BILL CLINTON President Bill Clinton signed this typed letter to Senator Pat Moynihan in 1999 regarding live bombing exercises Vieques, Puerto Rico that had killed a native Puerto Rican earlier that year. He added an autograph postscript that "I will do all I can to bring this to a satisfactory conclusion"... and he did. Typed Letter Signed: "Bill" as President, 2p, 7x10½, separate sheets. The White House, Washington, 1999 October 20. On White House letterhead to The Honorable Daniel Patrick Moynihan, United States Senate, Washington, D.C. Begins: "Dear Pat". In part: "Thank you for your letter on the Navy's target practice at Vieques, Puerto Rico. I especially appreciate your thoughts because of your personal experience as well as the insight you provided on Puerto Rico matters in general. You helped me understand the Puerto Rico issue during the dinner you recalled in your letter and at other points early in my presidency...I also recognize the unprecedented unity and strong feelings Puerto Ricans have regarding Vieques... read more...

JAMES GARFIELD The President signs a warrant authorizing the Secretary of State to place the US seal on a congratulatory message to the new Kingdom of Romania. Signatures by Garfield as President are extremely rare, this one penned less than two months before he was shot. Presidential Warrant signed: "James A. Garfield" as President, 8x10, matted with a photograph of Garfield (with facsimile signature) to an overall size of 18½x15. Washington, D.C., 1881 May 5. In full: "I hereby authorize and direct the Secretary of State to cause the Seal of the United States to be affixed to an envelope containing my reply to the letter of King Charles of Romania, announcing the erection of Romania into a Kingdom &c, &c. dated this day, and signed by me; and for so doing this shall be his warrant." James Abram Garfield (1831-1881) rose to the rank of Major General in the U.S. Army during the Civil War, participating in the battles of Shiloh and Chickamauga, before resigning his commission to take a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives (1863-1880). read more...

ANDREW JACKSON As President, he signs an 1829 autograph letter to a Tennessee neighbor, explaining that he has neither the desire nor the financial means to purchase an offered parcel of land adjacent to his own. Autograph Letter Signed: "Andrew Jackson" as President, 1 page, 8x10. Washington, 1829 September 3. To Captain Peter Mosely. In full: "Being absent from this city at the Rip Raps for the benefit of my health I did not receive your letter until my return on the first instant and I hasten to answer it the first leisure moment that has occurred. I regret to say to you, that my monied concerns are not in a situation to purchase your land, I am sorry to be compelled to say to you, that my expense is equal to all my means, & it is out of my power to loan you the sum wanted. The land you propose selling; that part where McCulla lived, would not suit me; If I had the means to buy, I would buy that north of my tract, say 150 acres at a fair price, but as yet, I have not the means. read more...

JAMES K. POLK and JAMES BUCHANAN Polk as President, and Buchanan as Secretary of State, sign the "full and unconditional pardon" (10x17) of convicted burglar Robert Scott, June 1, 1848. Polk's signature is scarce! Presidential Pardon signed: "James K. Polk" as President, "James Buchanan" as Secretary of State, 10x17½. City of Washington, 1848 June 1. Robert Scott, convicted of burglary by the Criminal Court of the District of Columbia in its June session, 1844 and sentenced to a term of four years imprisonment, is granted a "full and unconditional pardon" on the recommendation of the Warden and Physician of the (un-named) penitentiary, and "considering that the ends of justice have probably been obtained in this case". Official seal affixed in lower left. Democrat JAMES K. POLK was Governor of Tennessee from 1839-1841. He lost reelection bids in 1841 and 1843. In 1844, after being nominated as a "dark horse" at the Democratic National Convention, Polk defeated Whig Henry Clay and was elected 11th U.S. President. read more...

ON HIS LAST DAY IN THE WHITE HOUSE, A REFLECTIVE TRUMAN THANKS A TRUSTED AIDE WHO PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN HIS FAMOUS UPSET VICTORY OF 1948. HARRY TRUMAN Typed Letter signed: "Harry Truman", 1p, 7x8¾ with blank integral leaf. Washington, D.C., 1953 January 19. On White House letterhead to Donald S. Dawson, Administrative Assistant to the President, The White House. In full: "I want you to know, before I leave the White House, how grateful I am for your extremely loyal assistance. I remember very well how, in my search for a topnotch personnel advisor in the Government, I found a fellow Missourian in you. You have demonstrated consistently your knowledge and ability in the Government personnel field and deserve the thanks of all of us for your efforts to promote the merit system in the United States Government. You are entitled to pride for your assistance to me in the selection of individuals for Presidential appointments, your efforts to modernize the federal compensation system, especially the Classification Act of 1949 and the Executive Pay Bill, your read more...

GEORGE WASHINGTON Washington handwrote and signed this document, showing that he paid £100 for his neighbor's wheat, only five months after being selected to be a delegate at the Continental Congress. This document has his full name of "George Washington" instead of his more common signature of "G. Washington", which makes it especially rare. Autograph document signed in text: "George Washington". 1 page, 7¼x4¼. [Fairfax County, Virginia, 1774 December 23]. In Full: "Then Received from George Washington the Currt Sum of One hundred pounds in part payment for Wheat sold him by" to which the seller has signed: "Thomas Triplett". Penned at top left (unknown hand, possibly Triplett's): "Receivd Decr 23d 1774". THOMAS TRIPLETT was a descendent of French Huguenots who came to America to escape religious persecution. Triplett grew wheat on his plantation in Fairfax County, not far from Washington's Mount Vernon plantation. read more...

ZACHARY TAYLOR Three months before his Presidential nomination and one year before his inauguration, Taylor writes military aide and political supporter J. B. Butler that he cannot come to Cincinnati because he may soon be ordered back to "the seat of war." Autograph Letter signed: "Z. Taylor", 2 pages (front and verso), 8x9¾. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1848 March 1. To Major J. B. Butler, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In full: "Your kind favor of Feb. 9 came duly to hand and I am truly indebted to you for the wish you have expressed that I should visit Cincinnati etc., but I assure you such a journey is at present quite out of the question as Rumors have been rife of the intention to order me again to the seat of war and tho' all is uncertain, I must maintain myself for a time at least where I may be readily accessible to the communications of the Dept. Accept my sincere thanks for the many kind sentiments of regard you have once and heretofore expressed towards me both those of a political & personal nature." The popularity of war hero Zachary Taylor (1784-1850) led to his election as the 12th U.S. President (1849-1850). 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...

HERBERT HOOVER and his PRESIDENTIAL CABINET Posed 13x11 photo on the White House lawn, signed by the President, by Vice President Curtis, and all 10 of his Cabinet officers, matted and framed to 23x20. Photograph signed: "Patrick Hurley", "Charles Curtis", "Herbert Hoover", "He. Stimson", "A. W. Mellon", "R. P. Lamont", "Ray Lyman Wilbur", "Walter F. Brown", "William D. Mitchell", A. M. Hyde", "C. F. Adams" and "W. N. Doak". Sepia, 13x10½. Matted and framed to an overall size of 22½x20¼. Signed in order, front row first, in the lower margin. HERBERT HOOVER (1874-1964) had never held elected office before winning landslide election to the Presidency in 1928, but he had a broad background as a mining engineer, the architect of US relief efforts in stricken Europe during and following World War I, and Secretary of Commerce under President Coolidge. Hoover's efforts to combat the Depression were judged inadequate by the electorate, which repudiated him for Democrat Franklin Roosevelt in 1932. He had some opportunity to restore his read more...