Political Autographs and Memorabilia Gift Ideas

RONALD REAGAN Ronald Reagan is pictured with controversial fund raiser Peter Paul, to whom he inscribes his signature that has been framed with a color unsigned photograph. Inscribed signature: "To Peter Paul - With Best Wishes/Ronald Reagan", 6¾x2. Matted with a color photograph of Reagan and Paul. RONALD REAGAN (1911-2004) had two careers: actor and politician. His first movie was Love is on the Air (1937) and his 53rd and last film was The Killers (1964). In 1965, he wrote his autobiography, Where's the Rest of Me?, a line from his role as Drake McHugh in King's Row (1942). Reagan left his job hosting television's Death Valley Days during the 1965-1966 season, when he entered politics. Elected Governor of California in 1966, he was reelected in 1970. Reagan began his campaign for the presidency and narrowly lost the 1976 Republican nomination to Gerald Ford. He was elected President in 1980 and was reelected in 1984. After leaving office in 1989, he wrote his second autobiography, An American Life. On February 6, 2001, Reagan became just the third U.S. President to reach the age of 90 and the nation's longest living President until Gerald Ford (d.

FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT'S THIRD INAUGURATION Oversize black and white photograph showing FDR being inaugurated for his third term, signed by the President, his Vice President and Secretary of State, Chief Supreme Court Justice Charles E. Hughes and Supreme Court ClerkCharles Elmore Cropley, who held the President's family bible while the oath was administered. Handsomely framed to 17½x15. Photograph signed: "Franklin D Roosevelt", "Charles E. Hughes, Jan. 20, 1941", "Charles Elmore Cropley/January 20, 1941.", "Cordell Hull" and "H.A. Wallace", B/w 13¼x10¼, framed to 17½x15. On Monday, January 20, 1941, Franklin Delano Roosevelt became the nation's first and only president to be inaugurated to a third term in office. FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT (1882-1945, born in Hyde Park, New York) is an American politician who served as president during two of the most difficult times in world history, the Great Depression and World War II. He also served as president for four terms (1933-1945), longer than any other president in history.

FROM PRESIDENT REAGAN'S "EVIL EMPIRE" SPEECH PREDICTING THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET EMPIRE   RONALD REAGAN. Typed Quotation signed: "Ronald Reagan", 1p, 8½x11. In full: "One of the simple, but overwhelming facts of our time is this: of all the millions of refugees we have seen in the modern world, their flight is always away from, not toward, the communist world." Typed beneath signature: "Speech, British Parliament/June 8, 1982". President Reagan spoke in the Royal Gallery at the Palace of Westminster in London. This quotation comes from the middle of his speech: "The decay of the Soviet experiment should come as no surprise to us. Wherever the comparisons have been made between free and closed societies -- West Germany and East Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia, Malaysia and Vietnam -- it is the democratic countries what are prosperous and responsive to the needs of their people. And one of the simple but overwhelming facts of our time is this: Of all the millions of refugees we've seen in the modern world, their flight is always away from, not toward the communist world. Today on the NATO line, our military forces face east to prevent a possible invasion.

GEORGE BUSH A black and white publicity photograph signed by George H.W. Bush. 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.

THOMAS E. DEWEY Large 10¼x12¾ bust photo Thomas E. Dewey, signed "With Best Wishes" in 1945 when he was Governor of New York Photograph Inscribed and signed: "To George R. Sanders, Jr./With Best Wishes/Thomas E. Dewey/March 2, 1945". B/w, sepia-toned, 10¼x12¾ overall, image 7x9¼ (one surface). ©1944, Greystone Studios. Described by Alice Roosevelt Longworth, Theodore Roosevelt's outspoken eldest daughter, as a man who "looks like he fell off the top of a wedding cake", Thomas E. Dewey was Governor of New York from 1943-1954. He was the unsuccessful Republican candidate for President in 1944, losing to FDR. In 1948, all polls showed Dewey defeating President Truman, but Truman easily beat him in electoral votes, popular votes and states. Surface wear at margins from prior mounting touches the "r" in Jr. Lightly toned, soiled, creased and bowed. Paper loss along left, right and bottom edges. Adhesive residue on verso shows through on front (does not touch signature). Otherwise, fine condition.

GERALD FORD and HELMUT SCHMIDT Small black and white publicity photograph of the 38th U.S. President posing with Helmut Schmidt, the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, during the latter's state visit in December 1974 Photograph Signed: "Gerald R. Ford" as 38th U.S. President and "H. Schmidt" as Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. B/w, 7x5 overall, image 7x4¼ (one surface). Ford and Schmidt met in Washington, D.C. on December 5, 1974, less than four months after Ford had become President and seven months after Schmidt became Chancellor. After conducting several meetings, they issued a joint statement on December 6. Ford, who wanted to maintain close ties with Europe, invited Schmidt (as well as French President Valery Discard d'Estaing and British Prime Minister James Callaghan) to his ski house in Vail, Colorado for many years. Both Ford and Schmidt were also instrumental in the development of the G-8 Summits, which first met in 1975, while Ford was President. In June 2007, Schmidt would describe the meetings as "just a theater for the media.

WILLIAM "BOSS" TWEED In the aftermath of the New York City draft riots of 1863, Tweed and other City officials sign authorization to pay the price of a draft substitute with city funds. Partly Printed DS: "W.M. Tweed" as Supervisor, 1 page, 8½x7. New York, 1863 September 26. Headed:"Certificate in favor of Drafted Member of the Active Militia Force of the State in this City, showing that he has obtained a/Substitute and that he is entitled to have the Money therefore paid by the Comptroller". Staple holes at upper left. 2-inch diagonal stain above staple holes. 2-inch separation at horizontal fold (all intact). Slight tears at right edge. Tweed signs as a member of the "New York County/Substitute and Relief Committee" as has two other supervisors and New York City Comptroller "Matthew T. Brennan". August Ford of I Company, Sixth Regiment, has been drafted and has found a substitute named Henry Eiring (misspelled as "Iring") who is "entitled to have the sum of $300 paid to him". Accompanied by a second Partly Printed DS: "Henry Eiring", 1 page, 8¼x7. New York, 1863 September 26. Acknowledgment of the receipt of $300.

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.

WOODROW WILSON, JOSEPH P. TUMULTY and the WHITE HOUSE PRESS CORPS The President, Presidential Secretary Tumulty, veteran White House staffer Forster, and 16 reporters have signed this photo on the 10½x9 mount. Photograph Mount signed: "Woodrow Wilson" as President "J.P. Tumulty" as Personal Secretary, "Rudolph Forster", and 16 members of the White House press corps: "David Lawrence", "Wilson Gardner", "Edward B. Clark", "Leroy T. Vernon", "Mercer Vernon", "George T. Odell", "L. Ames Bowen", "John E. Nevin", "C.E. Stewart", "Henry E. Eland", "S.M. Williams", "William E. Bingham", "T.W. Brahany", "John P. Favit", "J.P. Annis" and one other. Sepia, 10½x9. Abraham Lincoln was the first President to task a key aide to manage relations with the Press. By the Cleveland administration, the White House "beat" concept developed, strengthened by subsequent Presidents and especially Theodore Roosevelt, who gave reporters their own space in the White House. As President Wilson's Private Secretary, the equivalent of a modern chief of staff, JOSEPH P. TUMULTY (1870-1954) dealt extensively with the press.