GEORGE MAHON
As a US Representative he signs a typed letter promising not to support any legislation which would eliminate coin collecting.
Typed Letter signed: "George Mahon" as US Representative, 1p, 8½x10. Washington, 1965 July 23. On Congressional letterhead to M. E. Randall, Littlefield, Texas. In full: "Thanks very much for your good letter in regard to the so-called Bible Bill. I would not want to see legislation passed which would eliminate coin collecting. I shall bear your views in mind as developments occur here. As you may know, the House some time ago passed a coinage bill, but this had no similarity to the Bible Bill. It is good to hear from you. Call upon me further at any time. Best wishes. Cordially". George Herman Mahon (1900-1985), formerly a federal judge and district attorney was elected to 22 consecutive terms in the US House of Representatives (1935-1979). A Democrat, he chaired the Appropriations Committee from 1964 until 1979. He exerted great influence on budgetary issues and farm policy. At the 2008 centennial of Lubbock, Texas, the local paper declared Mahon the most influential Lubbock citizen of the 20th century. The Bible Bill, mentioned in this letter, sponsored by Senator Alan Bible of Nevada, was based on the since discredited theory that coin collecting was the cause of a serious coin shortage in the US. The bill, never passed into law, would have imposed fines and even imprisonment for selling at more than face value, coins deemed by the Treasury Department not to be rare. Normal mailing fold creases. Lightly creased toned and foxed. Folds soiled on verso.