PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT - NAVAL APPOINTMENT SIGNED 12/22/1908 CO-SIGNED BY: TRUMAN H. NEWBERRY - HFSID 28130

THEODORE ROOSEVELT and TRUMAN H. NEWBERRY
The former U.S. President and Secretary of the Navy sign the appointment of Rear Admiral Nathan E. Niles.
Naval appointment signed: "Theodore Roosevelt" as President and "Truman H. Newberry" as Secretary of the Navy, 1 page, 16x20. Washington, 1908 December 22. In part: "Know Ye, That reposing special trust and confidence in the Patriotism, Valour, Fidelity, and Abilities of Nathan E. Niles I do appoint him Rear Admiral in the Navy from the 12th day of November, 1908, in the service of the United States...." The Great White Fleet of 16 U.S. battleships was completing their cruise around the world when President THEODORE ROOSEVELT promoted Nathan E. Niles to Rear Admiral. NATHAN ERRICK NILES was graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1868. Following this appointment as Commander, he commanded the Nashville in Asian and European waters (1900-1903), the Maine in the North Atlantic (1905-1907) and the Hancock (1907-1908). He was appointed Rear Admiral in 1908 by this commission and retired from the Navy on December 27, 1909, just 13 months later. The Great White Fleet had left Virginia on December 16, 1907, sailing to South America, Japan, Australia, Ceylon, Egypt and Italy, among other stops, to send the world, especially Pacific nations, the message that the United States was an important international power. The fleet, painted white to keep the ships cooler in the tropics, returned home on February 22, 1909, nine days before Roosevelt's presidential term ended. TRUMAN HANDY NEWBERRY (1864-1945) served as Roosevelt's Secretary of the Navy from December 1, 1908 to March 3, 1909. He defeated automobile manufacturer Henry Ford for the U.S. Senate in 1918 and was sworn in as Senator from Michigan on March 4, 1919. In 1921, Newberry was tried and convicted of election "irregularities". The conviction was reversed by the Supreme Court, and, following an investigation, the Senate declared Newberry entitled to his seat but expressed disapproval of the sum spent on his election. In the face of a new movement to unseat him, Newberry resigned on November 18, 1922. Commissions of high military officers rarely appear on the market. A Rear Admiral's appointment is especially desirable. Lightly creased. Embossed at perimeter from prior framing, no shading. Vertical crease through blue seal affixed at lower margin. Roosevelt's signature light but completely legible. Otherwise, fine condition.