Presidents and Political Leaders

Chester Arthur - early war date, handwritten letter as Quartermaster General for New York, August 27, 1862. The single page letter measures 7.5 x 9.5 on attractive Quartermaster stationery with a vignette engraving. Arthur informs John Rider at the Quartermaster Department in Albany that Edward Doty need not feel rushed in reporting for duty as he transfers from Albany to New York City. The letter is quite attractive with Arthur's large, flowing penmanship. Usual minor folds, away from the signature. This was once taped at the top edges to matting on the back. The tape has been removed but some of the glue is still slightly sticky to the touch. This does not detract from the appearance or condition of the letter but does call for more care in how it is filed or stored so it won't harm whatever it touches. [#5899]

Blanche Bruce signed album page “B.K. Bruce Miss”. Bruce was a former slave who went on to become the first African-American to serve a full term in the United States Senate. The format of an autograph album page and his adding “Mississippi” suggests this was signed while a Senator. There is a portion of a small newspaper article pasted down to the page. On the other side is an autograph from Chicago businessman Potter Palmer, founder of the famed Palmer House Hotel. Bruce is not an easy signature to find and most seem to be on documents rather than anything from the Senate. [#4746]

First Lady. ALS on Executive Mansion stationery May 8, 1888. One page letter about going to a concert. Signed in full "Frances F. Cleveland". Silked with some light toning around the edgesedges. Nice display example. [#1870]

Eisenhower small 1955 gift card that accompanied a limited number of Christmas gift prints to friends and White House staff. The 4 x 3.25 card by Hallmark carries a gold and blue presidential seal. When opened there is an unsigned pre-printed message from the Eisenhowers. These are quite scarcer than the larger Christmas cards send in 1955. Approximately 1,300 prints of a painting by Ike along with these cards were prepared. It seems that many recipients hung on to prints but discarded the small cards. [#5297]

Mamie Eisenhower – signed photo, almost certainly as First Lady. This is a nice White House photo. The image is roughly 7.5 x 7.5 printed on heavy paper/light card stock measuring 8 x 10. Mamie has added a large signature running almost the entire length of the border. [#4306]

Edward Everett – Statesman, 1860 Vice President candidate, Mass. Governor. Autograph letter signed, Boston, December 24, 186(?), 1st and 2nd pages of a folded 4 page 8vo sheet. Everett asks the Hon. A. Fearing to accompany a Judge Russell [probably Superior Court Judge Thomas] on a visit to Everett’s home in Winchester “when the Pond is at full height.” Everett owned some undeveloped land in Winchester in what is now known as the Sheffield Road Historic District and the pond was likely on of the Mystic Lakes north of Boston. This is generally routine content arranging a meeting but with some nice association and local content for Everett collectors. (No, I am not aware of such a group of collectors.) The letter is in very condition with dark writing and some stitch holes in the left margin where it was inserted in a book or album.

Everett was one of the leading orators in America in the mid 1800’s when public oratory was in high gear as a combination of entertainment and intellectual pursuit. For all of his contemporary fame, power and success he is perhaps best remembered today as a man who twice played a minor supporting role in Abraham Lincoln’s political life. In 1860 Everett was the unsuccessful candidate for Vice President with John Bell as the Presidential nominee on the Constitutional Union ticket. One of four parties on the ballot that year, the Bell-Everett ticket came in third winning only 39 of the 303 electoral votes. In 1863 Everett delivered the main address at the dedication of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg. The dedication was moved back from a planned September date to November to allow Everett the extra time to prepare his important address. Although Everett’s speech lasted for more than two hours, the world took little note nor long remembered what he said there.

[#2695]

Caroline C. Fillmore - second wife to Millard Fillmore. ALS, Clifton Springs, NY, September 1877 to Delia Avery. The four-page letter is written on the front and back on two separate black bordered mourning 8vo sheets, with matching envelope. Fillmore writes about her efforts to find some help and complains about the difficulty of finding someone who is not afraid of hard work and can be discreet. She also discusses her own health and troubles with anxiety. The letter is significantly faded throughout although her signature "C.C. Fillmore" is slightly darker than the rest of her writing. There are several fold tears along the margins. The letter has no strong content and is in below average condition but acceptable due to the rarity of her autograph material. It is extremely hard to find her signature and almost impossible to find a handwritten letter.

The Fillmores married after Millard's presidency. Although not a First Lady by service or time of marriage she was a president's wife and sought after for First Lady collectors.

Gerald R. Ford- endorsed check to the House stationery account. The check written by a supporter is for $6.90 and made out to Ford on June 22, 1973, just a few months before he was confirmed as Vice President under the 25th Amendment. There is one line of light bank stamp endorsement touching a few letters of his signature but the signature is strong and barely effected. Checks, signed or endorsed by modern presidents are difficult to find. [#3399]

-- special presentation copy of his swearing-in remarks as President signed below his color portrait. Printed on high quality stock with a 6 x 8 formal portrait the document measures approximately 19 x 14 and contains the complete but brief remarks offered after taking the Presidential Oath in the East Room. Only a limited number were produced and each personally signed by the president. This attractive broadside is an impressive presidential souvenir and of course is part of one of the most dramatic political stories of Presidential history. [#4806]

John Foster - diplomat, Sec. of State under Benjamin Harrison. One page ALS, on personal stationery, March 7, [1883]. Foster invites California Senator and former Union General John F. Miller to dinner to meet a prominent member of the Mexican Congress. Miller sat on the Foreign Affairs Committee. The 4.5 x 5.5 letter is mounted at the corners to a larger sheet.

Foster held a string of diplomatic appointments Minister to Mexico under Grant, Minister to Russia under Hayes and Garfield until 1881 and then Minister to Spain under Arthur, just three months after this letter. Under Harrison he returned to the State Department and succeeded James Blaine as Sec. of State for the end of Harrison's term. [#5624]

Joseph Gales - journalist, publisher, printer, Mayor of Washington D.C. (1786-1860). ALS July 31, 1845 to Robert or Richard (?) Smith in Washington regarding a legal claim of money Gales owed. The letter is in excellent condition with overall toning but strong dark writing. Gales was both publisher and reporter for the National Intelligencer, eventually taking over ownership. His partnership with William Seaton produced The Annals of Congress the record of Congressional debates and proceedings from the first Congress in 1789-1824. Gales had been one of the few unofficial reporters of the Senate before Congress formalized the recording of its debates and proceedings. [#5650]

LS to New York Governor-Elect Hugh Carey recommending someone for a position in the Governor’s new administration. The December 11, 1974 letter was written as Senator-Elect and is boldly signed in blue. There is a circle drawn around a name in the text, certainly as a reference mark to route Glenn’s letter with the candidate’s application or file. [#4967]

Paul Hamilton - Secretary of the Navy (Madison), Governor of South Carolina. Signed letter to Simon Gratz & Co remitting a payment of $2,000. The letter is written in another hand by an aide and then signed by the 3rd Secretary of the Navy who served during the opening months of the War of 1812. The letter is in generally fine condition other than a small tear on the blank left margin which has been reinforced with a strip of tape on the back, visible as show-through on the image. Simon and Hyman Gratz were prominent business leaders in Philadelphia. Taking over the family business in trade and real estate ventures they later added insurance to their portfolio. Nice association for collectors interested in Philadelphia or Pennsylvania history. [#5627]

[1840 election of William H. Harrison] Printed circular to Harrison supporters, Philadelphia, Nov. 3, 1840. The circular expresses confidence that Harrison's narrow win in Pennsylvania will stand but warns that Van Buren forces might try to steal the election. Supporters are asked to get their county results, check the returns from each town and the re-check the math. It is signed by Pennsylvania Whig Congressman Charles Naylor and is addressed to George Walker of Woodbourne in Springville, Susquehanna County.

The 1840 presidential election is often considered the first real presidential campaign with widely used campaign memorabilia, populists appeal, and broad public participation in the campaign process to promote favorite candidates. Personal biography and imagery were used to appeal to voting blocks with Harrison portrayed as the "log cabin" candidate in touch with the common person. Apparently it also included field organizations ready to commit or prevent ballot tampering and election fraud.

The Pennsylvania results were the closest in the election with Harrison winning by less than .25% with his 144,010 votes to van Buren's 143,676 votes. Nationally the election wasn't nearly as close with Harrison defeating the incumbent president by 6% of the vote and an Electoral College margin of 234 to 60.

Samuel D. Ingham - Sec of the Treasury under Jackson, Pennsylvania Congressman, paper manufacturer. ALS, one page 4to, Philadelphia, May 23, 1826. Wasting little time as a Pennsylvania Congressman, Ingham writes to Jackson's Secretary of the Navy about filling the position of navy purser who recently died with a worthy candidate of his own, Francis McCauley. Ingham would later have his own headaches dealing with Congressional patronage serving as Jackson's Treasury Secretary. (A Francis McCauley was appointed to the position of Purser on May 27 1829 just two months after Ingham joined the Cabinet.) The letter is in very good condition with some pencil notations by previous owners/dealers. [#5607]

Reverdy Johnson - Attorney General, Statesman, Senator. ALS, 2 ½ pages on a small 8vo bifolium sheet, March 17, 1849 as Zachary Taylor's Attorney General. Just two weeks after Taylor's Inauguration, Johnson writes to the new Secretary of the Treasury Thomas Ewing seeking help for a MD. Resident who was seeking an appointment. He signs with his full signature and initials a one sentence postscript. The letter is routine in content but a nice example of new Cabinet secretaries helping one another with patronage.

Johnson served as Attorney General under Zachary Taylor. He played an important role in keeping Maryland from succeeding and later as a Senator became a leading opponent of slavery. As a prominent attorney, considered a Constitutional authority, he was involved in several important legal disputes, including the Dred Scott case. James Smith would eventually be appointed Provost Marshal of Maryland [#5603]

Atty Genl's Office
17 March '49
My Dear Sir:

I take great pleasure in making known to you Mr. James Smith of Md. Mr. S. is a member of the bar, of excellent character & standing. He wishes employment under the Sec. and if you can further this, I shall esteem it a personal favor.

Yours Truly,
Reverdy Johnson

Honorable (Mr or Sec.) Ewing.

I send you this letter he has given me from [a] gentleman worthy of confidence RJ .

Lady Bird Johnson - 19 letters to the noted fashion designer Adele Simpson (16) and her daughter Joan (3). There is also a handwritten postcard from Spain from Lady Bord to Adele. The letters, written from 1974 through 1992,are all on her Stonewall, Texas stationery. Three are signed "Lady Bird J" and the rest as "Lady Bird" Four are simply signed; all others have some additional writing totaling over 100 words in her hand. These range from one word closing to postscripts of 20 or more words. A few letters have envelopes.

The content is largely thank you's for sending some clothes or discussing possible meetings and travel plans. A few mention fundraising efforts for memorials to LBJ (the national committee for the LBJ Memorial Grove in DC, The LBJ Library Foundation), the loss of Lady Bird's brother, family visits with grandchildren, and son-in-law Chuck Robb's campaign for Lt. Governor. All have light mailing folds but overall, each is in excellent condition. It is hard to find small archives of letters from modern figures to the same person. This group has nice non-political association. Simpson was a well-known designer and produced some pieces for First Ladies Johnson, Nixon and Barbara Bush, including the dress Lady Bird wore at daughter Lucie's wedding. And Pat Nixon's 1973 Inaugural gown.

In addition to the Lady Bird archive there are a couple of letters from the First Lady's assistants. [#5953]

John F. Kennedy - 1958 Christmas card with facsimile signature. The 4 3/4 x 5 3/4 card has a wonderful black and white formal photograph of the Kennedy's. John and Jackie are seated and she is holding the infant Caroline on her lap. The inside has the gold Senate seal and a printed message "May the Blessings of Christmas be upon you and yours. Senator and Mrs. John F. Kennedy." It is signed with a printed facsimile signature "Warmest regards - Jack". This is a scarcer card the more common 1959 example. Presidential Christmas cards are becoming very popular. The cards sent by presidents before they moved into the White House are less common and harder to find. [#3104]

Patricia Nixon signed letter on White House stationery, June 2, 1972 signed "Pat Nixon" to Virginia Sherwood expressing sympathy on the death of her son, along with the White House envelope. [#4708]

RN: The Memoirs of Richard Nixon, leatherbound limited signed edition, #1867 of 2,500. This is with the gift box as issued by Grosset and Dunlap for the limited editions. Excellent condition. [#6080]

Richard Nixon group of yearbooks from the two high schools he attend and a student directory from Duke Law. The 1930 Whittier Union High School yearbook, the Cardinal and White, carries several photos of Nixon. Photos range from single head shots as a graduating senior, officer of the class to several group shots as a member of various clubs and school groups. There is also a photo of Nixon’s first girlfriend, Ola Florence Welch. The book is in good condition with autographs throughout but none by Nixon. The owner apparently was friendly with almost everyone in the class-except the future president. Nixon was the business manager of the yearbook and responsible for selling many of the ads that are in the back. It isn’t surprising that one full page ad is from the Associated Banks of Whittier, including Bank of America that was headed by Herman Perry, the man who approached Nixon 15 years later to run for Congress.

Nixon first two years of high school were in Fullerton Union High School. The second book is the 1928 yearbook Pleiades where Nixon was a sophomore. There are two group pictures of the sophomore class and Nixon presumably is in one of those. More interesting though is the short report from that class is making its own mark. IT mentions two class members by name, one being Nixon for winning the oratorical contest against two seniors. He is also singled out again for special mention on the Forensics Club page. This is a rarer find than the Whittier book. Over the years collectors and book dealers might be more aware of the Nixon connection than they would be with a Fullerton yearbook.

The third book is a small directory of Faculty, Administration and students of Duke University. There are no photos and a simple one line listing of Nixon’s school residence and home town.

A rare grouping of books related to Nixon’s youth and life before politics.

Richard Nixon âAC;“ DS as President, 4/19/71designating Robert Moran as Chair of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. It measures 8.5 x 14. This is an uncommon form of presidential documents. It is a nice example of his hurried full name signature with somewhat indistinct letters. His photos and the letters were signed more carefully so the name would be legible. Documents like these were official presidential acts that required his approval and not expected to be displayed. It is typical of the way he signed public laws. Full name signatures as President are difficult to find. #5176

Richard Nixon - LS, January 20, 1948 "Dick" to Charles Cooper. Twenty-one years to the day before he would be president, Nixon writes about the work that propelled him into the national spotlight as a leading opponent of Communism. Late in 1947 while in his first term in Congress, Nixon was appointed to the House Un-American Activities Committee. In the summer of 1948 the Hiss-Chamber's case erupted and Nixon's national reputation was born.

Nixon passes along information from the House Committee to Charles Cooper and Herman Perry about Scott Nearing "because he has a long record of Communist front activities". Nearing was a prominent Socialist, economist, and pacifist. His published works and lectures on pacifism during World War I resulted in criminal prosecution for interfering with recruitment of soldiers. There are typical folds and handling of the letter but it would be hard to find a better example of Nixon's early red-hunting of prominent figures.
[#4908]

Johnson, Richard M.– Vice President under Van Buren. A single page ALS, Senate Chamber, Oct 9, 1837 as vice president. Serving in his constitutional role as President of the Senate, Johnson explains the impotency of his office. He thanks someone for a petition to the Senate and then requests the person to help him get it before the very body he presides over. “I request the favor of you to get some members to present the memorial as I can make no motion to print or to refer.” Johnson letters may not be aggressively sought after but neither are they easily found. This is a fun example explaining how powerless the vice president is as president of the Senate. [#5407]

Playwright, screenwriter, FDR speechwriter. Signed letter, Dec. 1947, mentioning his firend the poet Arthur Guiterman. #4145

Francis E. Spinner - Treasurer of the US during the Civil War, NY Congressman (1855-1861). ALS, one page, Washington, February 22, 1866 on a 5.25 x 8.25. Spinner complies with an autograph request with a single sentence handwritten letter. The letter is in excellent condition with a typical exaggerated, tough to read signature. [#5646]

William H. Taft - LS, The White House, June 4, 1912. 1 p., 7ʺ x 8.75ʺ with the infrequently found signature "Bill" Just two weeks prior to the Republican National Convention, Taft tries to calm his old friend about the upcoming fight with TR: "Never fear, old man, we are going to fight and, believe me, we are going to win." There is a second letter on personal stationery from Taft secretary Charles D. Hillis to Kelsy on May 12, 1912 explaining that he is heading to Ohio where Taft was extending his campaign swing through the state. Ohio was a pivotal battleground primary state between Taft and his predecessor Roosevelt. The two campaigns offered competing delegations to the National Convention and the nomination would be settled by which delegates were seated. Taft became less energized and enthusiastic in the campaign against Wilson. He shows more fight in this letter than he displayed in the general election. Almost all letters signed by Taft are as "Wm. H. Taft". Letters signed "Bill" only went to close friends and seldom show up for collectors. There is light toning and the signature is somewhat light but the letter has unusually good political content. [#5419]

Harry Truman – single page signed letter, April 26, 1946 on the rail strikes. Truman writes to Colonel Grady Lewis thanking him for his investigation and resolution of a dispute between the Texas & New Orleans Railroad Company and two unions: the Brotherhoods of Locomotive Engineers and Railroad Trainmen. "I wish to compliment you on bringing the parties into mutual agreement on the questions in controversy and to express my appreciation of the public service thus rendered by the Emergency Board." The letter is boldly signed "Harry S. Truman".

A general railroad strike was called the day he signed the letter, triggering one of his more memorable crisis. Truman was faced with a series of labor strikes in early 1946. The most famous were with the steel mills, coal miners and railroads. Local railroad strikes, like the one mentioned here with the Texas & New Orleans Railroad Company, were averted through federal fact finding and mediation. Truman, of course, was anxious to extinguish all of these brush fires and would have taken a keep personal interest in the resolution of these smaller flashpoints.

Just a few weeks before this letter, April 1, 1946, coal miners declared a national strike that would last through May. Threats of a general railroad strike were facing Truman as he continued to try to resolve the local railroad disputes like this one. But the strategy fell apart, ironically on the day he signed this letter. One April 26 both of the unions mentioned in the letter announced a general strike scheduled for May. Truman managed to delay a strike in early May but the unions finally did walk out, setting up a dramatic moment. On May 25th, Truman addressed a Joint Session of Congress on the strike. As he was asking Congress for emergency authority to draft the railroad workers into the military he was handed a note announcing that an agreement had been reached and the strike had ended.

Presidential letters discussing unions are uncommon. This is a particularly nice example of Truman dealing with railroad strikes on the day a national strike was called. Accompanied by the original White House envelope [#3370]

John Tyler - an intriguing ALS as President, October 4, 1844 relating to Hawaii. The two page letter to businessman Alfred Benson of New York makes a tantalizing reference to Hawaii "The subject of the Depot at the Sandwich Islands has already been considered. It will not be changed." He then adds a paragraph discussing his wife's travels and care of a Mrs. Benson.

One of Benson's many commercial adventures was the collection and importing of guano from Pacific Islands. Guano was a remarkably potent and therefor valuable fertilizer for American farmers. The crop yield of fields fertilized with guano were multiple factors higher than traditional fertilizer at the time, thus creating a high demand and price. Hawaii was a rich source but merchants needed port infrastructure as well some US protection of claims of "business deals" to justify the investment on the valuable commodity. The letter suggests Benson was trying to nudge his presidential friend to make a more aggressive American presence on the island with a supply station of some sort, possibly for military purposes. The letter is in excellent condition with typical folds.

Washington Oct. 4, 1844

My Dr. Sir;
You have with this a letter to Lieut. McNeil. The subject of the Depot at the Sandwich Islands has already been considered. It will not be changed.
For your kind invitation through me to Alice to remain with Mrs. Benson a few days after Mrs. Tyler's return, you have my thanks. She is under the charge of Mrs. T and will be her travelling companion. I fear that it will not be proper for her to separate from Mrs. T now. She will however, as I do, duly appreciate the kindness of your invitation.
With my respects to Mrs. Benson accept _______ of my regard
John Tyler

Martin Van Buren – ALS, November 1818, 1st and 2nd pages on a bifolium sheet. Van Buren writes to John V. Henry about some legal matters. At the time Van Buren was an established attorney but just starting his long political career as a member of the New York Senate. This carries a nice example of his early signature with a clearly distinct middle initial “v.” As he became more prominent his handwriting became more rushed and illegible and the signature became a blended “VanBuren” There is foxing and spotting throughout with a small loss of paper in the upper right corner but all writing is strong. [#5314]

Stephen Van Rensselaer -New York Politician, Lt. Governor under John Jay, War of 1812 General, founder of Rensselaer College- now Rensselaer Polytech. An undated handwritten signed letter "S. V. Rensselaer" to two judges recommended Peter Goes as a Justice of the Peace. The letter has right margin chipping and some tears at the folds which should be reinforced. [#5648]

Woodrow Wilson – beautiful, fresh looking World War I commission of Paul L. Reed as a Civil Engineer in the Navy with the rank of Commander. It is dated Sept. 9. 1917. Wilson’s signature is strong and dark, as his that of Josephus Daniels as Secretary of the Navy. The document stands out as fresh and clean with some signs of flattened lines from having once been rolled, but not folded. The blue seal is intact and the engravings are crisp and bright. The large format commission has been matted and framed with a nice gold and black frame. The frame shows some age but is still strong and ready to be hung as a striking display piece. Replacement framing of the same quality would probably run $400-$500. Overall an exceptionally nice example of a World War I Wilson commission.

Levi Woodbury- Supreme Court Justice (1845-1851) appointed by James K. Polk, Sec. of Navy and Treasury under Jackson, New Hampshire Governor and Senator. Signed letter, text in the hand of an aide, April 1, 1834 as Sec. of the Navy. Woodbury informs Dr. Benjamin Routh of Norwich Connecticut that there are no vacancies in the Navy for Assistant Surgeons but he will be considered at the next annual round of appointments. The letter is in fine condition. [#5637]