Lot 823
OMAR BRADLEY AND ESTHER BUHLER 'HORSE RACING' CORRESPONDENCE
A revelatory and important correspondence between Omar Bradley and his future second wife Esther 'Kitty' Buhler (1923-2004) a Hollywood screenwriter, chronicling what appears to be Bradley's extramarital affair with her years before the death of his first wife, Mary Elizabeth Quayle Bradley in 1965. The letters, which appear to be the first documents to surface concerning the previously unknown affair, date between c. 1958 and 1965, and include eight A.Ls.S by Bradley together with two T.Ls.S., as well as Buhler's retained copies of her correspondence to Bradley. According to Bradley's memoir, A General's Life, he first met Kitty in 1950 when she conducted an interview of him while she was a feature writer for Stars and Stripes and did not meet again until she had acquired the rights to his life story in the mid 1960s, and the pair did not romantic relationship until months after Mary Bradley's death. (p. 666-668). This correspondence indicates that the pair carried on what appears to be a romantic liaison from the late 1960s onwards until their marriage in 1966. The two would periodically meet in California or New York when Bradley was apart from his wife. Apparently both Bradley and Buhler never revealed this multi-year affair to anyone, and until now, it has remained undocumented. The correspondence, much of which is dated by the month and day only, reads in small part: "[Sept. 11, n.y.]...I am up here alone for three days. We are very busy preparing the way for a new watch which we are bringing out in November. It looks as if I will be in Europe from the last of this month until about the 29th of October, I hope that you are not making your trip East during this time. Attended an MGM board meeting this morning. Thought of you when they were approving some salaries for writers...". Most of the letters contain horse-racing content as the two often attended the horse races together when they visited each other. Bradley continues, lamenting, "I haven't been to the races some time. Too busy while I am in New York and they do not run in the vicinity of Washington until Nov. Will try to get out to Aqueduct before long. Maybe I need you to act as an incentive! See you before too long, I hope. Sincerely O". Not all of their correspondence remained private, on Aug. 8, [n.y.] he warned Kitty, "The last letter you sent to Washington fell into the wrong hands so I doubt if I will ever be able to make another trip to Calif. alone! I explained that I knew you only because of our common interest in the races and that I had picked you up at your home on one of these occasions. I had to promise to quit writing - I will count this just as a note - but maybe you will be coming East one of these days and will let me know how to contact you. You can still write to me here at the N.Y. address but I suggest you use a plain envelope. Went to Jamaica about ten days ago and came away [a] winner. I hope to see them run at Belmont in September or late Oct after I return from Europe. Better try to join me. Hope you are doing some writing from M.G.M. We need some good pictures. [Bradley served on the board of M.G.M.]. I do think Mr Vogel is making progress...". Kitty responded on Aug. 14 [n.y.], "...It is unfortunate that my last letter was read by eyes other than yours -- but surely you could have explained that you enjoy my presence at the track because I'm such an 'excellent handicapper' (you said it) -- and that our business relationship is based on your connection with MGM and that I am now writing a script for the studio (which I am.) Then too, there is our mutual friend. Mr. Kennedy... I don't expect further letters from you -- but it would be nice to have a lengthy note -- shall we say no more than once or twice a week --? As for your trip out there, I don't care if you bring all of Washington with you just so long as you get here. Do. Of course I will be coming East 'one of these days' and you know I'll let you know when that will be - but it would be nice not to have to wait that long to see you..." Sometime later, Bradley's wife discovered yet another letter from Kitty. Bradley offered a more elaborate solution to the problem in an A.L.S. from New York on May 18, [n.y.]: "I want to suggest a change in procedure. One of your recent letters was forwarded to me in Washington and Mary got it. She is very suspicious at the same time I want to hear when you are coming East. I suggest you use plain stationery with no name or address, do not refer to Mr. Kennedy and sign your letter George. Also mark personal. I will take steps to keep personal mail from being forwarded but there might be a slip. I hope you don't mind this change...". Bradley writes another letter, without date, from his office at the Bulova Watch Company in Flushing, New York, explaining: "...I have taken on an additional job which will require me to spend two or three days per week here in New York. I have resigned from two of my three jobs there in California and may drop out of the other one as it will be very difficult for me to get out that way now. I am disappointed as I had kept hoping that I could find you less busy on my next trip... I think you have worked long enough without seeing your folks back here. I hope you will write to me now. If you send it to the above address and mark it 'personal' it should get to me unopened...". On Jan 8, 1960 Bradley wrote to her advising her of a trip to "...Florida on Jan 20th and except for a few days the latter part of February, I will be there until about March 20th. I suggest that you not write to me during that period as some of my mail will be forwarded and might go astray! Of course if you should come to New York. Call my office to see if I am in. Sure would like to see you...". On December 1, 1965, Bradley's wife, Mary, died of leukemia. Kitty offered her condolences via telegram for which Bradley thanked her for in an A.L.S. on his five star general's letterhead on Dec. 5, 1965 writing: "Dear Kitty: I appreciate your telegram of condolences. I am of course going through a pretty hard time and it is wonderful to have our daughter and family here close". In the very next sentence, Bradley offers to meet her in Florida: "I think burying my head in a racing form will help, I expect to spend February in Florida but may have a board meeting in California. If so maybe you will help me win - or lose - a couple of bets at Santa Anita. Be sure to let me know if you come east. Best of everything, Omar". Kitty Buhler and Omar Bradley were married nine months later on Sept. 12, 1966. Interestingly enough, it was Kitty who introduced Bradley to film producer Frank McCarthy, who was then preparing production of the film Patton starring George C. Scott. According to Axelrod's biography, "Kitty talked McCarthy into licensing Bradley's memoir as the basis for much of the movie's script and employing her husband as an advisor". This collection is a truly outstanding and important correspondence as it documents a previously secret chapter in the life of this most accomplished general. It allows us to view Bradley as a human being in his more intimate and unguarded moments. Accompanied by several letters from others directed to Kitty Buhler including SONNY BONO, T.L.S. July 13, 1989 as Mayor of Palm Springs, Calif.; CIA Director WILLIAM H. WEBSTER T.L.S. Aug. 14, 1987; Secretary of the Army JOHN O. MARSH, JR., T.L.S. May 17, 1989 together with related ephemera. Most of the letters are in fine condition, together a total of twenty pieces.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer
Shipping
Shipment is sent USPS priority, USPS International Express (for most overseas) or UPS Ground at the auctioneer's option, signature required, unless other arrangements are made. Handling, shipping and insurance charges will be added to the invoice in one entry. Buyer's should be aware that large, framed, fragile or odd shaped items can incur substantial shipping and packing charges. Customer's who supply their own courier account number will still be charged a handling fee.
Alexander Historical Auctions LLC
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 22.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $99 | $10 |
| $100 | $499 | $20 |
| $500 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 + | $1,000 |