WI: Eisenhower's letter to Marshall asking for permission to marry Summersby

In light of current events...

One of the biggest controversies surrounding Dwight Eisenhower's career is his relationship during WWII with his driver Kay Summersby. There were rumors that after V-E Day, Eisenhower wrote a letter to George Marshall asking for permission to divorce Mamie Eisenhower and marry Summersby. Marshall responded by threatening to break Eisenhower's career. Once Eisenhower backed down and distanced himself from Summersby, Marshall and President Truman destroyed evidence of the letter.

Most historians have believed this story was made up, but the release of documents has caused some corroboration by 2 separate sources which wouldn't know of the other. Thus, 2 new books on Eisenhower I've read in the last year have taken the story seriously (Eisenhower in War and Peace, and 15 Stars).

So here are 2 What Ifs:

1. Despite Marshall's warning, Eisenhower follows through in 1945?

2. The letter isn't destroyed, and Democratic operatives find evidence of the affair during the 1952 or 1956 campaigns?
 
The conclusion one jumps to is that it ruins Ike's political prospects. In the first scenario Ike and Kate marry move to the boonies have a bunch of kids and he writes his memoirs.

In the second scenario democrats reveal the affair right before the election and Adlai Stevenson becomes our next president.

A what if is maybe the American people grow up a little and realize their leaders don't need to be shining paragons of virtue. Eisenhower wins in '52 & '56.

Of course without Eisenhower to kick around anymore who will take his place in scenario 1?

Also, in scenario 2 if the dems use the affair to destroy Eisenhower then Kennedy is going get his when he tries to run. The genie is out of the bottle and the republicans will not be afraid of getting a little payback when JFK makes a run for the presidency.
 
That's a good point about Kennedy. He may have to rethink things if he wants to pursue higher office in a scenario where Eisenhower got exposed in 1952/56.

Bradley and probably Clark will be the major beneficiaries if Eisenhower does this and resigns in 1945. Bradley takes Eisenhower's spot as chief of staff immediately when Marshall retires, and Clark moves into Bradley's role. This may also save Patton's life, as the uproar would likely cause him to return to Washington before December 1945.
 
IKe would be a harder sell if he had divorced Mamie, but it's a non-starter for Truman to not burn the letter because he wanted Eisenhower to succeed him...only as a Democrat...
 
Top