Lot 103

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Description:

Harry Truman Signed First Ed. of "Mr. President" Inscribed to Secretary

A signed, first edition copy of Mr. President: The First Publication From Personal Letters, Papers, and Revealing Interviews of Harry S. Truman… compiled by William Hillman (New York: Farrar, Strauss, and Young, 1952. 253p). Numbered 59 on a separate page (see photo) out of 250 specially bound copies signed by President Truman. Signed and inscribed in black pen below frontispiece: "To a grand man and loyal public servant!/ Wish we had more like him./ Harry Truman". On opposite page, Truman personalizes the inscription further, initializing "M. J. C./ To: Hon. Matthew J. Connelly/ From: The President", and dates it August 10, 1952 from the White House. Features royal blue Morocco boards, with gilt-lettered spine and quotation on front. Exhibits minor surface rubbing and bumped corners, with wear to top and bottom edge of spine. Lacking slip case, else near fine with fantastic inscriptions!

Harry S. Truman (1884-1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. A leader of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 34th vice president from January to April 1945 under Franklin Roosevelt and as a United States senator from Missouri from 1935 to January 1945. Assuming the presidency after Roosevelt's death, Truman implemented the Marshall Plan to rebuild the economy of Western Europe and established both the Truman Doctrine and NATO to contain the expansion of Soviet communism. He proposed numerous liberal domestic reforms, but few were enacted by the conservative coalition that dominated the Congress.

Matthew J. Connelly (1907-1976) was the chief investigator for the Senate Special Committee to investigate the National Defense Program, known as the Truman Committee. He subsequently became executive assistant to Senator Truman and later, as his appointments secretary, became a close and trusted aide to the President. Despite Truman's thinking so highly of Connelly, he was later convicted in 1956 for accepting a bribe and eventually served six months in federal prison, however was granted a full pardon by President John F. Kennedy. Truman, ever loyal to his friends, would stand by him throughout this ordeal.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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May 31, 2023 11:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

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