ALFRED E. SMITH - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED CHECK 01/10/1920 - HFSID 5324

ALFRED E. SMITH
Smith signed this check in 1920 as Governor of New York to pay George J. Koller $5 and to "charge same to Pay Refund, Spanish War."
Check signed: "Alfred E. Smith" as Governor of New York. 9x3½ with perforated top, left and bottom edges. Albany, New York, 1920 January 10. Check no. 2222 for $5, payable to George J. Koller "and charge same to Pay Refund, Spanish War", drawn onthe Adjutant General's Office for the State of New York at Union Trust Company in Albany, New York. Endorsed by Koller on verso. Alfred E. Smith (1873-1944), a vigorous reformer as Governor of New York (1919-1920, 1923-1928), was first suggested as a presidential possibility in 1920. His supporters were more numerous in 1924, when his name was placed in nomination by Franklin D. Roosevelt, who dubbed him the "happy warrior". Al Smith lost the nomination to John W. Davis on the 103rd ballot. As a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1928, he had no serious opposition and was nominated on the first ballot. In so doing, Smith became the first Roman Catholic presidential nominee of a major party. In the election, he was defeated by Herbert Hoover, winning only eight states and losing New York. After leaving politics, Smith became President of Empire State, Inc., the corporation that erected and operated the Empire State Building. Although he gave belated support to Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1932 presidential election, Smith soon broke with his old friend and supported Republicans Landon in 1936 and Willkie in 1940. A forceful opponent to Roosevelt's New Deal, Smith died a month before the 1944 election at the age of 70. Lightly toned, soiled and creased. Normal bank stamps and cancellation holes, which do not touch signature. Light tear near upper left corner. Pinhead-sized hole near top edge. Otherwise, fine condition.