USTDC

Photo of USTDC courtesy of Les Duffin

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Eisenhower Visit

Stev Pitchford submitted these photos, along with a few comments:

During my year in Taiwan, Chiang Kai Shek was visited by foreign dignitaries three or four time. I remember one of the visits was by President Diem of South Viet Nam.

Of course, from my point of view, the most significant was the June, 1960, visit by President Eisenhower. I believe our Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, with with him, but I don't have any pictures of the Secretary.

Above, we see Chiang and the President inspecting the troops.
Here is the square in front of the MND building where the President addressed the crowd.
And here we have the President addressing a crowd that, if my memory is right, the local press reported as being about a million people.
Most of us old timers will recognize President Eisenhower, Madame Chiang, and Chiang. I believe the couple behind them is the American Ambassador to Taiwan, Everett Drumright and his wife.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Stev,

Those are some rare historic photos: Ike, Gimo, and Mrs Gimo together. It really brings to light why we were well hosted in our missions there...at least until 1979. Where did you find these or did you take these yourself..?

George

Don said...

George,

When Stev sent these to me, he said that he was part of a group of photographers, some from TDC, some from USAID, and a few others, who developed and shared their shots in a USAID building.

He did not take these specific photos, but I felt that since they were most likely taken by SOME government photographer, and since I figured they would be of interest to the folks here, I decided to go ahead and post them.

As always, if anyone ever complains or asserts any sort of copyright issues, I'll of course remove them.

Don

Doan Trevor said...

Steve,

I have some photos from the Tapai newspaper from this visit with Eisenhower. I wonder if you have more photos? My uncle was chief of staff for MAAG - LL Doan - or do you have any more information on LL Doan. I would appreciate it.

Anonymous said...

Doan,

I wish I had kept more photos of President Eisenhower's visit, but I didn't. As Don pointed out above, I was part of a group of photographers covering the visit. I was shooting black and white film and the negatives were kept by the TDC photo lab. At the time, I thought I was keeping all the pictures I wanted. Now, I wish I had kept other shots from the group as well as some prints from the negatives I shot.

Sorry. I don't have any pictures of, or information about, your uncle.

Anonymous said...

That second picture is in front of the Presidential office and not the MND

Anonymous said...

Since many of the pictures I see of the building in the second picture now refer to it as the Presidential Office Building, I questioned my memory of it as the MND Building. I checked with Sarj Bloom and both of us remember the building being known as the MND Building in our time in Taiwan, 1959-1963.

Sarj Bloom said...

The building in the second photo was called by a few different names. Us GI's that were there in the early 60's knew it as MND (Ministry Of National Defense. It was also known as the Presidential Mansion as stated on the back of a postcard I have. I bought a package of postcards from the First Hotel..but not the night I was fleeing from the EARTHQUAKE! So anyway it's not unusual for the names to get mixed up since they were changing all the time.

Doan Trevor said...

I have a photo of General Doan and Chang Chai Chek that I would like to post, can you please tell me how? Thanks.

Unknown said...

I three photos of Eisenhower and Chiang in a car in a parade from June of 1960. Are these worth anything?

Don said...

mark said...

I three photos of Eisenhower and Chiang in a car in a parade from June of 1960. Are these worth anything?


Mark, if you mean are they worth anything to the blog, I'd say probably not. I think I have enough photos of that event here.

If you're asking whether they're worth anything commercially, I sort of doubt it, but I don't know. You might try eBay.

Unknown said...

The pictures are my dad's his father (my Grandfather) took them when he was in Taiwan. They are black and white. I was just trying to find out for my parents. Thanks

minnie said...

Hi,
My name is Christy Veasey my Dad was MAAG to the Taiwanese Army 67-69. Have also pic of Chen ki chek
also newspaper articles. Will post when I'm sure this blog is still open.

Don said...

Hi Christy,

I've posted a few things about MAAG on the blog. If you type in MAAG in the search box at the upper left of this page, you'll see what's here.

Same with Chiang's photos; just type Chiang in the search box and you'll see whatever's here.

Don

Anonymous said...

Stev,

These photos are really great! I still remember president Eisenhower visited Taiwan when I was still a little boy. I saw from the TV that president Chiang welcomed president Eisenhower at Taipei airport. Jesus, how and where did you get these pictures. It's really amazing! Thanks!

Stev said...

Thanks Jesse. I'm glad you're enjoying them.

I have these pictures because I was there. As I said in a comment above, I was part of a group of photographers covering the visit. I was shooting black and white film and the negatives were kept by the TDC photo lab. At the time, I thought I was keeping all the pictures I wanted. Now, I wish I had kept other shots from the group as well as some prints from the negatives I shot.

Anonymous said...

Check here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFEB1SjJBGQ

Ike's visit TWN

Richard Chatham said...

I was in Taiwan with the USTDC, Navy Dental Department when President Eisenhower visited. We were allowed to close up the office and join the crowds of school children lining the streets. It was impressive to be that far from home and see our country's president received so warmly.