PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY - DOCUMENT SIGNED 03/21/1961 CO-SIGNED BY: J. EDWARD DAY - HFSID 295504

JOHN F. KENNEDY
Kennedy as President and J. Edward Day as Postmaster General sign the appointment of Robert J. Murphy as Assistant Postmaster, a very consequential appointment
Civil Appointment signed: "John F. Kennedy", "J. Edward Day", 23x19. Washington, D.C., 1961 March 21. Appointment of Richard James Murphy of Maryland as Assistant Postmaster General. As the youngest elected President, JOHN FITZGERALD (1917-1963) displayed a youthful vitality that inspired Americans to actively participate in politics. While showing his resolve in the Cuban Missile Crisis, he also made strides toward peace with trade liberalization agreements, promotion of civil rights, the nuclear test ban treaty, the Peace Corps, and the Alliance for Progress. In addition to Kennedy's political offices, which included those of U.S. Representative (1947-1953) and U.S. Senator (1953-1960) from Massachusetts, he also received recognition for his World War II heroism (the Navy and Marine Corps Medal) and the 1957 Pulitzer Prize for Profiles in Courage. Though Kennedy experienced failures, too, like the abortive Bay of Pigs invasion, the memory of "Camelot," the Kennedy White House, still shines brightly in American memory, and his assassination ranks with Pearl Harbor and the fall of the twin towers among the nation's darkest hours. Attorney and business executive JAMES EDWARD DAY (1914-1996) served as Kennedy's Postmaster General from 1961-1963. During his tenure, cut the Department's deficit, signed its first labor contract, and established the system of postal zip codes. He returned to private practice in 1963, including many clients whom he advised on how to use the new zip code system to refine their targeting mailings. Richard J. Murphy (1930-2006) was to prove an important Assistant Postmaster General (1961-1969), working aggressively and successful to hire and promote minorities, especially African-Americans. In 1969 he became Laurence O'Brien's deputy at the Deputy National Committee. On May 28, 1972, his office was invaded by the White House "plumbers", and his papers ransacked, three weeks before the same burglars were got in a second break-in attempt at DNC headquarters in the Watergate. Lightly toned at edges. Lightly creased. Signature lightly smeared but legible. Otherwise, fine condition.