Lot 755

Previous image preload Next image preload

Description:

RICHARD M. NIXON
(1913 - 1994) Thirty-seventh President of the United States who led during the Vietnam War, re-opened diplomatic ties with China and the U.S.S.R., resigned his office due to the Watergate scandal. An extraordinary content Nixon letter explaining to a South Carolina woman the reason for his support of the landmark 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education decision integrating public schools, and Eisenhower''s forced integration of Little Rock''s Central High. Nixon expresses his sentiments in a 2pp. 4to. letter on his official Vice Presidential letterhead, Washington, Sep. 29, 1959 to Mrs. M. S. Richardson in La Grange, N.C., a region which was very resistant to integration. In small part: "...I recognize that the unanimous Supreme Court decision outlawing segregation has presented to the South a particularly difficult problem...the matter of racial injustice is not confined solely to our Southern states but is present in all of our states...I believe in working for full opportunity for all our citizens...the real reason for America''s greatness is the fact that we always believed in freedom and opportunity for all...We welcomed millions of immigrants, many of them fleeing...persecution and made of them one nations...it is morally wrong to segregate human beings on tha basis of race. Praise or blame, acceptance or rejection, should be personal matters based upon individual achievement and not the accident of color or birth. I could not accept Hitler''s idea of a master race...[nor] the equally false principle of an inferior race...I am deeply concerned with the impact of racial division in terms of world power. Most of the people of the world belong to colored races. If we of the United States are considered as racists, then we may lose to the Communist camp hundreds of millions of potential friends and allies...I know that it is difficult to change patterns that have prevailed for many years...I am enclosing a speech by the Attorney General in which he discussed the broad legal aspects of this problem with particular emphasis on the little Rock situation...". Folds, a very light spot affecting one letter in signature, else near fine. Nixon''s 1960 presidential platform had a strong stand for civil rights. However, Henry Cabot Lodge, his running mate, enraged white Southerners by pledging that a black would join Nixon''s cabinet and that other blacks would be appointed to high positions. Fearing that Lodge would be seen as pandering to blacks, Nixon backpedaled and adopted a more conservative view, confusing blacks and white Southern voters...who ended up going for Kennedy.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Shipments are sent via USPS Priority, USPS International Priority, DHL (for most overseas shipments) or FedEx Ground at the auctioneer's option, signature is always required, unless other arrangements are made. Handling and shipping charges will be added to the invoice in one entry. Buyers should be aware that large, framed, fragile or odd shaped items can incur substantial shipping and packing charges. International shipments are invoiced by DIMENSIONAL weight, not the item weight. Please contact us for an estimate before bidding NOTE: Large, heavy or bulky items may not be shipped by the auctioneer - arrangements for shipping of these items via a third-party shipper may be arranged through the auction house. Customers who supply their own courier account number will still be charged a handling fee. Please allow 2-3 weeks for shipments after receipt of payment due to the high volume of packages being shipped.

May 10, 2017 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 27.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
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 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000