WOODROW WILSON As President he signed and dated this hardbound copy of his speech to a joint session of congress requesting a Declaration of War on Germany. Book signed: "Woodrow Wilson/1 August, 1920" as President on first flyleaf, 16 pages, 8x12¼, hardcover. Address of the President of the United States Delivered at a Joint Session of the Two Houses of Congress April 2, 1917, privately printed in 1918. The complete text of President Wilson's speech requesting that Congress declare war on Germany and her allies. On April 6, four days after Wilson delivered this "War Message", Congress overwhelmingly passed the War Resolution that brought the U.S. into WWI. In part: "The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but one of the champions of the rights of mankind. We shall be satisfied when those rights have been made as secure as the faith and the freedom of nations can make them…. read more...

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON As the Whig Party candidate for President, Harrison devotes 3 pages to defending his conduct at the Battle of the Thames (War of 1812). He is so anxious to vindicate his military record that he is traveling to Cincinnati to have copies of depositions made and published! Harrison's signature is rare, especially so close to the date of his brief Presidency! Autograph Letter signed: "W. H. Harrison", 3 pages with integral address leaf, 7¼x12½. North Bend (Ohio), 1840 February 14. To Moses B. Corwin, House of Representatives of Ohio. In full: "Your letter of the 10th was brought to me yesterday from Cincinnati. I had seen an article in the journal that Flood was charged with having written in his place, an assertion that I was not in the sortie of the Thames. I immediately addressed a note to him which I enclosed to General [Joseph] Vance demanding to know whether he had made such an assertion and the ground upon which it was made. In answer to my letter to him, the general expressed an opinion that I gave too much importance to the matter and declined delivering my note to Flood until he would hear from me again. read more...

BILL CLINTON Bill Clinton sends a typed letter of thanks. Typed Letter Signed: "Bill" as President, 1p, 6¾x8¾. The White House, Washington, 1997 February 20. To Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Washington, D.C. In full: "Thank you for writing to describe how the Medal of Freedom was revitalized during the Kennedy Administration - it's a fascinating story. I am proud to bestow this high honor on several exemplary citizens each year. It was altogether fitting to have you in attendance at Senator Dole's ceremony and I enjoyed our brief chat. I will keep in mind your thoughts about the original intent of announcing 'the list' once each year on July 4th." On January 17, 1997, a month earlier, President CLINTON presented BOB DOLE with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for Dole's service in World War II and Congress. Clinton had defeated Dole in the 1996 presidential election and would be inaugurated for his second term three days after the ceremony. Dole was clearly touched by the award, but nevertheless he began his remarks with: "I, Robert J. Dole, do solemnly swear..." as laughter erupted in the room. read more...

FIVE PRESIDENTS: RONALD REAGAN, GERALD FORD, GEORGE BUSH, BILL CLINTON and JIMMY CARTER All five presidents from 1975 to 1992 - Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton - signed this engraving of the White House. White House Engraving signed: "Ronald Reagan", "Gerald R. Ford", "George Bush", "Bill Clinton" and "Jimmy Carter". B/w, 8x6 overall, oval image 4¼x1½ (one surface). White House engraving by "Bureau of Engraving and Printing." "Best wishes" written in unknown hand to left of Clinton's signature. Signatures of the 38th-42nd U.S. Presidents. Republican GERALD R. FORD (1913-2006) served as the nation's 38th U.S. President from 1974-1977. Ford, who had assumed the Presidency upon the resignation of Richard M. Nixon, holds the distinction of being the only person not to be elected to either the Vice Presidency or the Presidency. Ford was denied election in his own right when he was defeated by Democrat JAMES EARL "JIMMY" CARTER (born in 1924), who was 39th U.S. read more...

PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT This large 14½x18¼ sketch of the President who was elected to four terms in office is signed by him! Sketch Signed: “Franklin D. Roosevelt” in pencil. Also signed by the artist and dated circa 1941. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) is one of the best-known Presidents in United States history. Before his tenure in the Oval Office, he served as Governor of New York. This position gave him valuable experience working with progressive-minded individuals to improve the economy. He served in the position for just over 12 years, dying 11 weeks into his fourth term. Roosevelt oversaw the U.S. during the Great Depression and World War II. His progressive platform introduced Social Security and the first national minimum wage. During his first term as Commander-in-Chief, he ended Prohibition. This decision is largely credited with helping him to a landslide 1936 election victory. Frame slightly chipped at corners. Otherwise, fine condition. Framed in the Gallery of History style: 26¾x37. read more...

JAMES A. GARFIELD Garfield, as President, signed the day before his 1881 assassination Right portion of a blank check signed: "J.A. Garfield", 4½x2¾. Washington, D.C., 188_. Riggs & Co. check most probably signed as President. Left edge ragged. Horizontal fold crease above signature. Otherwise, fine condition. Accompanied by: a handwritten note of provenance by S. W. Cowles, which reads, "This check was signed by Genl. Garfield at the White House in Washington, D.C. July 1st/81, the day before his assassination. It was present [sic] to me by Mrs. Lucretia R. Garfield at Mentor, Ohio, Oct. 1881." Lightly toned and soiled. Otherwise, fine condition. The fact that this check is neither filled out nor dated, coupled with the fact that we have had completed checks of the same type filled out by another and signed by Garfield, indicates that President Garfield signed blank checks that were later to be filled out. This check was probably torn in half after he died to protect it from being used by an unauthorized party or, more likely, to be given by Mrs. Garfield to admirers of her late husband requesting his autograph. Garfield (1831-1881) rose to the rank of Major General in the U.S. read more...

PRESIDENT WARREN G. HARDING and CHIEF JUSTICE CHARLES HUGHES The two men signed several items in this large collection that's framed in the Gallery of History style! Collection comprises 1) INSCRIBED PHOTOGRAPH SIGNED: “To Mr. H. R. Cornish With cordial regards/ Feb. 23, 1930 Charles E. Hughes”. B/w. 7x10½ visible. Dated February 23, 1930. Fine condition. 2) TYPED LETTER SIGNED: “Charles E. Hughes”. 6½x8½ visible, total size 7x9. Dated March 1, 1924. One page. Features Secretary of State letterhead. Message in full: “My dear Mr. Straus/ I have received your letter of February twenty-ninth and take pleasure in sending you an autographed copy of my address in honor of President Harding./ Appreciating your comment, I am, sincerely yours ”. Lightly toned. Otherwise, fine condition. 3) PROGRAM SIGNED: “Charles E. Hughes/ Feb. 27, 1924”. 5½x8¾ visible. 20 pages, 18 with the text of Hughes' address. Complete bound copy of the program in nook behind checks. Dated February 27, 1924. read more...

JAMES EARL "JIMMY" CARTER Carter read this speech at the 1976 Democratic National Convention in New York, where he accepted the party's nomination for presidential candidate. He went on from here to become 39th President of the United States. Typed speech unsigned, with handwritten notes, under linings and corrections in blue ink and notations near left edge of page 1 in black ink in unknown hand, 5 pages, 8½x11. This is a speech that Carter gave at the 1976 Democratic National Convention, which met in Madison Square Garden from July 12 to July 15, 1976. Carter was named Democratic candidate for President at this convention, and Walter Mondale was named his Vice President. The nomination represented a dramatic reversal of fortune for Carter, a peanut farmer who had been elected Governor of Georgia in 1971 but who otherwise started the nomination process as an obscure candidate with little name recognition. However, favorable media coverage helped him win the New Hampshire primary, and Carter used his obscurity to his advantage, marketing himself as a fresh face and Washington outsider. read more...

RONALD REAGAN Handwritten letter to Lydia "Hup" MacArthur, the widow of Peter MacArthur, who gave Reagan his first job as a 21 year old Sports Announcer in Davenport, Iowa, signed "Dutch". Autograph Letter signed: "Dutch", 1 page, 6½x4¼. No place, 1991 April 2. To "Dear Hup" [Lydia MacArthur] on card printed with his name and Presidential seal. In full: "Thank you for sending the news story. Nancy & I both enjoyed it very much. Yes we would like to have been there but our travels and chores had us elsewhere. By the way if you are writing again sometime how about sending me Myrtles address? I've somehow lost it. Again thanks and out love to you." Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) had two careers: actor and politician. His first movie was Love is on the Air (1937) and his 53rd and last film was The Killers (1964). In 1965, he wrote his autobiography, Where's the Rest of Me?, a line from his role as Drake McHugh in King's Row (1942). read more...