SHERIDAN DOWNEY
Brief typed letter on US Senate stationery
Typed Letter signed: "Sheridan Downey" as US Senator, 8x10½, affixed at an 8½x11 page. Washington, D.C., 1945 August 7. On letterhead of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs to Ralph Errington Ward, Washington, D.C. In full: "Thank you for your letter of July 29 requesting my autograph for your collection. I am happy to comply with your request. Sincerely". Accompanied by transmittal envelope bearing Downey's stamped frank. SHERIDAN DOWNEY (1884-1961) was a Democratic US Senator from California (1939-1950). He entered politics as a staunch liberal, running for Lieutenant Governor in 1934 on the End Poverty in California (EPIC) ticket with Upton Sinclair. (Opponents called them "Uppie and Downey".) Despite a landslide defeat in this race, Downey won a US Senate seat in 1938, and was re-elected in 1944. In his first term, Downey actively promoted social security, rights for labor unions and racial equality. In his Senate second term, he moved sharply to the right, championing California's big business interests. Declining to seek a third term in 1950, he endorsed Republican candidate Richard Nixon against Democratic nominee Helen Gahagan Douglas. From the collection Ralph Errington Ward (1926-2009) a fighter pilot and squadron commander in the China-Burma-India Theater of World War II. Ward became President and CEO of Cheseborough-Ponds, Inc., transforming the cosmetics firm into a major home product conglomerate. Newspaper clipping affixed at letter. Multiple mailing folds. Lightly toned. Otherwise, fine condition.