CORNELIUS N. BLISS - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 12/26/1902 - HFSID 26402

CORNELIUS N. BLISS
Secretary of the Interior under President William McKinley, wrote this letter in 1902 to acknowledge receipt of the recipient's correspondence
Autograph Letter Signed: "C N. Bliss".1 page, 4 ½ x 7, 1 sheet folded. New York, Dec. 26, 1902. Addressed to Mr. J. Peine. In full: "Dear Sir. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your form of the 22nd inst Yours truly". American businessman Bliss (1833-1911) was Secretary of the Interior (1897-1899) under President William McKinley. Bliss was a partner in Bliss, Fabyan & Co., one of the largest wholesale dry-goods firms in the nation around the turn of the century. He was also active the New York State Republican party and served as Treasurer of the Republican National Committee at a time when the Republicans were in the ascendancy. With his business ties and his political connections, he should have had his pick of political jobs. However, Bliss was famous for turning down political nominations; he even turned down a nomination for the New York governorship in 1885 and 1891 and an offer to become McKinley's vice president in 1900 (McKinley was later assassinated, and Theodore Roosevelt, who did accept the job, became President).His two years as Secretary of the Interior were the only public office he ever held. Lightly toned and creased. Ink transference, which touches handwriting but not signature. Folded once and unfolded. Otherwise, fine condition.