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 339. Nathaniel Macon (1758-1837)
Politician. Macon served in the American
Revolution and later became a political
figure in North Carolina and an ardent
champion of states’ rights. He opposed
the U.S. Constitution because he thought
it gave too much power to the federal
government. In the early years of the
republic he was a national figure,
serving as United States Representative
and Speaker of the House, United States
Senator and president pro tempore of the
Senate. 10” x 8” envelope (folds to 6” x
3 ½”) addressed to “Mr. Roderick
Bigelow…” and free franked. Circular
cancellation from Washington, February
17, age spotting, breaks in the folds.
$150
to $250
 340. Henry Clay (1777-1852)
Politician.
Clay was a towering figure in
American politics in the middle part of
the 19th century, a presidential
aspirant whose political skills earned
him the nickname “The Great
Compromiser.” 7 ¾” x 9” autograph letter
signed, “H. Clay,” Washington, January
14, 1850, to Joseph Ballon. “…I have
recd your letter requesting a Copy of
Hickeys publication of the Constitution.
I would send it
with
pleasure, but I have but one copy, which
I cannot part from. And of
my speech, I have not a single copy. My
correspondence is so extensive that I am
reduced to
the
disagreeable alternative of neglecting
it, or neglecting my public
duties….” There is a mounting strip
on the reverse.
$500 to
$1,000
 341. Isaac Toucey (1792-1869)
Politician. Toucey served as attorney
general from 1848 to 1849. A leading
Connecticut politician before his
appointment by President James Polk,
Toucey went on to serve as secretary of
the navy in the administration of James
Buchanan. 7 ¾” x 9 ¾” letter signed,
Navy Department, August 5, 1859, to
Edward McPherson. “…the 17th
and 21st Congressional
Districts of Pennsylvania are vacant at
the Naval Academy….” McPherson was a
prominent Pennsylvania newspaperman,
attorney, and United States Congressman
and
Clerk
of the House of Representatives. A
significant part of the Battle of
Gettysburg's first day fighting occurred
on property owned by McPherson, known
thereafter as McPherson's Ridge.
$150 to
$250
 342. Thaddeus Stevens (1792-1868)
Politician. Stevens was one of the most
powerful members of the House of
Representatives, representing the
commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Stevens
was one of the prime leaders of the
Radical Republicans during the Civil War
and Reconstruction. In 1868 Stevens
served on the committee that drafted the
articles of
impeachment against Johnson and was
a manager of the case before the Senate.
7 ¾” x 9 ¾” autograph letter signed,
Washington, February 29, 1866, to Edward
McPherson. “…I will certainly do
nothing for the Whip….” The original
envelope which is
 addressed and free
franked by Stevens is included.
$200 to
$400
 343. Schuyler Colfax (1823-1885)
Politician. Colfax was a member of the
House of Representatives, serving as
speaker from 1863 until 1869. In 1868 he
became Vice President under Ulysses S.
Grant. Colfax was involved in the Crédit
Mobilier of America scandal, which ended
his political career. 5” x 8” autograph
letter signed, South Bend, October 5,
1865, to Edward McPherson. “…your
book has come out, & I trust has proved
a success. I shall get a copy when I
reach Wash. Next month. I wish often you
had been with me. You would have enjoyed
the trip immensely. It was magnificent,
spite of the Indians striking the…5
times within a day of us….” The
original envelope which is addressed and
free franked by Colfax is included.
$250 to
$450
 344. Charles Sumner (1811-1874)
Politician. Sumner was an avid
Abolitionist who refused compromise on
the issue of equal rights for blacks. In
1855 Sumner read an intemperate speech,
in which he condemned his opponents,
including South Carolina’s Senator
Andrew P. Butler. Two days later Preston
Brooks, Butler’s nephew and a
congressman from South Carolina, entered
the Senate chamber and beat Sumner
unconscious with a cane. The attack is
generally considered the first action of
the Civil War. 8 ½” x 8” autograph
letter signed, Boston, June 2, 1853, to
Colonel Cunningham. “…I know nothing
of the exclamations of the Southern
press on what I said at the Hale
festival….”
$150 to
$250
 345. Gideon Welles (1802-1878)
Politician. Welles was appointed by
President James K. Polk as Chief of the
Naval Bureau of Provisions and Clothing,
in 1846 serving until removed by
President Taylor in 1849. He served as
Secretary of the Navy under Presidents
Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson,
mobilizing and equipping the U.S. Navy
for the Civil War. 8” x 10” autograph
letter signed, Bureau of Provisions and
Clothing, October 12, 1847, to Secretary
of the Navy, John Y. Mason. “…I…must
respectfully to call your attention to
what I consider the defective
organization of this bureau, and the
unfortunate condition of its books &
accounts. The fact that numerous errors
amounting in the aggregate to more than
a quarter of a million of dollars have
already been detected in the Ledgers,
made by Mr. Pugh, precludes if there
were nothing else all confidence in him
as an Accountant…It is desirable that
the books and accounts…should be…in
proper condition before the termination
of the Administration….” A
remarkable letter in excellent
condition.
$200
to $400
 346. Joseph Lewis (1820-1894)
Politician. Lewis, who was from
Pennsylvania, served as Commissioner of
the Internal Revenue Service from 1863
until 1865. 7 ¾” x 10” letter signed,
Treasury Department, September 7, 1863,
to John M. Reid. “…in your city a
daily paper of large circulation, the
Inquirer, is silent, as to Curtin.
Cannot this be amended! The military,
almost without exception will vote for
Curtin…If Cameron is making any
opposition it is done secretly….”
The reference is no doubt related to
Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Gregg
Curtin who suffered a
severe breakdown from the stresses of
war. Secretary of State Eli Slifer
handled governmental affairs during the
increasingly frequent periods when
Curtin was incapacitated. President
Lincoln offered the governor a
diplomatic position abroad, but he chose
to run for reelection in 1863. Curtin
was the principal force behind the
establishment of the National Cemetery
at Gettysburg. Through his agent, David
Wills, Curtin procured the attendance of
President Abraham Lincoln at the
dedication of the cemetery. Governor
Curtin was sitting with Lincoln on the
platform on November 19, 1863 when
Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg
Address.
$100 to $200
 347. Adolph Sutro (1830-1898)
California politician. Sutro was the 24th
mayor of San Francisco, serving in that
office from 1894 until 1896. He is today
perhaps best remembered for the various
San Francisco lands and landmarks that
still bear his name. 5” x 8” autograph
letter signed, four pages, San
Francisco, March 5, 1878, to “Leah.”
“…I was glad to know that your knee does
not trouble you so much – I think I
would get the bandage made anyway….”
$200 to
$400
 348. Henry Stimson (1867-1950)
Politician. Stimson is best known as the
civilian Secretary of War during World
War II, chosen for his aggressive stance
against Nazi Germany, with
responsibility for the Army and Air
Force. 3 ½” x 2” card with a “For
Defense” stamp affixed, signed across
the stamp.
$100 to
$200
 349. James Forrestal
(1892-1949)
Politician. Forrestal was Secretary of
the Navy and the first Secretary of
Defense. In 1947 he became
America’s first Secretary of Defense, a
position which he held until resigning
in 1949. Forrestal was a quiet, modest
man who had a “passion for anonymity”.
He was energetic and dedicated to hard
work: a factor which may help to explain
the circumstances of his death.
Suffering from a serious mental
breakdown, he retired from office in
1949 and flew to Florida in order to
take a long rest. Less than two months
later he jumped from a window on the
sixteenth floor of the Bethesda Naval
Hospital and died instantaneously.
8 ¼” x 10”
typed letter signed, Dillon Read &
Company, July 9, 1923, to former first
lady, Frances F. Cleveland Preston.
“…I have thought further about your
Merchantile Marine Preferred and feel
that the outlook for shipping does not
give much hope for improvement in the
market….”
$100 to
$200
 350. James Forrestal. Plate
block of four “U. S. Navy” commemorative
stamps, signed.
$100
to $200
 351.
Thomas E. Dewey (1902-1971)
Politician. Dewey was
the Governor of New York (1943-1955) and
the unsuccessful Republican candidate
for the president in 1944 and 1948. 9 ½”
x 15” presentation piece signed, State
of New York, April 8, 1946 with a gold
state seal. The document accompanies the
signing pen, which is affixed, for a
Senate Bill “…to amend the
administration code of the city of New
York, in relation to retirement for
accident disability….” Contained in
a shadow box and framed to 11” x 16”.
$200 to $400
 352. Thomas E. Dewey. Block of
eight “Nations United for Victory”
stamps signed. There is a typed letter
of transmittal from his secretary, State
of New York, July 19, 1946.
$100
to $200
 353. Alben Barkley
(1877-1956)
Politician. Barkley was elected
as a Democrat from Kentucky to the
United States House of Representatives
and the Senate, where he served as
majority leader. He served as Vice
President under Harry S. Truman
and Jane Hadley
Barkley (1911-1964), Jane was Second
Lady of the United States, as the second
wife of Vice President Alben Barkley.
Block of four commemorative stamps
recognizing the National Capital
Sesquicentennial, signed by both.
$100
to $200
 354. Adlai E. Stevenson
(1900-1965)
Politician. Stevenson was a
leading Democrat of the 1950s, famed for
his quick wit and deep intellect and for
his eloquence in support of liberal
causes. He was the Democratic candidate
for president in 1952 and 1956, losing
badly both times to Dwight Eisenhower.
Two signed items: 8” x 10” black and
white photograph and a 5” x 3” card.
$200 to
$400
 355. Barry Goldwater
(1909-1998)
Politician. Goldwater used the
Senate as a pulpit to preach his
conservative creed and became the
nation’s leading conservative spokesman.
In 1964 he won the Republican nomination
for President, but his views seemed
extreme and he lost to Lyndon B. Johnson
in a landslide. Two items, both signed:
2 ½” x 3 ½” black and white photographs
and his engraved Senate cards.
$100 to
$200
 356. Spiro Agnew (1918-1996)
Politician. Agnew was the Governor of
Maryland, in 1968 and 1972 he was
elected vice president on the Republican
ticket headed by Richard Nixon. His
colorful denunciations of Vietnam War
protesters and other opponents of the
Nixon administration brought him much
attention in the news media.
Investigated for extortion, bribery, and
income-tax violations in connection with
road construction allegedly committed
during his public service, he resigned
the vice presidency in 1973, the only
vice president ever forced to resign. 8
½” x 11”, six-page legal agreement
signed as Baltimore County, County
Executive,
 November 24, 1965. The
agreement with B & W Construction
Company covers the construction of
Sherry Ridge roads in Baltimore. Great
association!
$250 to
$500
 357. Henry Kissinger (1923- )
Statesman. Kissinger served as national
security advisor and secretary of state.
During his tenure, he helped to craft
the policy of détente with the Soviet
Union and to end U.S. involvement in
Vietnam. His book, Does America Need
a Foreign Policy?, Simon & Schuster,
2001, first edition, signed on the title
page. The book and dust jacket are
pristine.
$100
to $200
 358. Secretaries of State. 5” x 3”
cards with commemorative stamps affixed
signed by Henry Kissinger
(American Credo), with a White House
typed transmittal letter from his
secretary, Alexander M. Haig
(American Credo), with a White House
typed transmittal letter signed and
Condolessa Rice (National
 Capital
Sesquicentennial).
$100 to
$200
 359. Nixon White House – Watergate.
5” x 3” cards with commemorative stamps
affixed signed by Alexander
Butterfield (Wright Brothers), with
a typed letter signed, Department of
Transportation, December 4, 1974.
Butterfield disclosed secret taping
system which Nixon had installed in the
White House.
 Elliott
Richardson (1920-1999)
Attorney General (Education), Richardson
resigned on Oct. 20, 1973, rather than
carry out President Nixon's order to
fire Watergate special prosecutor
Archibald Cox and Ron Ziegler
(1939-2003) Press Secretary (Freedom of
the Press), he adds: “Press Secretary
to the President,”
 and a typed
letter signed, The White House, December
1, 1971.
$100 to
$200
 360.
Watergate Coverup. 5” x 3” cards
with National Capital Sesquicentennial
commemorative stamps affixed signed
through the stamps by: John D.
Ehrlichman (1925-1999)
Counsel and Assistant to
the President for Domestic
 Affairs under
President Nixon. and H. R.
Haldeman (1926-1993)
White House Chief of Staff. They were
key figures in events leading to the
Watergate first break-in and the ensuing
Watergate scandal, for which they were
convicted of conspiracy, obstruction of
justice and perjury.
$100 to $200
 361. Watergate – Reporting. Three
5” x 3” cards with the Freedom of
the Press commemorative stamp affixed
signed by the Washington Post
principals who broke the story of the
Watergate break-in and consequently
helped bring about the resignation of
President Richard Nixon. Katharine
Graham (1917-2001) Publisher,
Benjamin Bradlee Executive Editor
and reporters Carl
 Bernstein and
Bob Woodward, who have signed the
same card.
$150 to
$250
 362. Congress.
Forty-seven 6 ½” x 3 ½”
envelopes, addressed to the collector,
signed, mostly in the franking position
by United States Senators and
Representatives. Notable signers
include: Howard Baker (water
damage), Lloyd Bentsen, Harry Byrd,
Clifford Case, Frank Church, Bob Dole,
Pete Dominici, Mike Gravel, Jesse Helms,
Daniel Inauye, Henry Jackson, George
McGovern, Edmund Muskie, Bob Packwood,
Hugh Scott, John Sparkman, Ted Stevens
and Strom
Thurmond.
$100 to $200
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