PRESIDENT RICHARD M. NIXON - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 03/21/1951 - HFSID 101290

RICHARD NIXON
Typed letter on Senate letterhead about sending an envoy to the Vatican signed by Nixon when he was senator from California and at the start of his political career
Typed letter signed: "Richard Nixon", 1 page, 8x10¼ on United States Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare letterhead. Washington, D.C., 1951 March 21. Addressed to Mr. Fielding J. Stilson, 523 South St. Andrews Place, Los Angeles 5, California. In full: "March 21, 1951 Mr Fielding J Stilson 523 South St. Andrews Place Los Angeles 5, California Dear Mr. Stilson: I wish to acknowledge your recent letter in which you set forth your views on the question of sending an envoy from the United States to the Vatican. I want to assure you that this question will have my thorough consideration should it come to the Senate for action. I realize that there are far-reaching issues involved which merit serious study, and I will bear your opin-ions in mind in giving the matter my full attention. Thank you for your interest in giving me the benefit of your views on this issue. Sincerely, Richard Nixon RN:kce". Nixon signed this letter at the very beginning of his political career, when he was California's senator. Nixon (1913-1994) was elected 37th President of the United States in 1968 after representing California in the U.S. House of Representatives (1947-1951) and Senate (1951-53) and serving two terms as Dwight D. Eisenhower's Vice President. He lost (1960), then won, extremely close Presidential elections (facing John F. Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey, respectively), then won re-election by a landslide against George McGovern in 1972. His re-election triumph rapidly turned sour, however, as the burgeoning Watergate scandal claimed more and more of his key aides and finally compelled his own resignation in the face of a possible impeachment. On September 8, 1974, he received a blanket pardon from President Ford for any crimes he may have committed against the United States while President. A pragmatic conservative who gained an early reputation as an anti-communist but achieved diplomatic triumphs in relations with China and the Soviet Union, Nixon was a prolific writer in retirement, repairing his reputation and hastening his emergence as an elder statesman. Lightly toned. Letter has been folded in three an unfolded. Otherwise, fine condition.