Lot 250

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Description:

Truman Important Letter Re: Anti-Communist "Loyalty Order" of Federal Official--LBJ Later Ensured that Official's Dismissal!

1p typed letter signed by 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman (1884-1972) as "Harry S Truman" at lower right. Written in Washington, D.C. on January 13, 1949. On watermarked stationery with "The White House / Washington" letterhead. Docketed by the recipient's office verso. Expected light paper folds, else near fine. 7.875" x 10.325". Accompanied by the original transmittal envelope, inscribed in another hand as "Personal DTH". Letter-opened at top.

President Truman sent this confidential memorandum to Nelson Lee Smith, a chairman of the Federal Power Commission, regarding the loyalty of a fellow member, Leland Olds (1890-1960).

In part:

"In accordance with the provisions of Executive Order 9835, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has made a report in the case of Mr. Leland Olds, Member, Federal Power Commission…Inasmuch as Mr. Olds holds this position by virtue of a Presidential appointment, I have accordingly reviewed the information submitted by the Bureau and have determined that it warrants a finding clearly favorable to Mr. Olds…"

Executive Order 9835, known popularly as "The Loyalty Order", was signed into law by Truman on March 21, 1947. Its objective was to locate and dismiss any federal employees who were harboring objectionable political beliefs or engaging in subversive activities. The worsening Cold War, as well as the idea that Democrats coddled Communists, had inspired Truman to mobilize the program that would eventually see 3,000,000 federal employees investigated; 5,000 voluntarily resign; and 300 dismissed. Loyalty screenings, and FBI probes on a case-by-case basis, were implemented to investigate existing federal employees as well as job applicants. Grounds for termination ranged from overt treasonous activity, to an affiliation with a radicalized group (such as Communists, Fascists, or the KKK). Historians consider Executive Order 9835 as a purely political move on Truman's part. It foreshadowed the scope and ruthlessness of McCarthyism during the next decade.

Olds was an Amherst College-educated economist and energy consultant who had been appointed to the Federal Power Commission by Truman's predecessor, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in July 1939. A true blue New Dealer, Olds's policies favored both the laborer and consumer over big business. Because of these views, Olds clashed with many powerful forces, including the Texas oil industry. Newly appointed Senator from Texas Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973) opposed Olds's reappointment as a Federal Power Commission chairman when the former's second term expired during the fall of 1949.

Even though Leland Olds was exonerated of any wrongdoing by President Truman himself--as shown in this letter--Olds was not reappointed. According to Johnson biographer Robert Caro, Johnson dug up controversial writings from the 1920s in which Olds had urged a reevaluation of capitalism, and supposedly coached Senate witnesses to offer damning evidence against him. Subcommittee members voted 53-15 to dismiss Olds in late 1949. [Robert Caro, "The Years of Lyndon Johnson: Master of the Senate" (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2002).

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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June 24, 2020 10:30 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

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