ASSOCIATE JUSTICE JAMES F. BYRNES - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 08/15/1945 - HFSID 293513

JAMES F. BYRNES
The Secretary of State apologizes for a late reply to an autograph request, explaining that he was away at the Potsdam Conference!
Typed Letter signed: "James F. Byrnes as Secretary of State", 7x9 affixed to an 8½x11 sheet (two surfaces). Washington, D.C., 1945 August 15. On official letterhead to Captain Ralph Errington Ward, Washington, D.C. In full: "I am glad to send you my autograph for your collection. You will understand, I am sure, that it was not possible to send it sooner as I just recently returned from the Conference in Germany. Sincerely yours". Democrat James F. Byrnes (1882-1972) was a U.S. Congressman (1911-1925) and U.S. Senator (1931-1941) from South Carolina before serving as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1941-1942). As Secretary of State (1945-1947) under President Truman, Byrnes attended the crucial summit conference at Potsdam, a Berlin suburb, with President Truman. He also attended conferences on establishment of the United Nations in both London and Lake Success, New York. Byrnes returned to politics as Governor of South Carolina four years later, serving from 1951 to 1955. From the personal collection of Ralph Errington Ward (1926-2009). Ward, a fighter pilot and squadron commander in the China-Burma-India Theater of World War II, went on to become President and CEO of Cheseborough-Ponds, Inc., transforming the cosmetics firm into a major home product conglomerate. Multiple mailing folds. Lightly creased. Otherwise, fine condition.