LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 October Rare Books & Manuscripts #675  / 

30526

Governor Pat Brown: Historic Archive- JFK, LBJ

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:75,000.00 USD Estimated At:80,000.00 - 120,000.00 USD
Governor Pat Brown: Historic Archive- JFK, LBJ
<B>A Superb Archive of 94 Items from Former California Governor Edmund G. "Pat" Brown.</B></I> <BR><BR>Rarely, if ever, does one encounter privately-held groupings such as this including the private communications of five different American presidents to a major political figure.<BR><BR>Edmund G. "Pat" Brown was governor of California from 1959 through 1967, and one of the most influential Democratic Party powers of that era. He first defeated a popular Republican Senator, William F. Knowland by 20 points, and then defeated former presidential nominee and vice president Richard Nixon in an epic re-election campaign. Governor Brown’s son, Edmund “Jerry” Brown, Jr., was elected to the first of two terms as California Governor in 1974, while daughter Kathleen was elected the state treasurer in 1990. She lost a gubernatorial bid in 1994. <BR><BR>Offered here is an outstanding grouping of letters and other items received by Pat Brown as governor. The Archive was given by Brown to a close political confidant, Frank W. Cullen, who co-founded the Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Institute of Governmental Affairs affiliated with California State University, Los Angeles. A bill of sale for the archive from Cullen to the present consignor accompanied this lot. Also included is a 2006 letter from California Secretary of State Bruce McPherson, the content of which confirms the legitimacy of Cullen’s private ownership of these materials.<BR><BR>These letters, almost all of presidential date, deal with the important issues of the day, both to the nation and to California in particular: environmental protection, trade, civil defense, the Food for Peace and Alliance for Progress programs, unemployment, federal and state taxation, highway safety, shipbuilding and shipyards, the War on Poverty and the war in Vietnam, Watergate, and the crucial task of bringing government to the people. Of course, California being a basin state, many letters are concerned, in depth, with water - its conservation, development, and role in Mexico-United States relations. All of the letters are noteworthy for both their specificity - the concern, say, for steelhead trout - and for their sweeping sense of history.<BR><BR>The 22 President Kennedy letters emphasize America’s role as the leader of the Free World, and so depict a president at once politically realistic and eloquently visionary. The 33 President Johnson letters evidence his famous grasp of the nuts-and-bolts governance. Both are telling portraits, set against the vivid history of the growing West.<BR><BR>Richard Nixon is represented here with five surprisingly warm letters - three as president, including an excellent one about Watergate. The three Ronald Regan letters, two as governor and one as president, are cordial, and the six Trumans, one is stellar: the ex-president writes about the political wisdom of the American people and how he, as president, responded to it.<BR><BR>The content of the letters is uniformly fine and the condition, throughout, excellent.<BR><BR>Some selected highlights:<BR><BR><B>1.</B></I> Typed letter signed, as former president Harry S. Truman, 1 page, quarto, on green Harry S. Truman letterhead, Independence, Missouri, October 19, 1966,. To Governor Brown: <I>“Dear Governor Brown: I have been hoping to pay you a courtesy visit this fall, but unfortunately, I find myself still confined to my home recovering from my recent illness. This is the substance what I would have said to you if I could have made the journey: Trust to the good sense and good judgment of the people. I always did. I have known the people to prove themselves to be much smarter than certain high-powered operators took them to be. For the people never knowingly vote against them-selves, - or their best interest, - or their future, - or their welfare, - or the good of their country. The people, may for a time, get confused or diverted by clever propaganda, or slick press agents - but not for long. When they think things through for themselves, the people will always vote for what is in their own best interest and that of their country. I have every confidence that same sprit the people of California, come November, will return you, Pat Brown, as Governor of California. This is how I would vote if I were a resident of California. With best wishes and high regards Sincerely yours, </B></I><B><I>Harry S. Truman</B></I></B></I><I>” </B></I>A <B>superlative</B></I> letter!! In very fine condition.<BR> <BR><B>Presidential letter to California Governor Edmund G. ‘Pat’ Brown, from President Nixon on The Watergate Incident </B></I>Typed Letter Signed, as President, initials (RN) 1 page, quarto, on green White House letterhead, Washington, May 24, 1973. To Governor Brown: <I>Dear Pat: Of all the letters I have received in recent weeks, yours had special meaning for me, coming as it does from one with your long experience in political and public life. I do recall that afternoon in Candlestick Park and the incident you mentioned. Since then, both of us have known our share of boos along with the cheers. Now, of course, the developments of these past months have posed a very great test of our Administration. But as I have repeatedly stated, we shall not fail to bring this entire matter to a full and just resolution. At the same time, we will not be deterred from working toward the goals the American people elected us to achieve. Your message of support and goodwill at this time renews my confidence that we will meet this test. With my deep appreciation for your thoughtfulness in writing and my warmest personal regards, sincerely, signed RN (Richard Nixon).<BR></B></I> <BR><B>Presidential letters to California Governor Edmund G. ‘Pat’ Brown, from President Kennedy</B></I> <BR><B><BR>1.</B></I> <B>“President Kennedy was shot today”</B></I> The very first Associated Press Wire Bulletin announcing that the President had been shot: "<I>Dallas AP- President Kennedy was shot today just as his motorcade left downtown Dallas. Mrs. Kennedy jumped up and grabbed Mr. Kennedy. She cried, “Oh No!” The motorcade sped on.” </B></I>Governor Brown has written <I>“November 22nd 1963</B></I>” at top, and below noted <I>“First word of assassination given to me by Jack Bundy</B></I> press secretary - <I>I was with Hale Champion</B></I>” executive secretary . Octavo, no place AP Wire Service , November 22, 1963. <B>EXTREMELY RARE</B></I>. In fine condition. Provenance: Frank Cullen Sr. signed letter 6-1-1996. Trusted friend and Chief of Staff of Governor Brown. <BR> <BR><B>2.</B></I> <B>Rare Kennedy Presidential Document</B></I> Document Signed, as president, partially printed and accomplished in manuscript, one page, giant oblong folio, being the appointment of Edmund G. Brown of California as a member of the Civil Defense Advisory Council; Washington, June 29, 1961 with wafer seal. In the days when school children practiced <I>“duck & cover”</B></I> drills against atomic attack. Brown’s term was set to expire in January, 1964. Very <B>rare</B></I>. In very fine condition.<BR> <BR><B>3.</B></I> <B>Statesman of the World Dag Hammarskjöld</B></I> Typed letter signed, as president, one page, quarto, on green White House letterhead, Washington, March 8, 1962,. To Governor Brown: <BR><I>“I want to thank you for your letter concerning the proposal to dedicate a memorial grove in the Redwoods… to the memory of Dag Hammarskjöld. I understand that Ambassador Stevenson has taken this up with the United Nations and expects to have an answer shortly”.</B></I> The Dag Hammarskjöld Memorial Grove in Humboldt State Park was dedicated in 1968. A key phrase underlined, number stamped upper right. In very fine condition. <BR><B> <BR>4. A Spy Facility with a Sport-Fishing Pier </B></I>Typed letter signed, as president, two pages, quarto, on green White House letterhead, Washington, January 29, 1963,. To Governor Brown: <I>“On January 18, the under Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Paul B. Fay, Jr. met with… a member of the California Fish and Game Commission, to discuss the Point Loma fishing pier situation in San Diego… The Navy will create an electronics platform in the form of a ship drawn from Reserve Fleet. This platform will be anchored… A rock breakwater will be constructed… A pier will be constructed to connect the land with the electronics platform…Etc”</B></I> Key phrase underlined, date & number stamped. First Page in fine condition; second page bearing two small spots, not affecting signature. <BR> <B><BR>5. Problems with Civil Rights Legislation</B></I> Typed letter signed, as president, two pages, quarto, on green White House letterhead, Washington, July 18, 1963. On June 19, 1963 President Kennedy sent to the hill the most far-reaching civil rights bill in the country’s history - and there it stayed, at the center of national debate, until President Johnson managed to get it passed a year later. To Governor Brown: "<I>Many thanks for the picture depicting the Governor in awkward pose , which I am framing for my office. Don’t be too disappointed about the legislature; we are having some problems here also. You have done an outstanding job as Governor and the people know it”. </B></I>With a single punctuation mark, changing a comma to a semi-colon-in autograph. Key phrase underlined: date, number and “Gov. Personal” stamped. In fine condition. <BR> <BR><B>6. Getting the Governors Aboard His Tax Program </B></I>Typed letter signed, as president, one page, quarto, on green White House letterhead, November 5, 1963. "<I>Thank you for sending me a copy of the letter in support of the tax program which you are sending to the other 49 Governors. I think that the message you are carrying is an important one which ought to be driven home to state and local officials who are concerned with financing the costs of their governments. The treasury Department has much useful in formation based upon studies of the Joint Economic Committee and its own staff showing the significant impact of the tax program in each state. We shall be very pleased to make this information available for your use and to help you in following it up.”</B></I> To Pat. Penciled 1-word secretarial notation, date and number stamped. In fine condition. <BR> <BR> <BR><B>Presidential letters to California Governor Edmund G. ‘Pat’ Brown, from President Johnson<BR></B></I> <BR><B>1. Depending on you in the West </B></I>Typed letter signed, as president, one page, quarto, on green White House letterhead, Washington, December 2, 1963,. To Governor Brown: <I>“Dear Pat: We missed having you with us fro the Message to the joint Session of the Congress. I need you help and support in the difficult days that lie ahead, and I know that I shall find it. Kindest personal regards, Sincerely L. B. Johnson”</B></I>. At bottom of letter, personal handwritten note in President Johnson’s hand<B><I>, “Pat I’m depending on you in the West.” </B></I></B></I>A key phrase underlined, number stamped upper right. In very fine condition.<BR> <BR> <BR><B><BR> <BR>2. Excellent Vietnam Content </B></I>Typed letter signed, as president, one page, quarto, on green White House letterhead, Washington, March 13, 1966,. To Governor Brown. LBJ grateful for support - show of unity - <I>“not one dissenting vote…dismays our enemies.”</B></I> Hopes Brown will carry Pro-War message from Governors White House Conference home: <I>“those families who have loved ones in Viet-Nam will be pleased and heartened.”</B></I> Final paragraph, in part: <I>“there will be difficult days ahead. The road we will travel will not be an easy one. But </B></I><B><I>valuable prizes are never won cheaply</B></I></B></I><I>. Our commitment to justice and freedom is too deeply ingrained to be rotted out. With your help and the leadership and support…we will surmount this challenge.”</B></I> In very fine condition <BR> <BR>There are also (3) appointments for Governor Brown one being an appointment to <I>Civil Defense Advisory Council</B></I> in 1961, with autograph of President John F. Kennedy. Second being <I>National Commission on Reform of Federal Criminal Laws</B></I> in 1967, with autographed of President Lyndon B. Johnson and the order for this commission also signed by Johnson. Third being <I>Commissioner of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Commission</B></I> in 1970, with autograph of President Richard M. Nixon. <BR> <BR>Large format 11”x 14” Photograph of Governor Brown and President Johnson together. Inscribed: <I>“To Pat Brown with warm regards Lyndon B. Johnson”</B></I><BR> <BR>These are a few highlights of this very historical <I>personal</B></I> Presidential letters & miscellaneous items to Governor Edmund G. ‘Pat’ Brown of California. This is a MUST see lot, there are numerous items, an institutional archive of great importance. Overall condition, very fine. <BR> <BR>For more detailed discussion and images of each item in this lot, please visit our website, HA.com. A basic inventory list is provided below, however.<BR><BR>In our opinion the signatures on the following items are either autopen or secretarial, but these are none the less historically important, original communications from United States presidents to a prominent governor: John F. Kennedy, 1/21/59, 11/17/59, 6/13/61, 4/2/62; Lyndon Johnson, 1/11/64, 1/25/65, 8/9/65, 3/24/66; Richard Nixon document, 12/29/70. All others are believed to be actual signatures.<BR><BR><B>This lot consists of:<BR></B></I><BR>Harry S. Truman 4/28/1961 Dr. Wm. J. Bryan<BR>Harry S. Truman 5/19/1964 Thank you<BR>Harry S. Truman 11/3/1964 Thank you for note concerning health/recovery<BR>Harry S. Truman 5/20/1965 Thank you for birthday wishes<BR>Harry S. Truman 5/16/1966 Thank you for birthday wishes (82)<BR>Harry S. Truman 10/19/1966 Best wishes/good luck in upcoming Nov. election (which he lost)<BR>Richard Nixon 1/14/1964 Best wishes<BR>Richard Nixon 12/19/1968 Merry Christmas from Dick & Pat<BR>Richard Nixon 3/17/1969 Thank you for De Costa quotation<BR>Richard Nixon 10/16/1972 Thank you for note/letter<BR>Richard Nixon 5/24/1973 Thank you for letter re: Watergate<BR>Ronald Reagan 7/15/1968 Thank you for letter re: honoring chairmen of State Park Commission<BR>Ronald Reagan 12/2/1970 Thank you for letter re: Reagan's re-election as Gov.<BR>Ronald Reagan 2/10/1981 Thank you for telegram<BR>Jacqueline Kennedy Thank you for contribution to Kennedy Library<BR>Jacqueline Kennedy Memorabilia from luncheon honoring JFK postage stamp<BR>Jacqueline Kennedy Memorabilia from JFK Memorial in Arlington Natl. Cemetery<BR>Edmund Brown signature - The only Brown signature in the archive<BR>Edmund Brown 2 photos of Brown and his wife<BR>Lyndon Johnson "A Message from the President"<BR>Lyndon Johnson Program from White House performance honoring the Prime Minister of Iran<BR>Lyndon Johnson Signed copy of LBJ State of the Union address 1964<BR>Ferdinand Marcos 6/22/1968 Signed copy of Marcos speech at dedication of Pacific War Memorial<BR>John Kennedy 1/21/1959 Letter re: site of Democratic Convention in LA<BR>John Kennedy 5/7/1959 Thank you letter for hospitality while in Calif.<BR>John Kennedy 11/17/1959 Thank you letter for hospitality while in Calif.<BR>John Kennedy 9/19/1960 Re: Suggestion of James Camp as campaign advisor<BR>John Kennedy 10/28/1960 Thank you for report on conservation<BR>John Kennedy 6/13/1961 Request for Brown to serve as Honorary State Chairman of USO<BR>John Kennedy 8/1/1961 Thank you for support<BR>John Kennedy 1/17/1962 Re: American Food for Peace Council in San Francisco<BR>John Kennedy 2/9/1962 Thank you for help with White House Regional Conference Report<BR>John Kennedy 3/8/1962 Re: Proposal for memorial to Dag Hammarskjöld in CA redwoods<BR>John Kennedy 3/15/1962 Re: Water Resource Development<BR>John Kennedy 3/29/1962 Re: Water Resource Development<BR>John Kennedy 4/2/1962 Re: Council on Youth Fitness<BR>John Kennedy 4/16/1962 Re: Shipyard maintenance<BR>John Kennedy 4/30/1962 Re: Appt. of Wm. Warne to Water Pollution Control Advisory Board<BR>John Kennedy 5/24/1962 Re: Trade legislation<BR>John Kennedy 6/8/1962 Re: Conference on Conservation<BR>John Kennedy 6/21/1962 Re: Unemployment insurance<BR>John Kennedy 8/21/1962 Re: Fish and Game preservation in CA<BR>John Kennedy 8/28/1962 Thank you for hospitality while in CA<BR>John Kennedy 1/29/1963 Re: Point Loma fishing pier in San Diego<BR>John Kennedy 4/8/1963 Re; Tax revision in CA<BR>John Kennedy 7/8/1963 Re; Colorado River<BR>John Kennedy 7/18/1963 Thanks for photo<BR>John Kennedy 8/14/1963 Thank you for condolences (Jackie's miscarriage)<BR>John Kennedy 10/7/1963 Re: CA Conservation<BR>John Kennedy 11/5/1963 Re: Tax Program<BR>Jacqueline Kennedy 1/29/1965 Re: JFK Library<BR>Jacqueline Kennedy Telex re: JFK shooting in Dallas<BR>Jacqueline Kennedy Telegram inviting Browns to JFK Funeral<BR>Lyndon Johnson 12/2/1963 Need your help/support<BR>Lyndon Johnson 1/1/1964 Telegram - thank you for support<BR>Lyndon Johnson 1/11/1964 Re: Voter registration<BR>Lyndon Johnson 2/7/1964 Telegram - Re-appointment to Civil Defense Advisory Council<BR>Lyndon Johnson 6/4/1964 Re: State delegates for Dem. Convention<BR>Lyndon Johnson 9/15/1964 Thank you for nominating LBJ at convention<BR>Lyndon Johnson 10/2/1964 Thank you<BR>Lyndon Johnson 12/10/1964 Re: Federal-State-Local fiscal relationships<BR>Lyndon Johnson 12/18/1964 Thank you for photo album<BR>Lyndon Johnson 1/14/1965 Re: Economic Opportunity Act<BR>Lyndon Johnson 1/16/1965 Re: 1965 State of the Union<BR>Lyndon Johnson 1/25/1965 Re: Education<BR>Lyndon Johnson 2/12/1965 Re: Farm Wage rates<BR>Lyndon Johnson 3/13/1965 Re: Colorado River<BR>Lyndon Johnson 3/22/1965 Signed White House menu<BR>Lyndon Johnson 3/30/1965 Re: Bill before the House<BR>Lyndon Johnson 4/12/1965 Thank you<BR>Lyndon Johnson 5/27/1965 Re: Conservation<BR>Lyndon Johnson 6/24/1965 Re: Great Society Program<BR>Lyndon Johnson 7/1/1965 Crescent City, CA harbor improvements<BR>Lyndon Johnson 8/9/1965 Conference on Natural Beauty<BR>Lyndon Johnson 9/8/1965 Re: Governor's Conference on Education<BR>Lyndon Johnson 12/6/1965 Re: Ratification of 25th Amendment to the Constitution<BR>Lyndon Johnson 1/18/1966 Re: 1966 State of the Union Address<BR>Lyndon Johnson 3/13/1966 Re: Governor's Meeting at White House<BR>Lyndon Johnson 3/24/1966 Re: Traffic Safety Act of 1966<BR>Lyndon Johnson 4/6/1966 Thank you<BR>Lyndon Johnson 11/3/1966 Re: Clean Water<BR>Lyndon Johnson 1/6/1967 Happy New Year - standing invitation to the White House<BR>Lyndon Johnson 2/27/1967 Re: Latin America<BR>Lyndon Johnson 6/23/1967 Signed Presidential Ball invitation - Los Angeles<BR>Lyndon Johnson 11/9/1967 Congratulations<BR>Lyndon Johnson 12/26/1967 Best Wishes for New Year<BR>Lyndon Johnson 4/4/1968 Thank you<BR>Lyndon Johnson 11/22/1968 Look forward to seeing you<BR>Lyndon Johnson 12/18/1968 Thanks for your visit<BR>Lyndon Johnson 3/30/1970 Thanks for the Get Well wishes<BR>Lyndon Johnson 8/4/1970 Good to hear from you<BR>Lyndon Johnson Thanks for Birthday wishes<BR>Lady Bird Johnson 10/27/1965 Thanks for Get Well wishes<BR>Lady Bird Johnson 4/19/1972 Thanks for the visit<BR>Lady Bird Johnson 2/2/1973 Thanks for condolences on death of LBJ<BR>Lyndon Johnson Photo signed - LBJ and Brown<BR>Lyndon Johnson <I>Reflections in History: A Personal Collection</B></I><BR><BR><BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Requires 3rd Party Shipping (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
Sign In to Bookmark Lot