PRESIDENT RICHARD M. NIXON - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 05/08/1973 - HFSID 49476

RICHARD NIXON
Richard Nixon signed this letter to a supporter who's wife was critically ill. This was the same day that he told Alexander Haig that White House Counsel John Dean should be "destroyed" for cooperating with a federal investigation into Watergate.
Typed letter signed: "RN" as President, 1 page, 7x10¼ on embossed White House stationery. The White House, Washington, 1973 May 8. Addressed to Dr. Joseph Kaplan, 1565 Kelton Ave., Los Angeles, California. In full: "Dear Joe: Rose Mary shared your recent letter with me, and I was deeply saddened to learn of your wife's tragic illness. My prayers and thoughts are with you both, as well as my earnest hope that you will keep your spirits high. I was deeply touched that, in a situation which certainly demands so much physical and emotional strength from you, you took the time to write and reassure me of your support. For your thoughtful-ness and encouragement, you have my heartfelt gratitude. With warm personal regards, Sincerely." This letter was written during an important moment in the Watergate scandal, which led to President Richard Nixon's resignation on Aug. 9, 1974. According to the Nixon tapes from May 8, 1973 - the day that this letter was written, Nixon told White House Chief of Staff Alexander Haig that White House Counsel John W. Dean should be "destroyed". Dean had refused to release a report denying White House involvement in the Watergate break-ins and had begun talking to federal investigators about the case. Eight days before this letter was written, President Nixon announced three Watergate-related resignations: Attorney General Richard Kleindienst, White House Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman and White House Chief Domestic Advisor and the firing of White House Counsel John W. Dean. Nine days later, on May 17th, the Senate Watergate Committee began public hearings. The "Rose Mary" mentioned in this letter was President Nixon's Personal Secretary, Rose Mary Woods. Six months after this letter was written, Woods denied deliberately erasing 18½ minutes of a conversation between Nixon and Haldeman on June 20, 1972, three days after the Watergate break-in. Haig said that one theory is that "some sinister force" erased the 18½ minutes. Lightly creased. Matting residue around edges. Adhesive residue on verso. Letter has been folded twice horizontally and unfolded. Otherwise, fine condition.