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President of the Naval War College Newport, Rhode Island 02840 Feb 20, 1978
Dear Mr. Solzhenitsyn, I read your books with great empathy, for I have spent many days of my life in a manner very similar to those you describe in the life of Ivan Denisovich. I was the senior American naval officer in the prison camp system of Hanoi for nearly eight years.
I am now, five years after my release, the President of the Naval War College at Newport, the oldest war college in America. It would be the most proud moment in this college's existence - since its founding in 1884 - if you would come to our campus and address our students and faculty. We have about 300 American
students - professional Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine officers of ages between 35 and 45, with ranks from major through colonel. We also have an enrollment of about 75 allied officers.
I can provide privacy, military security, transpiration (we're not far from you), quarters, and an honorarium, of course. I can bar the Newport townspeople from your speech, or invite them as you desire; I can arrange to have you talk to American students only, or to the entire student body. In summary, for all practical purposes I can totally control the social environment in accordance with your wishes.
Most of all, I want to personally shake your hand and have you as a guest in my quarters. Will you please consider coming to Newport, Sir? Very respectfully, James B. Stockdale Vice Admiral US Navy