View From The Cab

By David Tollefson, Columnist

C-Span? Who watches that?

While channel surfing with the “Guide” button a few nights ago, I encountered C-Span, and glanced at the explanation of what was on at that time. The title was based on a seminar at the Truman Presidential Library in Florida, with Kurt Graham the director. It featured descendants of six different former Presidents of the United States– Taft, McKinley, Cleveland, Truman, Eisenhower and Carter.

• a great-grandson of Grover Cleveland

• a great-great nephew of William McKinley

• a granddaughter of Dwight Eisenhower

• a great-granddaughter of William Howard Taft

• a grandson of Jimmy Carter

• a grandson of Harry Truman

While I did not get the names of those six individuals, it was fascinating to hear how much they knew about their particular presidents.

Toward the end of the session of at least an hour (with no breaks for ads!), each one in turn was given a chance to tell what they remembered most about their famous relative.

When it came to the granddaughter of Dwight Eisenhower, the granddaughter of Ike very quickly mentioned the Interstate Highway System that he instigated. She hesitated a little bit, thinking she was telling more than she should have, but I do recall hearing about one aspect of the design of the 46,000-mile system, and that is that every so many miles there was supposed to be a straight section. I wondered about that, too. She said it was supposed to be a safety factor in case of war-time invasion, that an aircraft getting in trouble could find enough “landing area.” Speaking about Eisenhower, some of you readers may remember a column I wrote back in August of 2014, soon 10 years ago now.

That involved a suggestion to me from Ralph Peterson, Glenwood area farmer/pastor/conservationist, who suggested a column about a local very special hog that was donated to then-President Eisenhower for his farm at Gettysburg, Pa.

The column was titled “Ike and Pork.” I will quote from it to get some background:

Eisenhower in the ‘50’s had a farm at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania which he was very proud of.

The story begins with a letter to President Eisenhower written July 7, 1955 by William Brittin, Secretary of the American Berkshire Association of Springfield, Illinois. Apparently, a purebred Berkshire sow was given to the President, and the Berkshire Association thought that the sow should have a purebred boar to mate with.  I quote part of the letter:

Mr. President: your boar problem can be solved, if you will accept a “topflight” purebred Berkshire that is about five months old. This boar is offered by the Glenwood Purebred Swine Breeders Association, Starbuck, Minnesota. I am writing at their request. This organization is made up of breeders producing all of the major pure breeds. They read where you had received a purebred Berkshire sow and would like to present you with this outstanding purebred Berkshire boar in hopes a purebred herd would be maintained at the Presidents’ farm. This young boar will be shipped immediately to your farm (charges prepaid) either by air or rail, if you would like to have him. I’ve seen the pig and he is a very outstanding animal.

Here is the response from President Eisenhower dated July 12, 1955:

Dear Mr. Brittin: thank you very much for your letter of July 7th. I am most appreciative of the offer of the Glenwood Purebred Swine Breeders Association. Of course, he would be a most acceptable addition to the herd I have. I do want to tell you, however, that because the animals I have are of different breeds, it would be difficult for me to keep a strictly purebred Berkshire herd.

If, despite the fact that I shall not be in a position to concentrate exclusively on Berkshires, the Association would still like to send the boar to me, I would be delighted. He could be shipped at any time to my farm at Gettysburg. But I am particularly anxious that the Association does not give me such a fine animal under any misapprehension as to my future possibilities in hog raising. Signed, Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Well, the hog was shipped to Gettysburg on August 9, 1955. Aboard the DC3 plane, owned by the J.R. Watkins Company of Winona, Minnesota, were:

• Adolph Hogfoss, a salesman for Watkins in this area, president of the Swine Breeders and also was a teacher for farmers classes at the time.

• Mr. Julius Hanson, Murdock, MN (who raised the animal).

• Mr. Clifford Case, Executive of J.R. Watkins Co., Winona, MN.

• Mr. Willard Britton, Secretary, American Berkshire Association.

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As I write this, the ground is only 10% or so covered by snow. The temperature is 40 degrees- Lake Minnewaska was frozen almost 100% again, only for a day or so.

In the middle of March, I spent several days picking rocks in dusty conditions, as mentioned before. The snow we got a week ago, heavy and wet, was welcome. Most of that hopefully soaks into the ground for our crops soon to be planted.

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Please contact David Tollefson with thoughts or comments on this or future columns at: adtollef@hcinet.net