Description: HistoryForSaletm Autographs & Manuscripts Make an Offer Today and Get a Quick Response! Take a Look at this Week's Specials! PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 01/19/1953 - HFSID 274861 ON HIS LAST DAY IN THE WHITE HOUSE, A REFLECTIVE TRUMAN THANKS A TRUSTED AIDE WHO PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN HIS FAMOUS UPSET VICTORY OF 1948. HARRY TRUMAN Typed Letter signed: "Harry Truman", 1p, 7x8¾ with blank integral leaf. Washington, D.C., 1953 January 19. On White House letterhead to Donald S. Dawson, Administrative Assistant to the President, The White House. In full: "I want you to know, before I leave the White House, how grateful I am for your extremely loyal assistance. I remember very well how, in my search for a topnotch personnel advisor in the Government, I found a fellow Missourian in you. You have demonstrated consistently your knowledge and ability in the Government personnel field and deserve the thanks of all of us for your efforts to promote the merit system in the United States Government. You are entitled to pride for your assistance to me in the selection of individuals for Presidential appointments, your efforts to modernize the federal compensation system, especially the Classification Act of 1949 and the Executive Pay Bill, your origination of the 'cadre' system of supplying specially skilled employees as the nucleus for emergency agencies, your efforts to promote Civil Service employees to higher ranks and to extend Civil Service to more areas than ever before in Federal history, and your energetic participation in many other programs to improve Civil Service. I am also deeply grateful to you for your personal assistance to me during the campaigns of 1948 and 1952. As you know, I believe that politics, in its correct sense, is synonymous with government. Under the American system, the highest art of Government is the submission of the issues and the candidates to the people. Finally, my load has been lightened by your cheerfulness and cooperativeness. For all of this and much more, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I suppose I must accept your resignation too, effective at the close of my term, January 20, 1953. Sincerely". Accompanied by matching, hand-carried transmittal envelope addressed to Dawson. HARRY S. TRUMAN (1884-1972), the 33rd President, had been Vice President for only 82 days when President Franklin Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945. Though widely admired today for his plainspoken honesty and his willingness to make the tough decisions, Truman had not been expected to win election in his own right in 1948. His upset victory over Republican Thomas E. Dewey, Governor of New York, resulted from Truman's aggressive campaigning, as he waged a nationwide "whistle stop" campaign, the last of its kind in American history. DONALD DAWSON (1908-2005) played a key role in that campaign as Truman's "advance man", organizing the welcomes for Truman at each stop and rendering valuable political advice. (As noted in the letter, he was also a valued advisor in the White House, charged with staffing policy and hiring decisions.) An Air Force veteran, and later an influential Washington lawyer and philanthropist, Dawson found himself in trouble during his White House years, when he was accused by US Senators of exerting improper influence over loan decisions of the Reconstruction Finance Agency, which he had headed under FDR, and accepting improper favors. His testimony yielded this headline quote, "Senator, I did nothing improper, but I would not do it again." Dawson's second wife was actress Ilona Massey. Truman's reference to the 1952 is a reminder that Truman had considered running for a third term that year. The 22nd Amendment, forbidding a President who had served more than half of a second term from running for re-election, had already been adopted but did not apply to Truman. Unsuccessful in persuading Governor Adlai Stevenson of Illinois to run for the office, Truman allowed his name to remain on the New Hampshire primary ballot. Defeated there by Tennessee Senator Estes Kefauver, the President withdrew from the contest and convinced Stevenson to enter the fray. Stevenson won the Democratic nomination, losing the general election to Dwight Eisenhower. Bisecting horizontal fold. Slightly toned at edges. Pinhead sized spot on transmittal envelope. Otherwise, fine condition. See more material from these signers: PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN See more listings in our PRESIDENTIAL (1,978) category. Please note that this is an authentically signed item. We do not sell autograph copies or signature reprints Click main eBay images to see larger versions Images shown may contain our company watermark. The actual document does not contain this watermark Certificate of Authenticity This item has been authenticated and is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity issued by our parent company, Gallery of History, Inc. We financially stand behind our COA. Our commitment to authenticity and customer satisfaction are the reasons why we've been able to stay in business for so long (since 1981)! Ask us about our PSA/DNA and JSA authentication guarantee. Visit our eBay Store today to see over 35,000 Rare Autographs and Manuscripts! Our Third & Best Handbook - The One You Want On Historical Documents! Enhance your collecting experience. Add this definitive guide to historical documents to your autograph purchase. 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Whether looking to add to your collection, acquire a unique centerpiece for the home or office, or as a truly one-of-a-kind gift for someone special, you'll find it here at HistoryForSale. Contact us today and let us assist you in finding that perfect piece. The Gallery of History, founded in 1981, is a long-standing UACC Registered Dealer, #RD110, and is a long-standing member of the Manuscript Society. HistoryForSaletm: Gallery of History through HistoryForSale provides eBay users the ability to bid on and purchase from an inventory which has been collected over an amazing 43 year period. The Gallery of History is the largest dealer in the world with an available inventory that exceeds 230,000 rare autographs and manuscripts. Preserving historical documents is important to us. Your purchase comes to you appropriately protected. Our unframed items are sent to you either in acid-free archival sleeves or have been encapsulated when noted. The majority of our in-house framed items are also encapsulated in acid free sleeves to guard against organic acids, mounted in an acid-free enviroment and are framed behind glass or UF3-AR Plexiglas which blocks out most ultraviolet light. Authenticity: This item has been authenticated and is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity issued by our parent company, Gallery of History, Inc. We financially stand behind our COA. Our commitment to authenticity and customer satisfaction are the reasons why we've been able to stay in business for so long (since 1981)! Ask us about our PSA/DNA and JSA authentication guarantee. Payment - Buyers will be sent payment instructions following their purchase. Customers are advised that they are responsible for payment of any international duties and/or taxes. Unless otherwise agreed to, complete payment is due within 24 hours of purchase. 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Price: 4500 USD
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
End Time: 2024-12-04T21:26:30.000Z
Shipping Cost: 42 USD
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Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Authentication: Numbered COA issued by Gallery of History, Inc.
Signed by: Harry S Truman
Autograph Type: Typed Letter Signed
Autograph: Authentic Original