JOHN F. KENNEDY During his first campaign for a seat in Congress (1946), he signed this handwritten letter to a former Harvard classmate, discussing measures to secure the Italian-American vote. Rare Political Autograph Letter Signed: "Jack", 2 pages, 6x9, front and verso. To Tony (former Harvard classmate Tony Galluccio). No place, no date but during his first race for Congress in 1946. In full: "Thanks very much for your letter. It sounds like you and Joe did a good deal. It is fine with me if you and Joe take the trip in August. Just give me your schedule before you go and I will pay expenses. Be sure & let Frank know when you are going & keep him informed in a general way. I agree with you that Peter Gay would be a good man. I think it would be a good idea if you would get to know the Italian members of the legislature as well as possible. Should I write Gay or Demarco or anyone else thanking them? I hope to talk with you this weekend. Will call your house." Joe was Cambridge Councilman JOSEPH A. deGUGLIELMO, Frank was JFK's father's aide read more...

LYNDON B. JOHNSON and GEORGE W. BALL LBJ as President, and Ball as Acting Secretary of State, sign the official appointment of Arthur Goldberg, formerly Supreme Court Justice, as US ambassador to the United Nations. Historic Partly Printed DS: "Lyndon B. Johnson" as President and "George W. Ball" as Acting Secretary of State, 1 page, 21½x17½. Washington, 1965 September 15. Appointment of Arthur J. Goldberg to the General Assembly of the United Nations to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Adlai E. Stevenson. In full: "Know Ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the Integrity and Ability of Arthur J. Goldberg, of Illinois, I have nominated, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do designate him as a Representative of the United States of America to the Twentieth Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, and do authorize and empower him to execute and fulfill the duties of this commission, according to law, with all the powers and privileges thereunto of right appertaining during the pleasure of the President of the United States. 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...

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...

ABRAHAM LINCOLN While defending a woman accused of murdering her husband (1857), the future President added six lines of text in his own hand to the written deposition of a witness. Autograph Statement unsigned at the conclusion of Manuscript Document Signed: "J.L. Springgate", 2 pages, 7¾x12¼. Woodford County, [Metamora, Illinois], c. 1845-1857. AT THE CONCLUSION, SIX LINES IN THE HAND OF LINCOLN DIRECTLY ABOVE SPRINGGATE'S SIGNATURE, NOT SIGNED BY LINCOLN WHO WROTE, IN FULL: "Re-cross examination by defendants- The morning of the sale, Laws said that he wanted to go and buy horses, and wanted Vandike to go with him and be his security, and then they both, and this witness went to the sale together (The plaintiff objects to the last piece of evidence)". The names of the plaintiff and defendants are spelled differently throughout the document. Headed: "Deposition of Witness to be used in evidence on the trial of the case now pending in the Circuit Court of Woodford County where John A. read more...

HARRY S TRUMAN and his CABINET 16x11 photo of the historic Cabinet meeting of August 25, 1950, signed by the President, by Vice President Barkley, by 9 Cabinet Secretaries,  and by 3 important Presidential aides. At this meeting, Truman announced his decision to seize US railroads to prevent a wartime strike Photograph signed: "Harry S Truman" as President, "Alben W. Barkley" as Vice President, "Charles F. Brannan" as Secretary of Agriculture, "Louis Johnson" as Secretary of Defense, "Maurice J. Tobin" as Secretary of Labor, "Dean Acheson" as Secretary of State, "John W. Snyder" as Secretary of the Treasury, "Oscar L. Chapman" as Secretary of the Interior, "Charles Sawyer" as Secretary of Commerce, "J. read more...

JAMES EARL "JIMMY" CARTER Typed, unsigned speech with handwritten corrections read by Carter during his 1976 presidential bid in a predominantly black part of Los Angeles County. Typed speech unsigned, with handwritten corrections in black and blue ink. 8 pages, 8½x11. This speech was read during Carter's 1976 presidential run at Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center, now Martin Luther King Jr.-Harbor Hospital. The hospital is located an unincorporated part of Los Angeles County near the Watts neighborhood, site of the Watts Riots of 1965, and the city of Compton, which had one of the highest concentrations of blacks - over 90 percent - in the United States at the time. Needless to say, Carter focused on race relations in this speech, specifically the impact of the civil rights movement. Carter and his running mate Walter Mondale ran against Republican candidates Gerald Ford, the incumbent, and Bob Dole, in 1976. Ford been appointed president in 1974 after the resignations of president Richard Nixon during Watergate and vice president Spiro Agnew and was the first person appointed president under the 25th amendment, which had been ratified less than 10 years earlier. read more...

GEORGE WASHINGTON Four years before he took command of American forces at Boston, the future President signs a receipt for the purchase of oyster shells Receipt signed in text: "George Washington", 1 page, 6½x2½. Matted and framed to an overall size of 13¼x20½. No place, 1771 July 10. In a business dealing with an illiterate man, Washington writes his own name and also the name of the oyster dealer, next to the latter's mark. In full: "Received from George Washington One pound seven shillings and three pence in full for the within shells. Chas his mark [showing] Lewis". Also docked by Washington at right margin: "No. 68 Ch Lewis/L1"7"0/10 July 1771/L". George Washington (1732-1799), who became known as the "Father of His Country", set precedents for future Presidents by limiting his service as first U.S. President to two terms, and - indeed - by refusing to seek a kingship. A delegate to the Continental Congress from Virginia (1774-1775) and member of the U.S. read more...

ANTICIPATING NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY A BILL, JUDGE JACKSON INFORMS HIS DEBTOR AND RECOMMENTDS A PLAN TO HONOR THE DEBT.   ANDREW JACKSON. ALS: "Andrew Jackson" as Judge and farmer, 1p, 7½x12½ inlaid on 9½x13¼ sheet. Wythe, (Tennessee), 1804 April 15. Integral leaf addressed by Jackson to: "Colo Francis Preston/Salt Works". No postal markings. In full: "On yesterday I called at your house and expected to have had the pleasure of seeing you there, was informed by Mrs. Preston you were at your iron works. I had a wish to have seen you upon the subject of the iron and castings, and receive information in whose possession they were stored. I am fearful there will not be a sufficient levell (sic) in the river this Spring to carry them to Nashville. Should this be the case if an opportunity should offer I wish them to be sold for cost and carriage and even less rather than a disappointment should take place in the payment to be made to you. The failure of crops in Cumberland will read more...