Description:

GERALD R. FORD
(1913 - 2006) 38th President of the United States who assumed office upon the resignation of Richard Nixon, who Ford later pardoned for any involvement in the Watergate scandal. FORD DESPERATELY SEEKS TO HALT REVELATIONS ABOUT GOVERNMENT-APPROVED ASSASSINATIONS. An extraordinary T.L.S. 'Gerald R. Ford' as President on White House letterhead, 3pp. 4to., Washington, Oct. 31, 1975 to powerful Republican Senator HOWARD BAKER (1925-2014), then sitting upon the Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities. A clearly angry Ford pens a most vehement demand that the committee, then examining FBI and CIA involvement in the investigation and potential assassination attempts made on John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Fidel Castro. He writes, in part: '...I am writing to urge the Select Committee not to make public the report on the subject of assassinations which I understand is currently in preparation...I also want to offer my views on this matter and appeal to the Committee not to release this report publicly...It is my opinion that public disclosure now of information I provided to the Senate Select Committee concerning allegations of political assassination activities of the United States Government will result in serious harm to the national interest and may endanger individuals. As I stated publicly when the allegations were published, the very idea that any person or organization within the United States Government could consider assassination as an acceptable act is abhorrent...To facilitate legitimate investigation...I have endeavored to make available all the materials in the Executive Branch on this subject to the Select Committees of the Senate and the House and the Department of Justice...You will recall that I said on June 9, 1975: 'I know that the Members of the Congress involved will exercise utmost prudence in the handling of such information.'...I have endeavored to make all of the information available...so that legislation can be proposed, if necessary, and to the Justice Department to facilitate any investigation indicated. However, we must distinguish between disclosure to the Select Committee of sensitive information and publication of that information which is harmful to the national interest and may endanger the physical safety of individuals. There is no question about access to these materials by appropriate officials. The only issue concerns publication which obviously cannot be limited to Members of Congress and other American citizens. Public release of these official materials and information will do grievous damage to our country. It would likely be exploited by foreign nations and groups hostile to the United States in a manner designed to do maximum damage to the reputation and foreign policy of the United States. It would seriously impair our ability to exercise a positive leading role in world affairs. I am convinced that publication at this time will endanger individuals named in the report or who can be identified when foreign agents carefully study it. I am sure none of us want such an unfortunate result...I have sought to balance the competing interests involved in this matter...to protect our national defense and ability to conduct foreign affairs as well as the traditional American right of individual privacy, I have provided most of this information in classified form. There can be legislation, if deemed necessary, and prosecutions, if warranted. But let us do this without the damage to the United States...I appeal to you and your colleagues on the Senate Select Committee to oppose publication of this report on alleged assassination activity. I am sure the Select Committee will recognize the enormous responsibility it has to see to it that serious damage will not result to the United States by the publication of this report and will recognize also the duty which I have to emphasize the disastrous consequences which can occur by publication...'. Very slightly toned at the extreme margins, otherwise in fine condition. In 1975, Frank Church became the chairman of the Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities. This committee investigated alleged abuses of power by the Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Intelligence. Baker became a member of this committee. As a result of his investigations Baker became a critic of the Warren Commission - of which Senator Gerald Ford had been a member. After holding 126 full committee meetings, 40 subcommittee hearings, interviewing some 800 witnesses in public and closed sessions, and combing through 110,000 documents...and despite Ford's pleas - the committee published its final report on April 29, 1976. 'Intelligence agencies have undermined the constitutional rights of citizens,' the final report concluded, 'primarily because checks and balances designed by the framers of the Constitution to assure accountability have not been applied.'. As a result of Church's report and the untimely deaths of intended committee witnesses Sam Giancana, Jimmy Hoffa and Johnny Roselli, Congress established the House Select Committee on Assassinations in September 1976. The resolution authorized a 12-member select committee to conduct an investigation of the circumstances surrounding the deaths of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King. A most historic letter!

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August 16, 2024 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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