Political Autographs and Memorabilia Gift Ideas

JIMMY CARTER: 1976 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN Original draft of Jimmy Carter's address accepting the 1976 democratic nomination for president. This draft bears 153 words written in Carter's hand, including this attack on Republicans: "use line about every mistake-- Vietnam, Chile, CIA excesses, etc. - happened because plotted in secrecy without U.S. people". Annotated Speech Unsigned, 8p. No date, but 1976. Eight pages from a draft of his July 15, 1976 speech accepting the Democratic nomination for President. Pages are numbered 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 14 (concluding page of speech). Not signed, but bearing 153 words in Carter's handwriting. Adviser STUART EIZENSTADT is mentioned frequently by Carter ("Stu") on these pages. In the Carter White House, Eizenstadt served as Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs and Policy. The following are quotes from the eight pages, Carter's handwritten edits and comments, and related excerpts from Carter's acceptance address delivered at the Democratic National Convention in Madison Square Garden on July 15, 1976. read more...

CALVIN COOLIDGE Photo signed as Vice President, inscribed to the Lincoln School, Mount Vernon. Photograph inscribed and signed: "To the Lincoln School, Mount Vernon,/With best Wishes,/Calvin Coolidge/November 1922" as Harding's Vice President. B/w, 7½x11 overall, image 6½x8½ (one surface). When President Harding died nine months later, Coolidge succeeded to the presidency. 1½-inch x ¼-inch tear which is flimsy at lower left corner touches the month and is inexpertly repaired on verso with tape. ¼-inch horizontal tear at blank lower right (all intact). Borders slightly soiled. Image slightly silvered. Mounting remnants on verso (no show-through). Pinhead-size hole at upper blank border. read more...

JAMES MADISON The President sends thanks for a New York newspaper. Third Person ANS: "J.M." as fourth U.S. President, 1p, 5½x7¼. No place, (1811 June 25). In full: "J.M. with his thanks to Mr. Gates returns the newspaper sent him - with an anticipated paragraph of the Mercantile Advertiser." Docket on verso indicates date and the name of this note's recipient, Thomas Gates, Jr. The daily newspaper, the "Mercantile Advertiser" began publishing in New York in 1792. At the time President Madison wrote this note, British and French naval blockades during the Napoleonic wars continued to harass American shipping. The month before this note, on May 1, 1811, off Sandy Hook, New York, just south of New York harbor, the British 38-gun frigate Guerrière stopped the U.S. brig Spitfire and seized a native-born American seaman. Captain John Rodgers of the 44-gun U.S. frigate President was ordered to protect American shipping approaching New York harbor. On May 16, 1811, the President chased and attacked a British 20-gun corvette, Little Belt, thinking it was the Guerrière. A corvette ranked just below a frigate in size. read more...

THEODORE ROOSEVELT As President he signs a typed letter urging his Solicitor General not to resign. TLS: "Theodore Roosevelt" as 26th U.S. President, 1 page, 7x8¾. The White House, Washington, 1906 June 29. To Hon. Henry M. Hoyt, Solicitor-General, Department of Justice. In full: "Your decision is entirely satisfactory. I was simply acting as I thought Senator Knox and you would desire. I need not say that personally I would much prefer having you remain in the position you now hold, and in which you are doing such admirable work. Sincerely yours." Added in his hand: "You would be a very real loss to the administration if you left." President THEODORE ROOSEVELT annotated and signed this letter to his solicitor general, Henry Martyn Hoyt. Roosevelt's persuasion was effective. Hoyt remained Solicitor General for the duration of TR's Presidency (1903-1909). As solicitor general, Hoyt and his department represented the U.S. in cases decided by the Supreme Court. It was also Hoyt's responsibility to determine if the government would appeal any cases it lost in the lower courts. read more...

GEORGE BUSH Black and white publicity photograph of a middle aged George Bush wearing a suit and tie. Photograph signed: "George Bush". B/w, 8x10 overall, image 7½x8¼ (one surface). When George Herbert Walker Bush was inaugurated as the 41st U.S. President in 1989, he had, perhaps, the most impressive résumé of anyone entering the White House: awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and three air medals in WWII, Congressman (1967-1971), U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (1971-1972), Chairman of the Republican National Committee (1973-1974), first Chief of the U.S. Liaison Office in Beijing, China (1974-1975), Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (1976-1977) and Vice President (1981-1989). In his private life, Bush, the father of 43rd U.S. President George Walker Bush, co-founded Zapata Petroleum and founded Zapata Off-Shore Co., serving as Chairman of the Board and CEO. Fine condition. read more...

PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT As Assistant Navy Secretary, he acknowledges receipt of a "valuable" intelligence report and signs his name Typed Letter signed: "T. Roosevelt", 1p, 8x10¼. Washington, D.C., 1897 September 22. On Navy Department letterhead to The Commanding Officer, U.S.S. Raleigh. In full: "1. The Department acknowledge the receipt of a valuable intelligence report, prepared by Lieutenant Benjamin Tappan, U.S. Navy, Intelligence Officer, on the port of Bizerte, Tunis (Forms A, C and D); together with charts, descriptive pamphlets and photographs. Also reports by the same officer as follows: Algiers (French Colonial) Form C. Tangier, Morocco (Form C). Messina, Italy (Form C). 2. The reports and enclosures have been placed on file in the Office of Naval Intelligence. Very respectfully". Docketing on verso forwards the letter to the Commander in Chief, European Station, US Navy. Well remembered is the heroism of Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) in the Spanish-American War, where he earned the Medal of Honor for leading his volunteer read more...

RICHARD NIXON Rare handwritten letter about his grandchildren. Rare Autograph Letter Signed: "RN", 1p, 7¼x10½. Federal Plaza, New York City, 1981 December 28. To Mary Fenton, Wilmington, N.C. In full: "I read your ode to the whole family. All agreed it was your best - & that is high praise. Even Jenny (3 years old) & Christopher (2 years old) listened with rapt attention. Alex (1 year old), I fear, was more interested in the food! All join in sending our very best wishes for 1982." Lightly creased. Fine condition. With original stamped postmarked envelope addressed by typewriter. Inexplicably, Nixon did not use his franking privilege. Lightly soiled, else fine condition. The former President refers to his grandchildren, Jenny and Alex Eisenhower, children of daughter Julie and David Eisenhower, and Christopher Cox, son of daughter Tricia and Edward Cox. A fourth grandchild, Melanie Eisenhower, was born in 1984. Two items. read more...

[THOMAS E. DEWEY] Gavel used during the 1948 Republican Convention, at which Dewey was nominated as the Republican presidential candidate and Earl Warren was nominated as his running mate. Gavel, unsigned. Wooden gavel, approximately 12½-inches long. Silver plaque affixed to head. Engraved, in part: "Republican National Convention/Philadelphia" (portion of plaque is not visible). Presented in shadowbox, 15x7½x3 base with 16½x9x¾ top with glass viewing area. Brass plaque affixed on black background. Engraved, in full: "Gavel used during/Republican National Convention/Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1948./Thomas E. Dewey - Presidential Nominee/Earl Warren - Vice-Presidential Nominee". In 1948, both parties had courted popular WWII General Dwight D. Eisenhower for their presidential nominee, but "Ike", who was a moderate Republican at the time, refused nomination from either. The Republican field included New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, former Minnesota Governor Harold Stassen, California Governor Earl Warren, Ohio Senator Robert Taft and General Douglas MacArthur. read more...

MARTIN VAN BUREN The Secretary of State conveys President Jackson's demands that Buenos Ayrean government repay its debt to a prominent American citizen who gave support to its liberation from Spain. Manuscript LS: "M. Van Buren" as Secretary of State, 5½ pages, 8x12¾. Department of State, Washington, 1831 February 10. To John M. Forbes, Chargé d'Affaires of the United States to Buenos Ayres. In part, with original spelling: "I herewith communicate to you the enclosed copy of a letter dated the 31st Ultimo, from Mr. Thomas Lloyd Halsey to this Department respecting his claim upon that Government of Buenos Ayres, which forms the subject of your Despatch No 100 recently received at this office. That paper will enable you to correct an error which it appears from your communication of the 21st July last to the Minister of Foreign Affairs that you have fallen into; with respect to the period at which the value of the stock to be given in payment of that claim ought to be calculated. By referring to the instructions of this read more...