43

April 13, 1945 Uniquely Signed HARRY S TRUMAN Letter His First Day as President!

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
April 13, 1945 Uniquely Signed HARRY S TRUMAN Letter His First Day as President!
Autographs
Rare President Truman Signed Letter on his First Day as President in the Oval Office Just One Day After FDR Died
HARRY S. TRUMAN (1884-1972). Thirty-Third President of the United States, who Authorized Dropping of the First Atomic Bomb on Japan to End World War II.
April 13, 1945-Dated, World War II Period, Typed Letter Signed “Harry S. Truman” as President, 1 page, measuring 7” x 9”, The White House, Washington, on pale green official “White House” Stationery, Choice Near Mint. Colonel Francis V. Keesling, Jr. (1908-1997) was the Chief Liaison and Legislative Officer of the Selective Service System from 1940-1945. Letter To Colonel Francis V. Keesling, Jr., Selective Service System, Washington, D.C. It reads, in full:

“I appreciate most highly your note of April Thirteenth and I am highly pleased with your good wishes and your assurance of support and sympathy. I hope it will be my privilege to see you from time to time. -- Sincerely yours, - (Signed) Harry S Truman”.

At 3:35 PM, April 12, 1945, President Roosevelt died in Warm Springs, Georgia. At 7:09 PM, Vice President Harry S. Truman was sworn in as President of the United States in the Cabinet Room of the White House. The “Oath of Office” was administered by Chief Justice Harlan F. Stone. The President issued a one-sentence statement: “The world may be sure that we will prosecute the war on both fronts, east and west, with all the vigor we possess to a successful conclusion.” President Truman also announced, through an assistant, that the United Nations Conference would be held in San Francisco on April 25th as President Roosevelt had directed. The President then left the White House and spent the night in his five-room apartment on Connecticut Avenue; no letters were written by Truman at the White House on April 12, 1945.

A Truman TLS “Harry” to District Court Judge James F.T. O’Connor, typed on Vice Presidential stationery and dated April 12, 1945, thanked him for his note “about the Buffalo speech.” A handwritten postscript reveals it was signed by Truman as President on April 13, 1945: “The world almost fell on top of me last night and I haven’t quite recovered yet.” It sold at Christie’s in 2006 for $33,600. This same Letter was sold by Mrs. Philip D. Sang at Christie’s in 1990 for $24,200; it was purchased by Malcolm Forbes.

In 2002, a Truman TLS “Harry” to James M. Pendergast, typed on Vice Presidential stationery also dated April 12, 1945, concerned “the bottles and cartons appeal before the War Production Board .” Pendergast’s uncle, Kansas City political boss Tom Pendergast, had died in January. In a six line handwritten postscript, most probably penned on April 13th, Truman notes, in part, “Since this was dictated I’m Pres. of the U.S…” Part of the Forbes Collection, it sold for $89,625. In the description, Christie’s noted: “Letters written by Truman on 12 or 13 April 1945 are exceedingly rare.”

To our best knowledge, the Letter here offered is the Only President Harry S Truman Letter on official “White House” Stationery dated April 13, 1945, ever to be offered for sale. Unlike the two previously mentioned Letters simply signed “Harry,” this current Letter is Signed in full, “Harry S Truman.”