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

30476

Warren G. Harding Typed Letter Signed

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:300.00 - 500.00 USD
Warren G. Harding Typed Letter Signed
<B>Warren G. Harding Typed Letter Signed “</B></I><I>W. G. Harding”</B></I> <B>with long holograph postscript signed “</B></I><I>WGH,”</B></I> two pages, 6” x 8”, on first and third pages of separate conjoined sheets. Marion, Ohio, August 13, 1920. To L. H. Huston, International News Service, Cleveland. In full, “<I>I have your letter of July 28th with its explanation of the circulation of the false story, relating to myself, circulated by your Columbus Manager. While I am disposed to accept your explanation, at the same time I can not but feel that there was an inexcusable carelessness exhibited in this instance. Here was a story of a golf game played on Saturday, reported in the Sunday papers and carried over as a Monday story and timed as a Sunday development. I might have felt perhaps less aggrieved had it not been that the Service carried, at the same time, a story to the effect that Governor Cox would not play golf on Sunday. I register a complaint in this instance, not only as </B></I><B><I>a public servant temporarily occupying a place of some prominence</B></I></B></I> <I>and entitled to fair treatment, but also from that of a patron and client of your association, interested in the accuracy of the News service furnished by you and used by him and for which accuracy he had to assume a certain amount of responsibility. I think you owe it to yourself and to your association to see that steps are taken to prevent instances of this kind, and I leave the matter in your hands.</B></I>” In a 45-word handwritten “<I>P. S.</B></I>” signed “<I>WGH,</B></I>” Harding adds “<I>I hope I need not add that I would not wish a man to lose his place because of an error. I have made a good many myself. I was chiefly annoyed to note an apparent design to injure in boxing and emphasizing the comparison.</B></I>”<BR><BR>On June 12, 1920, Ohio Senator Warren G. Harding was nominated for President on the tenth ballot at the Republican National Convention. On July 6th, Ohio Governor James M. Cox was nominated for President on the 44th ballot at the Democratic National Convention. Harding, owner and publisher of the <I>Marion Star,</B></I> and Cox, owner and publisher of the <I>Dayton Daily News,</B></I> were both newspapermen. Harding was an avid golfer, who, in 1921, brought his golf clubs with him to the White House from his Marion, Ohio, home. He was also an avid boxing fan. As President, he played golf two afternoons a week and followed boxing closely in the sports pages. It should be remembered that many, if not most Americans at the time felt that sports participation should not take place on the Lord's day. In fact, before 1934, some states still prohibited baseball games to be played on Sunday! The International News Service, founded by William Randolph Hearst in 1909, was the third largest news agency (next to the Associated Press and the United Press Association), combining with UPA in 1958 to form United Press International. After Hearst bought New York radio station WGBS in 1932, he renamed it for his news agency, WINS, still on the air today. Soiling, else in fine condition. <I>Ex. Henry E. Luhrs Collection.</B></I><BR><BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Flat Material, Small (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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