HORACE GREELEY - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 11/19/1870 - HFSID 288137

HORACE GREELEY
Handwritten employment recommendation for the bearer, who "was rather wild in his youth" but "has married, sobered down to work". Written on New York Tribune letterhead.
Autograph Letter signed: "Horace Greeley", 1 page, 5x7. New York, 1870 November 19. On New York Tribune letterhead to "Sir". In full: "The bearer, Mr. A. T. Bailey, is the son of an old friend, a farmer in Westchester County, and is intelligent and quite capable. He was rather wild in his youth, but has married, sobered down to work, and I am confident will be faithful to any trust that may be reposed in him. I respectfully commend him to you for employment. Yours". Greeley (1811-1872, born in Amherst, New Hampshire) founded the New York Tribune in 1841 and edited it until his death. His newspaper, competitive in price with the "penny press" but less sensational, was the first to give its writers individual by-lines and the first with a literary and book review department. The Tribune had wide readership and influence, and many of his editorial quips - like "Go West, young man" - became famous. He was steadfast in support of many causes, such as antislavery, temperance, and the rights of labor, but he could be mercurial at times. (His swift reversal of opinion on the secession of the southern states is reflected in two 1861 Tribune editorials: Go in Peace, Errant Sisters, followed shortly by On to Richmond) He served as a Whig in Congress for three months (1848-1849)to fill a vacancy and did not seek reelection. As the Democratic and Liberal Republican parties' presidential nominee in 1872, he was defeated by President Ulysses S. Grant, who was seeking reelection. On Nov. 28, 1872, just 23 days after the election, Greeley, worn out by the grueling campaign, died at the age of 61. Horizontal mailing folds. Toned. Lightly creased. Top of page is affixed to bottom 5x1½ of page by a 5x1½ card on verso (barely visible).