901101
Gerald R. Ford
Scroll down to see images of the item below the description
Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr., 1913-2006. 38th President of the United States, 1974-1977. Typed Letter Signed, Jerry Ford, one page, 8" x 10½", on stationery of the Congress of the United States, Office of the Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C., October 31, 1973.
Less than three weeks after he was nominated for appointment as Vice President, Ford sends his regrets that he cannot furnish an autographed copy of the Warren Commission report. In full: “Thank you for your recent letter requesting an autographed copy of the Warren Commission report. / I wish I could comply with your request but I just do not have any extra copies in the office. I have checked with the Government Printing Office in Washington and am told that they no longer have this report in stock. / Although I was unable to locate a copy, if you could find one and forward it to me, I will be happy to autograph it for you."
In the aftermath of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, his successor, President Lyndon B. Johnson, moved quickly to avert a congressional investigation by appointing a nonpartisan presidential commission to investigate the assassination. Johnson feared that an uncontrolled congressional investigation might lead to public accusations that the Soviet Union was behind the assassination and thus derail relations with the Soviet Union. He settled on a commission chaired by Chief Justice Earl Warren, whom he had to arm twist to take the job. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara suggested Ford, with whom he worked on Defense Department appropriation issues, and House Speaker John McCormack confirmed that Ford was "a top-rate man" who "would rise to the consciousness of responsibility." Ford thus became Johnson's Republican commission appointee from the House of Representatives. In a short phone call from Johnson at 6:52 p.m. on November 29, 1963, the unassuming Ford told Johnson that he would be "honored to do it" and "delighted to help out" and that he would "do the very best I can." The fascinating history of the appointment of the Warren Commission is told through the words of Johnson's own telephone conversations in Max Holland, The Kennedy Assassination Tapes (2004).
The Warren Commission appointment elevated Ford's standing in the House of Representatives, which in turn positioned him for appointment as Vice President and ultimately put him in the White House. In 1965, following the severe Republican defeat in the 1964 election, Ford narrowly defeated Indiana Congressman Charles Halleck, an opponent of both Kennedy and Johnson, for House Minority Leader. Ford served as Minority Leader for more than eight years until President Richard M. Nixon selected him to succeed Vice President Spiro Agnew, who resigned in scandal. The first Vice President appointed under the provisions of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, Ford was confirmed by both houses of Congress and took office December 6, 1973. Just over eight months later, on August 9, 1974, Ford succeeded to the presidency after Nixon, too, resigned in scandal. Ford thus was the only person to become President who was not elected as either President or Vice President.
Ford was the last surviving member of the Warren Commission. Despite numerous conspiracy theories through the years, until his death at age 93, Ford steadfastly endorsed the commission's conclusion that assassin Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.
Ford has signed this letter in blue ballpoint. The letter shows handling and a bit of soiling, and there is a ¼" tear in a fold at the right margin, well removed from the text and signature. Overall the letter is very good to fine.
Unframed. Please ask us about custom framing this piece.
This item has been sold.
Click here to see more items on the Presidents page.
|
