JFK and the JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, JANUARY 1961 This is the rarest signed photo of Kennedy that we've ever seen! The newly inaugurated President poses in the Oval Office with his top military advisers: Lyman Lemnitzer, David Shoup, Thomas White, Arleigh Burke and George Decker. Kennedy and all 5 military chiefs have signed this very rare 20x16, color photographic display. Very Rare Photograph Mount signed: "John F. Kennedy", "David M. Shoup", "Thomas D. White", "L. L Lemnitzer", "Arleigh Burke" and "George H. Decker". Color, 20x16 overall, image 13¼x10½ (two surfaces, with the signatures on the lower mat) Framed under glass. Photo: Cecil W. Stoughton. Printed US government caption on verso dates this photograph on January 25, 1961. This is the rarest signed photo of Kennedy that we've ever seen! JOHN F. KENNEDY, inaugurated 5 days earlier, himself a naval veteran of combat in the South Pacific in World War II, poses with the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The Joint Chiefs of Staff, constituted in 1947 to advise the President and the Secretary of State, consists of a chairman and the highest ranking officers of the military branches. 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...

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...

PRESIDENTS THEODORE ROOSEVELT, HARRY TRUMAN and JOHN F. KENNEDY All three signed this postcard featuring a 45-star American flag, postmarked during TR's Presidency. Roosevelt and Kennedy almost certainly signed as President. Postcard signed: "T Roosevelt", "Harry Truman", "John Kennedy", 3½x5½. Postcard bearing on verso a US flag with 45 stars, outlined in gold glitter, signed there by all three. Addressed on verso by an unknown hand to Miss Louise Herbst, 2308 Bryant Street, City, postmarked San Francisco, California, October 22, 1907. A nice collection of of America's 26th, 33rd and 35th Presidents. This collection must have been gathered over many years. John F. Kennedy was not even born until 1917, two years before Roosevelt's death. THEODORE ROOSEVELT (1858-1919), HARRY TRUMAN (1884-1972) and JOHN F. KENNEDY (1917-1963) are among the nation's most venerated chief executives.  Since the postcard contains no other text, it was probably returned with Teddy Roosevelt's signature during his Presidency (1901-1909). Kennedy probably signed as President too. 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...

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...

PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. "BILL" CLINTON The 42nd U.S. President pens this encouraging note to Senator Daniel Moynihan referring to some social and economic aspects, signed in black ink Autograph Note Signed: "Bill" in black ink as President. One page. 6¼x4¼ card. Embossed with gilt Presidential Seal and words "The President". Place: Washington, District of Columbia. Date: September 28, 1999. Addressed to: Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. In full: "Senator, If we persevere we'll get this done! - I will help in any way I can, in or out of office. Best."  A day earlier, after getting the news of a higher than expected $115 billion budget surplus, President Clinton said, in part: "This triple digit surplus is larger than projected, larger than last year's and, in fact, larger than any surplus in the history of the United States…We can give the American read more...

FIVE PRESIDENTS (1969-1992): RICHARD NIXON, GERALD FORD, JIMMY CARTER, RONALD REAGAN and GEORGE BUSH This extremely rare color photo, taken at the dedication of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in 1991, contains the signatures of all five presidents to serve between 1969 and 1992: Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George Bush. This event was the first time that five presidents of the United States, former or current, had ever gathered in one place for any reason. Photograph signed: "George Bush", "Ronald Reagan", "J Carter", "Gerald R. Ford" and "Richard Nixon". Color, 10x8 overall, image 8¾x5, one surface. The dedication of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum on a hilltop overlooking Simi Valley, California was marked by the attendance of five Presidents: then-President George Bush and former Presidents Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon. The library, built at a cost of $57 million, was dedicated on November 4, 1991 at a ceremony that brought together five Presidents for the first time in history. 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...