THOMAS W. GREGORY - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 12/23/1916 - HFSID 26433

THOMAS W. GREGORY
Thomas W. Gregory signed this letter, typed on U. S. Attorney General's stationery, to an autograph hunter in 1916. Gregory was U. S. Attorney General under President Woodrow Wilson and suppressed anti-war protestors during World War I.
Typed letter signed "T.W.Gregory". 1 page, 6x8¾, one sheet folded, on U. S. Attorney General's stationery. Dec. 23, 1916. Addressed to J. Elmer Christie, an attorney in Nyack, N.Y. In full: "Dear Sir: I have yours of the 20th asking me to send you an autograph letter containing some favorite expression of mine to add to your collection. I really have no favorite expression but send you the autograph. Yours very truly,".Texas lawyer Gregory (1861-1933) was a regent at the University of Texas before joining other former conservatives in supporting Woodrow Wilson's presidential campaign in 1911. His support opened up numerous appointments within Wilson's administration that culminated in his being appointed U. S. Attorney General (1914-1919). Gregory was generally progressive but drew criticism for collaborating with U. S. Postmaster General Albert S. Burleson to suppress domestic dissent of the American war effort during World War I, including framing the Espionage Act of 1917, encouraging illegal surveillance of citizens by the right-wing American Protective League and directing federal prosecutions of over 2,000 opponents of the war. After resigning as Attorney General, he was made a member of Wilson's Second Industrial Conference (1919-1920) and resumed his law practice. Lightly toned and foxed. Ink transference. Lightly soiled on verso (no show-through). Folded in half and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition.