WOODROW WILSON The President of the United States autographed this letter in 1921 lamenting the country's decision to not join the League of Nations Typed Letter Signed, "Woodrow Wilson" on a 7x9 one-page letter. Dated January 22, 1921. On White House letterhead stationery. Six weeks before leaving office, a physically depleted Wilson writes to editor and pacifist Edward Bok, discussing his plans to talk about the League of Nations during his pending retirement. Wilson had conceived the League of Nations to settle disputes without wars, but America never joined the body because Congress did not ratify the Treaty of Versailles. Wilson, who suffered a stroke in 1919, lobbied heavily but unsuccessfully for the ratification of the Treaty, but the United States was the only one of 32 Allied powers that did not accept the Treaty. Wilson's letter states in part: “Thank you for your letter of the nineteenth and your renewal of the suggestion that I speak in Philadelphia on the League of Nations after my retirement from office. I think it depends very much upon the read more...

HARRY TRUMAN and CABINET Official 14x10½ Cabinet Photo, taken two weeks after the Inauguration for his (unexpected) full term, signed by the President himself, by Vice President Barkley, and by all nine members of the Cabinet. Attorney General Clark would soon become a Supreme Court Justice. This is one of the last photos of Defense Secretary Forrestal, sacked by Truman 6 weeks later and dead under suspicious circumstances within 3 months. Photograph signed: "Harry Truman" as President, "Alben W. Barkley" as Vice President, "Dean Acheson" as Secretary of State, "James Forrestal" as Secretary of Defense, "Tom C. Clark" as Attorney General, "John W. Snyder" as Secretary of the Treasury, "Charles F. Brannan" as Secretary of Agriculture, "J. M. Donaldson" as Postmaster General, "Charles Sawyer" as Secretary of Commerce, "Maurice J. Tobin" as Secretary of Labor, and "J. A. Krug" as Secretary of the Interior. In all eleven signatures, a complete roster of the Cabinet. 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...

ABRAHAM LINCOLN This is a rare handwritten legal document, signed by Lincoln with his firm's name of "Murphy & Lincoln" and with two paragraphs of comments on a suit against Sam Frazier, sheriff of Vermillion County, Indiana. It's an excellent example of a document from before he became 16th President of the United States. Rare Autograph Endorsement signed: "Murphy & Lincoln [illegible]", 1p, 7¾x12½. Champaign County, Illinois, circa 1852. In full: "And the defendant doth the like." Signed beneath the first paragraph of a manuscript document relating to the case of Nelson Ligget vs Samuel Frazier, who were represented by Linder Benedict & Davis. In full: "And the said plaintiff for replication to said defendants first pleas by him above pleaded, says precludi non, because he says That the said defendant at the time and place when & in the said plea mentioned, he the said defendant did not then and there have in his possession the said writ in said plea mentioned And this the said plaintiff prays may be enquired of by the county &c." A second paragraph follows Lincoln's first endorsement. read more...

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER As President of Columbia University, he signs a typed letter to Robert Cutler concerning University projects to be funded by the Harriman brothers, framed with an unsigned photo in the Gallery of History style. TLS: "Ike" as President of Columbia, with ALS: "DE" on first page of 1½ pages (separate sheets) typed letter, 7¼x9½. Columbia University, New York, 1950 December 13. To Robert Cutler, Old Colony Trust Company, Boston, about planning and financing The American Assembly, an affiliate of Columbia University founded by Eisenhower in 1950 "to illuminate issues of public policy". The ALS on the first typed page, in full: "Dear Bobby-This formal dissertation was, as is obvious, prepared by a staff assistant. If you knew how pressed I am, almost to the point of panic, you'd forgive me for not re-writing it. So far as meaning goes, it expresses my sentiments very well indeed!" The typed letter, in part: "Since our delightful Boston visit, we have gone ahead rapidly with the plans for The American Assembly…Mr. W. read more...

THOMAS JEFFERSON Jefferson handwrote, signed and dated this letter from Monticello in 1812 to James Leitch, a merchant in Charlottesville, Virginia. He wrote that he wanted a bottle of olive oil for an upcoming trip: "The more of it he can spare in silver, the more convenient it will be for the road." Jefferson was fascinated by the olive plant and ate olive oil regularly; it's one of the reasons he lived to 83 in a time when the average lifespan was 40. Third-person autograph letter signed "Th. Jefferson", 1p, 7x4. Monticello, April 30, 1812. Addressed on verso by Jefferson to "Mr. Leitch". In full: "Th. Jefferson understanding that Mr Leitch has olive oil, will be glad of a bottle of it. Being to set out on a journey within 2 or 3 days he asks the favor of him to change the inclosed bill [not included]. The more of it he can spare in silver, the more convenient it will be for the road." JAMES LEITCH was a merchant in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Leitch Storehouse still stands at 230-218 Court Square in downtown Charlottesville. read more...

SIX DAYS AFTER PRESIDENT TYLER VETOED CLAY'S BANK BILL, BUT BEFORE THE TENNESSEE GOVERNOR LEARNS OF THE VETO, POLK WRITES FROM NASHVILLE: "WE HAVE NO VETO OF THE BANK BILL YET. LETTERS FROM WASHINGTON OF THE 12TH - SPEAK IN CONFIDENT TERMS THAT THERE WILL BE A VETO".   JAMES K. POLK. Political Content ALS: "James K. Polk" as Governor of Tennessee, 1¼p, 7¾x9¾, front and verso. Nashville, Tennessee, 1841 August 22. To Robert B. Reynolds, Esqr., Knoxville, Tennessee. In full: "Since I wrote to you a few days ago, concerning the Judgeship vice Judge Powell deceased I have examined the laws & find that any one of the Circuit Judges of the State are authorized to hold the Courts in his Circuit. - I have written to Judge Robert M. Anderson requesting him to hold the Courts in Hawking on the 4th Monday in Sep'r and in Greene on the 2nd Monday in October. This will give the Legislature full time to elect a Judge, before any other Court in the Circuit will come on. I am anxious that Judge Anderson shall hold the Courts in Hawkins & Greene. read more...

THOMAS JEFFERSON and JAMES MADISON In the year of the Louisiana Purchase, both the President and the Secretary of State sign this grant of land in the new State of Ohio Land Grant signed: "Th. Jefferson" as President, "James Madison" as Secretary of State, 1 page, 13¼x10½. Washington, D.C., November 3, 1803. Document bears a large blind-embossed seal in the lower left-hand corner. In accordance with the Act of Congress providing for the sale of lands in the territory northwest of the Ohio River and above the mouth of the Kentucky, and determining that Benjamin Stanton has made full payment for a specified section of land there, the land is granted to Stanton, his heirs and assigns forever. Stanton's payment was deposited at the land office in Steubenville, in the new State of Ohio. Ohio became the 17th State in 1803 on either February 19, when Congress approved Ohio's constitution, or March 1, the date celebrated by the state of Ohio as the day its legislature first met. THOMAS JEFFERSON (1743-1826) served as third U.S. read more...

RONALD REAGAN Handwritten letter as President of the United States 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. Autograph Letter signed: "Dutch", 1 page, 5¾x4. Washington, D.C., 1988 August 2. On White House Letterhead to his friend Lydia "Hup" MacArthur. In full: "I've just sent a note to Myrtle. I hope I have the right address 'Polk City Manor.' I used my recent visit to WOC's new studio in Davenport as my excuse for writing-the memories & all. it does seem terrible to think of her as being down & not the life of the party. I'm glad to hear you are well. Give Dottie my very best regards. Nancy sends her greetings 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...