LETTER WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF PRESIDENT ANDREW JOHNSON DECLINING A DINNER INVITATION JUST ONE MONTH AFTER HE SURVIVED IMPEACHMENT TRIAL: “I LOVE GREATLY TO PAY TRIBUTE TO A SELF MADE MAN – A SELF MADE MAN MYSELF HAVING RISEN FROM THE POSITION OF AN ALDERMAN IN MY NATIVE VILLAGE THROUGH THE VARIOUS GRADES OF STATE LEGISLATOR GOVERNOR OF MY NATIVE STATE, REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS, SENATOR, VICE PRESIDENT TO THE HUMBLE POSITION I NOW HOLD AS PRESIDENT OF A GREAT AND GLORIOUS REPUBLIC”

ANDREW JOHNSON (1808-1875). Johnson was the Seventeenth President.

Letter. 2 pg. 8” x 10”. July 28. 1868. Washington, D.C. A letter written on behalf of “A. Johnson” to “Gentlemen” declining an invitation to a banquet celebrating the birthday of a mutual friend.  As Johnson disdained handwriting, this is in the handwriting of a secretary.  In giving the reason for declining the invitation, President Johnson cites “I regret exceedingly that my labors on behalf of an imperiled constitution will deprive me of the pleasure of paying due honors to your distinguished guest”. For Johnson, going to the banquet would be gratifying since he and the guest are self-made men: “I love greatly to pay tribute to a self made man – a self made man myself having risen from the position of an alderman in my native village through the various grades of state legislator Governor of my native state, representatives in Congress, Senator, Vice President to the humble position I now hold as President of a great and glorious republic…Permit me to thank you gentlemen, for your kind invitation and the opportunity it thus affords me to pay my humble tribute to a self-man made”. Johnson then concludes the letter by returning to his theme of an imperiled country: “Believe me, that pressing official duties alone prevent me from meeting around your festive band and raising my humble voice in offering a toast to that sacred and much violated instrument, the great work of our revolution of sires, a record which we are all bound to love and obey – the Constitution”. That year, President Johnson survived removal by the United States Senate by one vote over violations of the Tenure of Office Act, the culmination of a running feud with Radical Republicans in Congress over Reconstruction and civil rights for blacks. A list of the gentlemen addressed in the letter is given on the left side of the first page. The letter is in fine condition and an excellent example of Andrew Johnson’s mindset.

PRESIDENT ANDREW JOHNSON ENDORSES A CHECK RELATED TO LOANS MADE WHEN HE WAS MILITARY GOVERNOR OF TENNESSEE IN 1862; IT HAS RARE PRESIDENTIAL HANDWRITING

ANDREW JOHNSON (1808-1875).  Johnson was the Seventeenth President, becoming President upon Lincoln’s assassination in 1865.  He was also the first President impeached.

DS. 2pg. 3 3/8” x 8”. October 31, 1866. Washington, DC.  A partly printed check endorsed “Executive Mansion Nov 5^th 1866 Please pay first National Bank Andrew Johnson” on the back.  The front of the check is signed by Michael Burns, a Tennessee businessman and politician.  It is from Nashville, dated October 31, 1866, and was for the stunning amount of $14,600, payable to Dempsey Weaver.  The money was most likely for loans Johnson made when Military Governor of Tennessee in 1862.  This was signed just days before the 1866 Congressional midterm elections that affected the direction of Reconstruction.  There is a tax stamp, vignettes, a cancellation cut and light creasing.  Johnson handwritten materials as President, of any sort, is extremely rare.  While there are some Johnson Presidential checks on the market, I’ve never seen this format before.

THE 1968 FEDERAL BUDGET BOOK SIGNED BY LBJ AS PRESIDENT

LYNDON B. JOHNSON (1908-1973). Johnson served as the 36^th President.

Signed book. 475 pages. 1967. Washington. The 1968 budget signed “Lyndon B. Johnson” as President. Officially entitled The Budget of the United States Government For The Fiscal Year Ending June 30 1968 and published by the Government Printing Office, the budget is bound in three-quarter green leather with marbled-paper sides.  President Johnson signs his name on page 38 at the end of “Part 1 The Budget Message of the President”, and before the actual budget is presented. In this annual budget message, delivered on January 24, 1967, Johnson claims that “This budget for fiscal year 1968 reflects three basic considerations: In Vietnam, as throughout the world, we seek peace but will provide all the resources needed to combat aggression. In our urgent domestic programs we will continue to press ahead, at a controlled and reasoned pace. In our domestic economy we seek to achieve a 7th year of uninterrupted growth, adopting the fiscal measures needed to finance our expenditures responsibly, permit lower interest rates, and achieve a more balanced economy”. Referring to “hard choices” made in constructing the budget, it, for example, calls for a $21.9 billion military funding bill to Congress that would have brought the cost of the war to $46.2 billion. When the Defense appropriations were finally approved on September 20^th of that year, Congress reduced such spending by $1.6 billion. Given that Congress has not passed an annual budget by its mandated deadline since 1997, this document is a fascinating window into Federal finances at the twilight of the Johnson administration and a relic of a bygone congressional process. It is in excellent condition and a rare book signed by Johnson as the Commander In Chief.

A LITHOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT OF JFK

JOHN F. KENNEDY (1917-1963). Kennedy was the Thirty-Fifth President.

Lithograph. 9 ½” x 13 ½”. No date. No place. A lithographic portrait of President John F. Kennedy by artist Robert Rogers. It is in fine condition.

AN ABRAHAM LINCOLN MILITARY COMMISSION FOR A SOLDIER WOUNDED AT ANTIETAM; HE WAS COMMISSIONED IN THE VETERANS RESERVE CORPS

ABRAHAM LINCOLN (1809-1865).  Lincoln was the Sixteenth President.

DS. 1pg. August 1, 1864. Washington.  A vellum military commission signed “Abraham Lincoln” as President and co-signed “E.M. Stanton” as Secretary of War.  The President appointed James Wylie Crawford a First Lieutenant in the Veterans Reserve Corps.  Crawford (1832-1910) was from Maine; according to family lore, he was badly wounded at Antietam (I bought this directly from a descendant).  This injury required his enlistment in the Veterans Reserve Corps.  The Veterans Reserve Corps allowed wounded soldiers to remain active, often performing small tasks and light duty; established in the middle of 1863, it was first known as the Invalid Corps until the official name was changed.  The document recently underwent conservation with the vellum stretched and flattened; the top right corner of the vellum has shrunk and the document was once rolled.  The Lincoln autograph is a tad light and gets lighter as the autograph gets towards the conclusion; the Stanton is also a bit faint (but vellum does not hold ink that well, especially compared to paper).

ROBERT TODD LINCOLN IS DELIGHTED THAT HIS WIFE HAS JOINED HIM AND HE PLANS TO GO TO LONDON SOON

ROBERT TODD LINCOLN (1843-1926).  Lincoln was the eldest son and only surviving child of Abraham Lincoln.  He was Secretary of War under President Garfield and Minister to England under President Harrison.  Upon George Pullman’s death in 1897, Lincoln became acting executive and then president of The Pullman Company, resigning the position in 1911.

ALS. 3pg. 4 ½” x 7”. January 1, 1891.  An autograph letter signed “Robert T. Lincoln”: “I am not so happy as I have Mrs. Lincoln with me – She & our girls will come…later reaching London at the start of February.  It is with great regret that I find myself engaged both for lunch & dinner for any day until I go away at midnight Saturday.  My friends including yourself have overwhelmed me with kindness here & I am very sorry that I cannot stay longer to enjoy their hospitality.  Hoping to find you at home tomorrow.  Most sincerely yours Robert T. Lincoln”.  The recipient appears to be Lily Macalester Berghmans Laughton, the second Regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association.  It is written on black-bordered mourning stationery and comes with a matching envelope in Lincoln’s handwriting.  It is in fine condition.