September 2015 Auction Ends Thursday, September 24th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/24/2015
William Howard Taft typed letter signed and additional autograph note signed, dated 17 October 1920, just days before the Presidential election of 1920, which saw Warren Harding -- the subject of Taft's letter, succeeding Woodrow Wilson, who Taft also writes about in this letter. A Republican like Harding, Taft is very anxious that his letters, which would embarrass Harding, might have been leaked to the public. Addressed to Cincinnati Times Star reporter Gus J. Karger upon Taft's personal letterhead, Taft first writes critically of current President Woodrow Wilson, referring to, ''...my criticism of Wilson and his refusal to confer with the Senate and his ignoring of them...'' He then expresses fear that he might have left confidential letters laying around, or that someone might have intercepted them or possibly betrayed him, ''...I am disturbed at the suggestion that comes from the White House [regarding] some correspondence with me or of mine in respect to Harding's position. I suppose I am careless in leaving letters around, and perhaps too confiding in the decency of personal correspondents. I have had no letter from Harding...I may have sent a confidential letter to some one quoting what Irving Fisher told me that Harding had said, and possibly a sentence of Harding's letter to you, written just after the acceptance speech, but I am quite sure that I could not have written that to any one who would betray me. I don't see how I could leave letters around, because I haven't been anywhere except in Murray Bay and in Canada since the speech of acceptance. I am hoping and praying that nothing will come out that will embarrass Harding...'' Karger's reply to Taft is included in the lot, where he writes about ''the dirty campaign that is being waged against Harding''. Taft's letter runs 2pp. on two separate sheets, signed ''Wm H Taft'', with an additional autograph note, ''I am greatly enjoying your letters in / The I.S.[?] They are very informing.'' Taft's letter measures 8'' x 10.25''. Moderate water damage to the letter, especially along top and right side, thought no content is affected. Overall in fair to good condition.
William Taft Letter With Superb Content -- ''...I could not have written that to any one who would betray me...I am hoping and praying that nothing will come out that will embarrass Harding...''
Click above for larger image.