August 2018 Auction Ends Thursday, August 30th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/30/2018
William H. Taft typed letter signed on the eve of the 1920 Presidential election, of which he writes about in this lengthy, 3pp. letter to his friend, journalist Gus Karger while campaigning on behalf of Republican candidate Warren G. Harding. Datelined ''En route to Iowa City'', 22 October 1920, Taft writes on his personal letterhead with numerous hand-annotations by him: ''...I expressed indifference as to what use the Democrats might make of my correspondence with the President...you comment on Harding's speech at Des Moines where he evidently said more than he intended to say and did not carefully guard his meaning; but he cleared it up in his speech at Indianapolis and at Greencastle. It is so plain what he means now, and Root's aid to him, so clearly based on a proper understanding of his position and a manifest willingness to accept the present League as a basis for amendment and revision, must give [Senator Hiram] Johnson and [Senator William] Borah a great deal of uncomfortable feeling...Johnson's attack on Jim Watson is, it seems to me a beginning of the fight he intends to make later on Harding. The election has got beyond him, and he can not prevent Harding's going into the Presidency. But he is laying a foundation for a charge that Harding has deceived him and he is going to make it as uncomfortable for the Administration as he can...I read your account...of the situation in Illinois, in which you were rather pessimistic as to Republican chances for a Senator and a Governor...From what they tell me, the whole Republican ticket is certain to be elected...The voters are only waiting for the second of November. / I have now made four of the eight speeches assigned to me...At St. Louis last night I ran across [economist] Irving Fisher and a lot of women whom he with Herbert Parsons is taking across the country to save [Democratic Presidential candidate James M.] Cox...Irving is something of a fanatic, of that mildly obstinate character, his wife is rich, Parsons has money, and it is an amusement which they can afford. [War Secretary Newton D.] Baker, of the War Department, was with them yesterday, and I saw him at dinner and spoke to him. Really he is such a little man in stature that it is very difficult to ascribe to him the intellectual development that he really has...I speak to-day at Iowa City, which is a University town. I rather like to go to University towns. The members of the Faculty are usually divided. All of them are in favor of the League of Nations...the audience is usually intelligent and attentive...[signed] Wm H Taft''. Three page letter on three separate sheets measures 8'' x 10.5''. Dampstaining across top and right portions, and paperclip rust at top. Overall fair condition with interesting content.
William Taft Hand-Edited Letter Signed in 1920 on the Eve of the Presidential Election -- ''the whole Republican ticket is certain to be elected...voters are only waiting for the second of November''
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