Description:

Bill Clinton Superb ALS on "liberalism"

A 1p autograph letter signed by future 42nd U.S. President Bill Clinton (born 1946), then Attorney General of Arkansas and Democratic Party candidate for Governor of Arkansas, as "Bill" at lower right. August 5, [1978]. [Little Rock, Arkansas.] Inscribed on watermarked laid stationery with "Bill Clinton / Attorney General / Office of the Attorney General / Little Rock" letterhead complete with the Arkansas state seal at upper left. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds and a few extra wrinkles. Unobtrusive traces of tape found verso. Else near fine. 7.125" x 10.375."

Bill Clinton wrote this letter to an unidentified correspondent named "Mr. Morten."

In full:

"8/5

Dear Mr. Morten,

I was pleased and amused to get your letter. I have friends who play tricks on me too and I guess we should just laugh about it.

On a more serious note, I appreciate your compliments about my work as attorney general and your active support of Mr. Lowe, which is good citizenship. I would say, though, that if you think I've been a good attorney general, you'll probably think I'm a good governor, after the day to day performance wipes away the preconception of extreme 'liberalism' which seems always to be the main thrust of political campaigns against me. As a matter of fact, with the possible exception of some energy masters, I can't think of any issue I'm more 'liberal' on that your friend Ray Thornton whom I also admire very much.

Thanks again for writing.

Sincerely,
Bill."

This letter hints at Clinton's endorsement of the New Democrat agenda, an affiliation that would solidify over the course of his political career. As he says in this letter, Clinton is often wrongly accused of holding radical beliefs, but is in reality not any more extreme than Republicans. The New Democrats were a group of Democrats who adopted more centrist policies. Unlike traditional liberals, for example, New Democrats lobbied for a less powerful government and embraced constructive welfare reforms.

Bill Clinton announced his intention to run for Governor of Arkansas in March 1978, only 14 months after taking up the post of Attorney General of Arkansas. It was a bold political decision, since Clinton was only 31 years old at the time. Clinton mentions his Republican Party gubernatorial competitor in this letter as "Mr. Lowe." This referred to Lynn Lowe (1936-2010), a farmer then serving as the chairman of the Arkansas Republican Party (1974-1980). Clinton and Lowe ran against each other in the gubernatorial general election held on November 7, 1978, which Clinton persuasively won, garnering 63% of votes. In his autobiography "My Life," Clinton recalled his race against Lowe as being mostly "uneventful" with the exception of Lowe's allegation that Clinton was a Vietnam War dodger. The handsome and personable Clinton became "Boy Governor" of Arkansas in 1979; he entered the White Office as 42nd U.S. President in 1993.

Another leading Arkansas politician, Ray Thornton (1928-2016), is also mentioned in Clinton's letter. A fellow Democrat and Yale University graduate, Thornton served as Attorney General of Arkansas from 1971-1973 and later, in the 1970s and 1990s, served as a U.S. Congressman from Arkansas.

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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