Conservatism: MT letter to Ralph Harris (letter of congratulations on successes of IEA) ["At times it must have seemed like bashing your head against a brick wall but [history will] judge you in better perspective"]

House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA

10 January 1977

Dear Ralph

Just a line to say how much I enjoyed reading "Not From Benevolence …" over the Christmas Recess. The contribution which you and your staff have made at the IEA to economic thinking over the past 20 years is now becoming apparent to all and sundry and I was interested to read The Times leader on Thursday January 6, which I thought went further than I dared hope.

I noticed from the advertisement that appeared in The Times of the same day that even the Labour Weekly was admitting the vast contribution which you were making at the present time. Please accept my heartiest congratulations on your 20th birthday [text faint - perhaps a reference to Harris's 20 year tenure as Director-General, which began in Jan 1957] and above all my gratitude for everything that you have done. At times it must have seemed like bashing your head against a brick wall but political historians will, I believe, judge you in better perspective.

With best wishes
Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

To Ralph Harris, Esq.