JOHN F. KENNEDY Kennedy as President and J. Edward Day as Postmaster General sign the appointment of Robert J. Murphy as Assistant Postmaster, a very consequential appointment Civil Appointment signed: "John F. Kennedy", "J. Edward Day", 23x19. Washington, D.C., 1961 March 21. Appointment of Richard James Murphy of Maryland as Assistant Postmaster General. As the youngest elected President, JOHN FITZGERALD (1917-1963) displayed a youthful vitality that inspired Americans to actively participate in politics. While showing his resolve in the Cuban Missile Crisis, he also made strides toward peace with trade liberalization agreements, promotion of civil rights, the nuclear test ban treaty, the Peace Corps, and the Alliance for Progress. In addition to Kennedy's political offices, which included those of U.S. Representative (1947-1953) and U.S. Senator (1953-1960) from Massachusetts, he also received recognition for his World War II heroism (the Navy and Marine Corps Medal) and the 1957 Pulitzer Prize for Profiles in Courage read more...

GEORGE W. BUSH, RUDY GIULIANI, HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, GEORGE PATAKI and MICHAEL BLOOMBERG This white hard hat, used during the clean-up of Ground Zero at New York's destroyed Twin Towers, was signed by President George W. Bush, New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, New York Governor George Pataki, United States Senator from New York Hillary Rodham Clinton and Michael Bloomberg, who succeeded Giuliani as mayor. Except for Bloomberg, all the signers on this helmet were in office during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Helmet inscribed and signed: "to Michael/ Best/Wishes/ George W Bush", "Rudy Giuliani", "Hillary Rodham Clinton", "George Pataki" and "Michael Bloomberg". White helmet with logo of New York City DOT [Department of Transportation] on front. Green decal imprinted "Track Safety MTA NYC 2001" affixed on back, three pieces of yellow reflecting tape affixed at both sides and on back. On the ill-fated day of read more...

WARREN HARDING Archive of letters written by and to the President, his aides and sister, including a letter offering evidence to refute Nan Britton's claim that Harding was father of her child. Accompanying memorabilia includes vintage photos of Harding, and passes signed by two prominent US Senators. Collection includes: 1) Autograph Letter signed: "W.G.H.", 1 page, 5½x6¾ with blank integral leaf. No place, May 22, n. d., but with original mailing envelope postmarked Washington, D.C., May 22, 1917. To Mrs. Charles Williamson, in full: "Thank you for your note and clipping. Am glad to have both. Funny thing - I have a letter from California signed Ruth Williamson, who writes as though she knows me. Isn't that your daughter's name? But surely your daughter is not that far away. I am to be in New York either on Thursday, 24th, or Tuesday, 29th. One or the other is sure, possibly both. I'll be delighted to look you up. With assurances of high esteem, I am sincerely yours". Multiple mailing folds. Toned at folds. Multiple minor ink smudges. Otherwise, fine condition. 2) Autograph Letter signed: "Your Friend" [Harding], 2 pages (integral leaf), 4¾x6½. read more...

PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. "BILL" CLINTON The 42nd U.S. President pens a letter to a friend who had been profiled in an Arkansas newspaper, thanking him for his friendship Autograph Letter Signed: "Bill". One page. 6¾x9. Place: The White House, Washington, District of Columbia. Date: April 27, 1995. In full: "Dear David: I loved the High Profile article - It was richly deserved. I hope it gives your work a boost too - Thanks for being a true friend." "High Profile" is a feature in the Sunday edition of Little Rock's "Arkansas Democrat-Gazette". On the morning of the day the President wrote this letter, he met with Russian Foreign Minister Andrey Kozyrev in the White House. Following the meeting, he had a telephone conversation with President Boris Yeltsin of Russia. On the afternoon of May 8, 1995, President and Mrs. Clinton left for Moscow, arriving the next morning. President Clinton met with President Yeltsin on May 9th. The visit coincided with the 50th anniversary of the end of WWII in Europe. read more...

THEODORE ROOSEVELT This typed 1911 letter, addressed to a New York newspaper, contains numerous corrections in Roosevelt's hand. It's a scathing letter regarding a court decision and the newspaper's support for that decision - a decision that Roosevelt said violated one of the core philosophies of the Republican Party. This was written one year before Roosevelt tried to wrest the Republican presidential nomination from William Howard Taft - and, failing that, embarked on a third-party run under the Progressive banner. Public figures rarely commit such strong sentiments to writing, which makes this letter especially rare and significant. Superb content draft Typed Letter, heavily corrected with 216 words in Roosevelt's hand, not signed, on his personal letterhead, "The Outlook", "Office of Theodore Roosevelt", 2p, 7¾x9½, separate sheets. New York, May 30, 1911. To Mr. C.H. Betts, The Lyons Republican, 41 Williams Street, Lyons, N ew York. Most probably the final draft. In part: "Really it is hard to believe that read more...

JAMES MADISON and JAMES MONROE As war with Britain looms (1812), the President and Secretary of State sign the papers of an American merchant ship bound for France with a valuable cargo. Partly Printed DS: "James Madison" as President, "Jas Monroe" as Secretary of State and "David Gelston" as Collector of Customs of the Port of New York, 1 page, 20½x16½. Signed in Washington, but issued from New York, 1812 January 18. The text is in four columns, each in a different language; from left to right: French, Spanish, English and Dutch. A four-language ship's paper for the brig Don Roderick under the command of Davis G. Gillies, bound for Bordeaux from New York, "Laden with Cocoa, Coffee, Sugar, Pepper, Cotton, Tea, Mahogany Oil...." No American ships could sail the open seas without this properly authorized passport, and ships still faced problems. If an American ship was sailing to a European port under French control, as the Don Roderick was bound for Bordeaux, France, it could be seized by a British ship if it had not called at a British port. 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...

THOMAS JEFFERSON Edward Church, Consul to Bilbao, Spain, was the first United States consul to be rejected by a foreign port. This 1790 document, signed by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, is Church's commission as United States Consul to Bilbao and the document that started the whole affair Manuscript Letter Signed: "Th: Jefferson" as Secretary of State, 1p, 7¼x8¼. New York, 1790 June 17. To Edward Church, Esq. In full: "Sir, The President of the United States desiring to avail the public of your services as Consul for the Port of Bilboa [sic], I have now the honor of enclosing you the Commission, and of expressing to you the sentiments of perfect esteem with which I am, Sir Your Most obedient and Most humble Servant". On June 4, 1790, in a letter to the U.S. Senate, President Washington nominated 14 Consuls and Vice-Consuls, including "Edward Church, of Massachusetts, to be Consul of the United States of America, for the port of Bilboa [sic] in the kingdom of Spain, and for such parts of read more...

THE MONTH AFTER THE BRITISH BLOCKADED THE EASTERN SEABOARD SOUTH OF NARRAGANSETT DURING THE WAR OF 1812, SHIP'S PAPERS ARE ISSUED TO A VESSEL FROM GLOUSTER, MASSACHUSETTS   JAMES MADISON, JAMES MONROE and JOHN KITTREDGE Partly Printed DS: "James Madison" as fourth U.S. President and "Jas Monroe" as Secretary of State, 1p, 10x15, irregularly cut. Washington, D.C., 1813 December 8. Ship's passport on vellum signed in Washington but issued out of "State of Massachusetts, District of Glouster". Cosigned: "John Kittredge Coll." as Collector for that port. In part: "By the President of the United States of America SUFFER the Schoner (sic) Dolphin Samuel Grace master or commander of the burthen of Sixty nine tons or thereabouts mounted with No guns navigated with Six men TO PASS with her Company Passengers Goods and Merchandize without any hinderance seizure or molestation the said Schooner appearing by good testimoney to belong to one or more of the Citizens of the United States and to him or them only...." On vellum. read more...