JOSEPHUS DANIELS - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 12/15/1925 - HFSID 26439

JOSEPHUS DANIELS
Daniels writes regarding a meeting at the Jewish Centre in New York
Autograph Letter Signed: "Josephus Daniels", 1p, 6x9½. Hotel Astor, Times Square, New York, [1925, December 15]. To Mr. Wickes. In full: "We had a good Forum meeting at the Jewish Centre and they were good enough to make me a present of a bronze copy of the Ten Commandments. I hope not to break them. They did not pay me-They doubtless have sent the check to you. I will write you from Andover." Josephus Daniels (1862-1948) served as Wilson's Secretary of the Navy from 1913-1921- prior to which he was a successful newspaper owner and editor. As a partisan Democrat, he used his control of the Raleigh News & Observer to advance the party causes. He launched a "White Supremacy" campaign in North Carolina that led to Democrat victories in 1898 and 1900 and the disfranchisement of African-Americans. In 1898, he was credited with inciting the Wilmington Race Riots-years later he was said to have regretted his stance. While Secretary of the Navy, he banned alcohol from US Navy ships and ruled that no prostitution would be permitted within five miles of any naval base. He later served as Ambassador to Mexico (1933-1941) under FDR. The USS Josephus Daniels, commissioned from 1965-1994, was named for him as are schools and buildings throughout North Carolina. Date written in pencil in another hand probably taken from the postmarked envelope which is not present. Lightly creased. Slightly soiled. Light show through to blank left margin from mounting remnant on verso.