May 2012 Auction Ends Tuesday, May 29th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/29/2012
William Taft typed letter signed to Edward Bok, editor of ''Ladies Home Journal'' regarding the recent passage of Prohibition. Composed on Taft's personal stationery and dated 29 January 1919, less than two weeks after passage of the 18th Amendment and in the years between Taft's Presidency and term as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Letter reads in full, ''I have your kind note of January 27th, and shall be very glad to write the article which you suggest. I presume you won't object to my putting into it a few constitutional views as to the reasons why I oppose national prohibition, but now [Taft here inserts by hand: ''that the amendment has passed''] I am in favor of the strongest kind of a law for its enforcement. I am in full sympathy with the proposition that there is no such deprivation of a man's liberty to prevent the sale of liquor that he has any right to complain of, and I shall elaborate that, as you suggest. Sincerely yours, Wm. H Taft''. An experimentation with forbidding alcohol consumption in the United States, prohibition achieved its goal, though at the cost of increased organized crime throughout the country. Letter measures 7'' x 9.5'', in near fine condition.
William Taft Letter Signed on Prohibition -- ''...I oppose...prohibition, but now I am in favor of...its enforcement...'' -- With Hand Corrections by Taft Directly Referring to the 18th Amendment
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