WARREN G. HARDING
Warren G. Harding sends a letter of thanks for the old lithographs.
Typed Letter Signed: "Warren G. Harding" as 29th U.S. President, 1p, 7x9. The White House, Washington, 1923 June 4. To Otto Wiecker, Boston, Mass. In full: "I have received the interesting old lithographs of two generations ago, showing the Senate Chamber, the Hall of Representatives, and the East Room of the White House, as they then appeared. They are certainly most interesting reminders of an earlier day, and of the great changes that have taken place. Thank you very much indeed." Three weeks after signing this letter, President Harding left the White House for what he called a "Voyage of Understanding", a trip across the continent during which he would make speeches recommending that the U.S. join the World Court at the Hague. He would not return to the nation's capital alive. After becoming the first President to visit Alaska, Harding returned to Seattle by ship then journeyed to San Francisco by train. He became ill on the way and died on August 2, 1923, in San Francisco's Palace Hotel. Had he lived, Harding would have had to face the scandals that rocked his administration -- from irregularities in the Veterans Bureau to the Teapot Dome scandal involving Harding's Secretary of the Interior, Albert Fall. Tanned 2¼x3¼ rectangular shadow at lower left portion, not at signature. Shaded from prior framing. Slightly foxed at margins.