GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 01/25/1956 CO-SIGNED BY: ASHLEY T. COLE - HFSID 4248

DOUGLAS MacARTHUR, CO-SIGNED BY: ASHLEY T. COLE
Chairman of the New York Racing Commission Ashley T. Cole signed this typed letter to Douglas MacArthur in 1956, asking him to sign one of his books. MacArthur handwrote and signed his reply at the bottom: "Glad to do so".
Typed letter signed "Ashley T. Cole" in black ink and "D. Mac A." in blue ink. With blue ink notation near left edge and pencil notations on verso, both in unknown hand. 1 page, 8½x10¾, on letterhead of Ashley T. Cole, Counselor at Law, New York City. Jan. 25, 1956. Addressed to General Douglas MacArthur, USA (Ret.), The Waldorf Towers, New York City. Cole typed or had this letter typed to ask MacArthur to sign a copy of MacArthur: His Rendezvous with History by Major General Courtney Whitney [not included] "for my library of autographed books dealing with or having a bearing on the recent War." He notes that MacArthur had signed three other books for him. MacArthur wrote his autograph response beneath Cole's signature: "Glad to do so." Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964) graduated #1 in his class at West Point (1903) and rose to brigadier general as a combat leader in France during World War I. He was named US Army Chief of Staff in 1930, and lost popularity by forcibly expelling the Depression era Bonus Army from Washington (1932). Through most of the 1930s, he was chief military advisor to the Philippines, a US protectorate preparing for independence. He commanded U.S. Army forces in the Far East (1941-1942), becoming Allied Supreme Commander in the Southwest Pacific in 1942. In December 1944, he was promoted to 5-star General of the Army. General MacArthur later accepted the surrender of Japan aboard the battleship Missouri on September 2, 1945. As Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers in charge of the Occupation of Japan, MacArthur presided over a sweeping and largely successful transformation of Japan, including a new, democratic constitution. Supreme Commander of United Nations forces in Korea (1950-1951), he was dismissed by President Harry S Truman in April 1951, for his continued public statements advocating extension of the war to Communist China. He supported Republican Dwight Eisenhower's successful Presidential candidacy in 1952, but had little influence on the new President, who negotiated peace in Korea instead of following MacArthur's recommendation to expand the war. After leaving the Army, MacArthur gave two well remembered speeches: his farewell address to the US Congress (1951) and a final speech at West Point (1962).COLE (1876-1965, born in New York City) was chairman of the New York Racing Commission from 1945 until his death, longer than any other chairman. He's probably best known for his opposition to off-track betting. The Ashley T. Cole Handicap at Belmont Park is named after him. Lightly toned and rippled. Folded twice vertically and thrice horizontally. Otherwise in fine condition.