Description:

Harry S. Truman
[Independence, MO], May 14, 1958 - June 2, 1960
3 Lovely Harry S. Truman TLSs Plus Postscripts, With Truman Committee Association
TLSs

A small group of three typed letters signed by former 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman (1884-1972), all signed as "Harry S. Truman" for a total of three signatures and one set of initials as "H.S.T." Each letter comes with a friendly handwritten postscript, ranging in length from 8 to 27 words. May 14, 1957 - June 2, 1960. [Independence, Missouri.] The typed letters signed are on "Harry S. Truman / Independence, Missouri" letterhead, two of three sheets watermarked. Expected light wear including flattened transmittal folds. A few extra wrinkles or smudges affect some of the sheets, else near fine. 7.25" x 10.125." Provenance: Ex-Charles Hamilton, 1972.

Truman wrote these three letters to Charles Patrick Clark (1907-1967), a New York City-born lawyer who had served as Associate Counsel for the Truman Committee back in the early 1940s. The Truman Committee - formally known as the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program - was formed in early 1941 to inquire into military waste, corruption, siphoning, and profiteering. Truman's expert chairmanship of the committee placed him - then a U.S. Senator from Missouri - onto the national stage and led to his vice presidency. After serving as legal counsel for Truman, Clark became a Washington, D.C. lobbyist for Spain's dictator Francisco Franco; Clark's advocacy led to Spain's entry into the United Nations. Clark was receiving six-figure legal retainers from various entities like the Venezuelan sugar industry when he died at age 60 in November 1967.

The lot includes:

1. A 1p typed letter dated May 14, 1957 signed twice by Truman, first with his full signature as "Harry S Truman," and second in the postscript with his initials as "H.S.T." In response to Clark's birthday message to Truman on the former president's 73rd birthday, Truman has also inscribed the following: "Charlie! We had hundreds of them - I might say thousands. They had to be acknowledged - some on forms. So you see!"

2. A 1p typed letter dated January 15, 1958 signed by Truman as "Harry S Truman" at center. Thanking Clark for having sent a holiday card, Truman also crossed out Clark's printed name, instead writing "Charlie: -" and added the postscript: "What a luncheon that was! I'll never forget it."

3. A 1p typed letter dated June 2, 1960 signed by Truman as "Harry S Truman" at center. At the end of this thank-you note for having remembered his 76th birthday, Truman added the postscript: "Hope all's well with you."

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 7.25" x 10.125"
  • Medium: TLSs

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August 27, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
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