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 Edwin Carl Johnson Letter to Edward King (MS 208), 11 November, 1958University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries. Special Collections Dept.Email: spc@colorado.eduURL: http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/specialcollections/index.htm © 2009 University of Colorado
BiographyEdwin Carl Johnson (1884-1970) was Governor of Colorado in 1933 – 1937 and 1955 – 1957, the only person to serve three terms as Governor of Colorado and three terms as a United States Senator. A Democrat in a then predominately Republican state, Johnson's political positions oscillated between the two. He did not support New Deal legislation, creating instead budget and civil service reforms as well as initiating a $20 million highway construction program in Colorado. Johnson was an isolationist, voting against US military involvement in foreign wars and opposing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) prior to the war. However, he supported the United Nations Charter and Marshall Plan following World War II. He warned the Senate against US military involvement in the Vietnam conflict in the 1950's. He was instrumental in the creation of the G.I. Bill of Rights, Lowry Air Force Base, and the Air Force Academy. Johnson also co-authored sections of the Atomic Energy Bill. Scope and ContentMS 208 includes one 3-page handwritten letter from Edwin Carl Johnson addresssed to "Hon Edward C. King / Dean School of Law, / Boulder Colorado. It is dated 11 November 1958. The letter reads: Dear Ed I am almost ashamed to write this letter, but the truth will get out so here is my confession - I burned them and now I feel almost like a book burner, Hitler version! When I left Washington I had files that would fill many rooms. Most of them were of course worthless but among them were papers that I would give anything to have saved. The job of sorting seemed such a hopeless task and I was so crowded for time that I let the tail go with the hide. About all I saved was [sic] letters (personal) from President's Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower. For instance I had introduced the first bill ever to be present in any legislative body on this earth with respect to the control of Atomic Energy. When the first Atomic bombs were detonated in Japan we had no legislation of the subject - my bill was the first. Senator Millikin and I were appointed on the first Committee on that subject - ushering in the New Era. Then years before the Korean War I had a file including my correpondence with Secretary Atcheson on the subject of recognizing Red China. Had my plea been followed there would have been no war in Korea. Britain did their utmost to recognize the defacto Government of China as a [dejure] government but Atcheson would not go along. The US must do this some day tho. Those are a couple of samples of my stupidity. I should kick myself and good. Anyway thanks for the invitiation to preserve those historic papers which do not now exist. Of course what I should have done was to create a special file for the non-routing correspondence. I hope you ask Senators Carroll and Allott to develop as special file as they go along. Congressman Bill Hill should have an interesting file on Agriculture. Anyway thanks for your interest. Sincerely Ed C Johnson 11-11-58 1135 Grant Street / Denver Colo RestrictionsAccess RestrictionsThe collection is open for research. Copy RestrictionsLimited duplication of materials allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for all copyright compliance. Preferred CitationEdwin Carl Johnson Letter to Edward King (MS 208), University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries. Special Collections Dept. Processing InformationMachine-readable finding aid prepared by Susan Guinn-Chipman, August, 2009. Acquisition InformationMS 208 was donated by Edward C. King. Related MaterialSee Johnson's inscription admonishing Senator Peter H. Dominick regarding inflation in bibliography below. See the Governor Edwin Carl Johnson Collection at the Colorado State Archives for correspondence relating to his term as governor focused primarily between 1933-1937. Access TermsKing, Edward C. (Edward Caldwell) Johnson, Edwin Carl, 1884-1970 BibliographyHazlitt, Henry. What you should know about inflation. Princeton, N. J.: Van Nostrand, [1960]. Includes inscription by Johnson to Senator Peter H. Dominick: "Read carefully and pass on to LBJ or some of your fellow senators. I make only $1.60 an hour but feel I can easily afford to buy this if you'll use your head at all. / Ed Johnson / Denver." HG229 H35 c.2. |
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