Presidential Oil Painting by Dwight D. Eisenhower of Wilton B. Persons III, grandson of his Chief of Staff and World War II comrade, Major General Wilton B. Persons. The portrait has an uncanny resemblance to Ike himself! de Dwight D. Eisenhower - n.d.

Original Oil Painting of Wilton B. Persons III, grandson of Major General Wilton B. Persons, painted by President Eisenhower in The White House, 15.25"" x 19.25"". Signed ""Eisenhower"" in the lower right. Matted and framed to 19"" x 23"". Fine condition.

This portrait was painted by Eisenhower as a gift to Persons, his Chief of Staff, during his term of office at the White House. The Eisenhower Administration project at Columbia University refers to this painting and the study on the third floor of the White House where Pres. Eisenhower painted it.

Accompanied by a printed image of President Eisenhower painting. In 2014, a slightly smaller 1949 oil painting by General Eisenhower of his wartime cottage south of London was estimated to sell for $100,000 to $150,000. As most of Eisenhower's paintings were of landscapes and buildings, his portraits are highly desirable, such as the oil portrait here offered depicting the grandson of his Chief of Staff.

It is interesting to note that the portrait looks like a very young Eisenhower, something artists do at times subconsciously.

Also included is an Eisenhower Typed Letter Signed to Major General Wilton B. Persons on gilt ""DDE"" stationery. Fine condition.

TLS ""Ike,"" 1 page, 7"" x 10.25"". Gettysburg, Pa., November 30, 1962. To Major General Wilton B. Persons (""Dear Jerry"") about completing his memoirs. In part, ""The first volume of my memoirs is nearing completion. It includes my days at NATO in Paris and the first three years of my Presidency, ending on February 29, 1956, the day I announced I would stand for re-election. Since memory is a fallible thing, I am writing to ask if you would review certain of the chapters … for me before the manuscript goes to press …""

Provenance

Major General Wilton Burton ""Jerry"" Persons (1896-1977) served as the White House Chief of Staff to President Dwight D. Eisenhower from October 7, 1958 until January 20, 1961 and was Eisenhower's representative in the transition of government between the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations.

He was a career United States Army officer who had entered the U.S. Army Coast Artillery in 1917 and advanced through the ranks to Major General in 1944. He had served in both the American Expeditionary Force in World War I and in Europe in World War II. He headed the office of legislative liaison for the Department of Defense between 1948 and his retirement in 1949.

Major General Persons was called back to active duty as a special assistant to General Dwight D. Eisenhower at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers in Europe from 1951–1952 and was active on behalf of Eisenhower's presidential campaign in 1952. He became a Deputy Assistant to the President in 1953 and replaced Sherman Adams as Eisenhower's Chief of Staff in 1958.

Following the 1960 presidential election, Major General Persons was President Eisenhower's representative in the transition of government between the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations working out the details for a smooth transfer of government.

From the Estate of Major General Wilton B. ""Jerry"" Persons.