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Richard Nixon

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
Richard Nixon

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Auction Date:2014 May 14 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Collection of eight first-generation recordings made by Vice President Richard Nixon on flexi disc for conservative columnist Ralph de Toledano, who was writing Nixon’s biography. These eight records were made as dictated memos for his secretary to type up and send to de Toledano. Each 7? diameter, one-sided flexi disc is made of a thin, flexible red vinyl sheet with a molded-in spiral stylus groove to be played on a normal phonograph. Five are imprinted “Edison Safety Disc,” three “Edison Diamond Disc.” Five original 7.25 x 7.25 sleeves are included, four numbered in pencil by Nixon, one through four. Envelope 1 has a notation by his secretary, “RN memo to de Toledano / Dec. 30, 1955.” The unnumbered envelope has a secretarial notation “Ralph de Toledano / Record #4 / 11-15-55” with “1,2,3,4” in ink. The reverse of envelope 2 has a pencil doodle by Nixon with the notation “piano at parties” in his hand.

The subjects covered by Nixon in the eight recordings total a little over two hours, and include the following topics:
Recording #1: the 1946 Voorhis campaign and Joe McCarthy’s tactics.
Recording #2: Taft-Hartley, the Marshall Plan, his college record, and public speaking.
Recording #3: his favorite political figures, Woodrow Wilson, music, and Communists.
Recording #4: heckling, goodwill trips, the 1950 Senate campaign, changing a flat tire, Eisenhower’s support, and “Why Democrats dislike me.”
Recording #5: Hiss case, Washington Post threat, best friends, Irish Quakers, never being tardy in school, never missing a speech because of illness, the death of two of his younger brothers, excellence in scholarship—high school and law school, and being president of the student body in high school.
Recording #6: Why he went to Duke, freedom of criticism and speech, J. Edgar Hoover, his wife Pat’s religion, his World War II military career, and Nixon’s Snack Shack—hamburgers.

One of the most interesting excerpts spoken by Nixon is as follows (in part): “McCarthy’s intentions appeared to me to be right, but his tactics were frankly so stupid at times that he eventually did our case more harm than good…I think there has been a tendency to paint me as being a—(quote) anti-intellectual (end quote)—and then to make the next obvious assumption that I have no intellectual background…It might be interesting to point out that I have never had any formal training in public speaking…It may be helpful to emphasize the fact that I take a rather liberal position with regard to the handling of the communist problem …I came out strongly for the teaching of communism in schools.”

In fine overall condition. Also included are a first edition hardcover copy of Nixon by Ralph Toledano, signed and inscribed on the first free end page by the author, and a complete transcript of the recording. A rare offering of unreleased recordings covering a wide range of personal and political topics, which provide an excellent example of de Toledano’s unprecedented access to Nixon.