PRESIDENT RICHARD M. NIXON - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 07/13/1959 - HFSID 153527

RICHARD M. NIXON
Richard Nixon sends a typed letter of regret that he will not be able to accept the invitation.
Typed Letter Signed: "Dick" as Eisenhower's Vice President, 1p, 8x10½. Washington, D.C., 1959 July 13. On Office of the Vice President letterhead to Carl T. Curtis, United States Senate, Washington, D.C. In full: "I don't know when I have ever received a more tempting invitation than the one you and Roman Hruska extended in your letter of May 29. It would be a great pleasure for me to have the privilege of participating in the banquet which will be held in connection with Nebraska's Founder's Day on March 7, 1960, and I only wish it were possible for me to make a commitment at this time to be with you for that significant occasion. However, no matter how much I might wish it were otherwise, it is not possible for me to commit myself to an appearance that far in advance because I have found from past experience, that, more often than not, the priority demands of government business force a cancellation of dates made so far in the future. Since my schedule for next March cannot be firmed up before the end of the year, I have no other choice but to defer a definite answer to you until around the latter part of December. I shall be hoping that you and the Founder's Day Committee can see your way clear to leave your cordial invitation in a pending status until that time. However, because I realize that arrangements for such an important event as this should be made firm as early as possible, I will, of course, understand if you feel you cannot. With kindest personal regards". Just two months after he signed this letter, RICHARD M. NIXON (1913-1994), the 36th Vice President of the U.S. (1953-1961), was called in to head the government when President Dwight D. Eisenhower suffered a heart attack. Nixon, who also took over in June 1956, when Ike suffered from ileitis and in November 1957 after the President had a stroke, was an active Vice President, traveling thousands of miles around the globe on goodwill trips. Although he lost the 1960 election for President to John F. Kennedy, Nixon won the office in 1968 and served as 37th U.S. President from 1969 until August 1974, when he resigned in the face of the Watergate scandal. Republican CARL THOMAS CURTIS (1905-2000) served as a U.S. Senator from Nebraska from 1955-1979. He had previously been a U.S. Representative (1939-1955) from the state and returned to Nebraska to practice law after leaving Washington, D.C. Slightly creased. Staple holes at upper left blank corner. Fine condition.