VICE PRESIDENTS
SPIRO T. AGNEW LETTER CONCERNING THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING
AGNEW, SPIRO T. Vice President under Nixon. Resigned in disgrace.
TLS, 4to, May 26, 1967, as Gov. of Maryland on personalized letterhead with the gold embossed state crest. In full: Dear Mr. Zink: Thank you for
your letter expressing agreement with the proclamation of June 13th as a Legal Holiday. It is important that all eligible citizens exercise their right to vote. Hopefully, a great majority of the citizens of Maryland will understand the importance of voting and will make every effort to do so. Sincerely, (boldly signed) Spiro T. Agnew”. On lower blank
third of letter the original recipient has disgustedly written: “What a wasted effort!! Here we have another “phoney”. A carbon copy of the recipient’s letter to Agnew is attached. An interesting commentary concerning a great crisis in our government and a time of national turmoil. ...[12114]...$150.00
COLFAX, SCHUYLER. V.P. during Grant's first term. Tainted by the Credit
Mobilier scandal (The Vice Pres. denied any wrongdoing but even the hardened politicians had a hard time swallowing his story about a thousand dollar bill falling out of an unmarked envelope at his breakfast table, like manna from Heaven). Speaker of the House prior to becoming V.P.
Extremely fine bold signature on 8vo album page, beneath which he has written "Spkr. H. Reps.", circa
1868. .....................[9908]... .$68.50
OUR ONLY INDIAN VICE-PRESIDENT
CURTIS, CHARLES.
Speaker of the House & V.P. under Hoover. Close of TLS
with choice dark signature. The one remaining sentence has intriguing content: "Valuable assistance you gave me during the convention. Again thanking you, I am, with kindest regards, very truly yours (boldly signed) Charles Curtis". Likely referring to his abortive attempt to obtain the Presidential nomination. ...[9805].... ....$75.00
"ALEXANDER THROTTLEBOTTOM"
CURTIS, CHARLES.
Vice Pres. under Hoover. Kaw Indian blood flowed sluggishly through the veins of our 31st Vice President, Charles Curtis. He was an ultraconservative for whom "the trinity meant the Republican Party, the high protective tariff and the Grand Army of the Republic." Embarrassingly, he was the inspiration for the shy, bumbling, ineffectual vice president in the 1931 musical "Of Thee I Sing". According to his namesake musical character, he was elected V.P. because "they put a lot of names in a hat and I lost" and he was worried that his mother would find out about his lowly job. It was conceded that the country was fortunate in the good health of Hoover. Will Rogers, another part Indian, who was covering the 1928 convention wrote: "The Republican Party owed Curtis something, but I didn't think they would be so low down as to pay him that way. He used to be floor walker for the Republican Party on the Senate floor. Now, he will be timekeeper." H.L. Mencken described Curtis' style as "half Choctaw and half windmill." Hoover and Curtis were not keen to run with each other in 1932 but the Republican party was not about to sacrifice two new innocents to the charismatic FDR, and they were re-nominated. During the campaign Curtis continued with his trade mark faux pas: Once, speaking to a very lukewarm group of the
unemployed,
he told them they were just "too damm dumb" to understand the
depression. TLS, 4to, letterhead of "Charles Curtis,
Lawyer, Topeka, Kansas, March 29, 1915, requesting a copy of the annual
report of the Agriculture Dept. A clean fresh example....[10984]
..........$95.00
OUR ONLY INDIAN VICE PRESIDENT
CURTIS,
CHARLES. Vice President (1929-1933) under Hoover. The blood of the Kaw Indian Tribe flowed sluggishly through his veins. He was the inspiration for the shy, bumbling ineffectual Vice President “Alexander Throttlebottom” in the 1931 musical “Of Thee I Sing”. Throttlebottom constantly worried that his mother would find out about his lowly job. Will Rogers, another part-Indian, covered the Republican Convention which nominated Curtis and wrote: “The Republican Party owed Curtis something, but I didn’t think they would be so low down as to pay him that way.”
TLS, 4to, U.S. Senate, Nov. 7, 1917, brief letter asking recipient to drop by his Senate office as “...I would like to see you. Hope you are enjoying your vacation.” Boldly signed. Fine..[12127**]...$150.00
HISTORIC GERALD FORD ITEM: SIGNED, LIMITED EDITION VICE PRESIDENTIAL BROADSIDE
FORD, GERALD R. (b.1913). 38th President of U.S. (l974-77). The
Vice Presidential broadside has the text of his remarks before a joint session of Congress after taking his Vice Presidential Oath. There are only 175 numbered signed
copies, 26 lettered copies, and a few presentation copies of the V.P. broadside. Ford only signed the lettered copies with his full signature “Gerald Rudolph Ford” (rarest and must desirable form of his signature) which makes this broadside decidedly rarer and even more desirable in terms of collectability than his Presidential broadside. We understand that Ford kept half of both the Pres. and V.P. broadsides and few will ever come on the market. This is one of the 13 rare lettered copies which Ford did not
personally keep. .....[12013].+..$2500.
LINCOLN'S FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
HAMLIN, HANNIBAL
(1809-91). Lincoln's First Vice President (1861-65). He was also in the U.S. Senate and Governor of Maine. ALS, 8vo, 2pp., Wash., Feb. 5, 1877, letter regarding his appointment of a Commission
to
reform the Game & Fish laws of Maine. Mentions he has conferred with Mr.
(James G.) Blaine, future Secty. of State, presidential candidate, and Speaker
of U.S. House of Reps. Tip of two corners missing. Old repair on blank bottom
of 2nd page, else a clean, fine example....[11052].. ...$395.00
INSCRIBED AND SIGNED COPY OF NIXON’S MEMOIRS
NIXON, RICHARD.
President and Vice President. His memoirs: RN: The Memoirs of Richard
Nixon, 4to, 1120 pp., Gosset & Dunlap publishers, 1978, 2nd
printing, d.j. (with chipping), expertly repaired. Inscribed and signed on
the 2nd free end paper below a facsimile of his famous initials “To
Florence & Fred Griffith, With best wishes, from/ Richard Nixon/ 7-31-78”.
Prior to Nixon, only six presidents wrote comprehensive 
memoirs.
This is an extraordinary personal, political and historical document. ?Nixon
begins
with his earliest boyhood recollections through he and his family leaving
the White House for the last time. Nixon’s story is one of conflict and
contrast -- of blissful happiness and anguished sorrow. This book will
always precipitate debate and discussion as did the author himself. Nixon
candidly analyzes his strengths and weaknesses....[11787]..++....$395.00
STEVENSON, ADLAI E. (1835-1914). V.P.
under Cleveland during his second term. He advised his grandson and
namesake, Adlai E. Stevenson II, 
never
to seek the Vice Presidency. His grandson took his advice and ran twice
(unsuccessfully) for president in 1952 and 1956! Choice bold signature on
small heavy card. Fine....[10986].........$65.00
Wallace, Henry A.
(1888-1965). Secty. of Agriculture (1933-1940); 
Vice President of
U.S. (1941-45); Head Economics Defense Board (1941); Secretary of Commerce
(1945-46). Vintage 4" x 6" matte finish half-bust Signed
Photo (circa 1940), boldly signed in full on lower white margin. Two
hairline creases which are almost invisible. Photographer's stamp:
Holman, N.Y. Signed in blue-black fountain pen ink.
Wallace is quite scarce in signed photographs, particularly vintage
examples. Wallace normally signed "H.A. Wallace".
Full signatures are uncommon and desirable...[11886]..+...$395.00
OUR VICE PRESIDENT WHO STARTED HIS CAREER AS A COBBLER AND DIED IN OFFICE
WILSON, HENRY. (1812-1875). Vice President under Grant. Died in office.
Choice bold signature on heavy paper, clipped from album. Fine example. ...[11697]....
...............................$75.00