January 23rd Rare Autographs, Sports, Books and Photography
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/23/2020
This is a collection of seven Adlai E. Stevenson Typed Letters Signed as Governor of Illinois, April - November 1952, while he was being pushed to run for presidency. which makes the collection so interesting and important form a political perspective is Stevenson's self awareness and feelings of whether he will become president. Even just months before he was actually nominated in a letter dated April 17, 1952 Stevenson states "I am prepared to respond with an accurate prediction for once: I am not going to be President! But I hope to God I am going to be Governor again!
All letters are addressed to Mr. Paul C. Smith as "Dear Paul", Chief Editor of the San Francisco Chronicle.
1.) One page signed "Adlai", 10 1/2" x 8 1/4"; April 17, 1952.
Stevenson writes, in part:
"I am prepared to respond with an accurate prediction for once: I am not going to be President! But I hope to God I am going to be Governor again! ... As for 1956, well, you run for President and let me languish in that pink house on the hill and dream of what might have been."
Stevenson was nominated as the Democratic Presidential Candidate 3 months later.
Also included a carbon copy reply from Smith.
2.) One page signed "Adlai", 8 1/4" x 6 1/2"; May 13, 1952.
Also included a carbon copy reply from Smith.
3.) One page signed "Adlai", 10 1/2" x 8 1/4"; June 17, 1952.
Stevenson writes, in part:
"The ideas you attempted to articulate in Detroit have arrived. They will interest me, as your ideas always do".
Also included a carbon copy reply from Smith.
4.) One page signed "Adlai", 10 1/2" x 8 1/4"; July 11, 1952.
5.) One page signed "Adlai", 10 1/2" x 8 1/4"; August 2, 1952.
Stevenson writes, in part:
"...as long as I have your understanding and respect I am content... I wish you were here handling my public relations and all those mysterious things that seem to be so important and that I have never mastered."
At the time, Stevenson had just been nominated at the 1952 Democratic National Convention, as the Democratic Candidate for President of the United States of America.
One page signed "Adlai", 10 1/2" x 8 1/4"; September 14, 1952.
Stevenson writes, in part:
"...I had no opportunity to call you after the meeting. I had hoped for a little more of your cuonsel, and I will hope that you will send along any ideas, addressed to me personally and marked confidential, at the Executive Mansion. I shall not embarrass you."
At the time, Stevenson was running for President of the United States of America against Dwight D. Eisenhower.
One page signed "Adlai", 8 1/8" x 6 1/2"; November 19, 1952.
Adlai E. Stevenson Typed Letters Collection Important
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