly yours,
COMMITTEE TO ERECT A STATUE OF
JOHN V. LINDSAY
F.YI.
ELMER HOLMES BOBST
7 EAST 60TH STREET
NEW YORK, N.Y. 10022
November /11, 1971
Dear Rose:
I know that you will welcome some comments from me on the
Salute to the President Dinner, and particularly the
President's speech.
In respect to the number of seats sold, I think we approached
very closely to 1900 at $500. per, as you know. Regarding his
talk, I am happy to state that it was one of the finest and
most engaging in character that he has ever made. His words
and points were chosen with great care, and his delivery was
one of great skill. It was really an electrifying type of
speech practically nonpartisan in character but booming with
the knowledge that behind every sentence there was a clean
cut indication of leadership. I am sure this feeling pervaded
practically everyone in the audience.
There is no question in my mind that as of this time, there is
a growing awareness of the fact that our President is 'in the
saddle' with a firm grip on the bridle and is displaying leader-
ship powers, which cannot be matched by any Democratic candidate.
He must continue to create this impression without showing any
sign of weakness in the further development of wage and price
control. Labor must be forced to bow to righteousness in
the control of our country's destiny.
With love,
Elmet
August 1, 1972
MR. PRESIDENT:
Elmer Bobst called to urge that you send a message to Congress
TODAY asking for legislation to legalize capital punishment for
hijackers and kidnappers.
He thinks all of the people - particularly in view of the kidnapping
in Minnesota and the hijacking yesterday where in each case they
picked up one million dollars -- would be behind this type of
legislation dealing with these two terrible problems.
Row
Rm Woods
October 10, 1972
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Rose Dwight Mary Chapin Woods Rose
FROM:
Elmer Bobst called last week to tell me
that they are planning to dedicate the New York University
Library on his birthday, December 16th.
Elmer says it will be the most beautiful
library in the world.
Of course, they want the President to
dedicate the building and will set the time to fit with his schedule.
I do think this is one you will have to at least
check out with the President -- agree?
THANKS.
- 2 -
U
There is a general impression that there is SMERINX something
going on betweenthe White House and NVN.
----
Jim Hester just called me.
This library is going to be dedicated on December 16th - my birthdat.
It is going to be the most beautiful library in the world. You must be there.
We want the President to dedicate it - - we could set the time in
accordance with whate er plans would
Alex
Secretavy
B
n
10/2/72
Elmer Bobst to rmw:
"Ed Little - he built Colgate. He met the President on his
virst visit down - he was one of the big men in New Jersey and he
became quite interested in the Republican Party.
"He
is
91
years
old ******* now but still very active. He was
operated on by Dr. DeBacky. He said he is feeling fine. He is
very clever - he said I am calling you particularly Elmer because
I think this cGovern thing on television was very fetching. XXXX
It was put together very well -- *x his evangelistic approach is
bound to be very convincing.
Ed is very keen in advertising and promotion. He said those
programs are very fetching and will get him XX many votes.
Nxx Muskie came along and invited one million people to send in
$25.
"Ed thinks that the President should become very active but I
do not agree. The thing I am worrying about is a landslide. We
should have that to work out a good four years. McGovern can cut
into that. We will find the same thing existing as exists now
a Democratic Congress that is hostile in every
respect.
"I was disguated with the Tx New York Times trying to justify
their position yesterday their reasoning was so inept in its
character and was silly. I XX don't think they can do much harm
.
I think the reputation of the Ti es as gone down very materially -
and they are losing money now.
"I got Bill Lasdon for $100 this year. I think Jack Mulcahy may run
up to 1/2 million - but of course he is dealing direct this time rather
thatn through me.
I am going to a party for Gregor this week. I saw him a couple
of weeks ago when Ixwxxxx he was up here. I think our chances of New
York State XXXXX and our general chances all the way through are not
going to be hurt too much. His campaign has been geared
to running down everything the President has done.
His wife says he is going to give his peace plan in the next few days.