Description:

Calvin Coolidge
[Boston, MA], November 5, 1920
Calvin Coolidge TLS Thanking Fellow Lawyer A Few Days After Securing VP Spot in 1920 Presidential Election
TLS

A 1p typed letter signed by Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933), then Governor of Massachusetts and recently elected as Vice President in the incoming administration of his Republican running mate, Warren G. Harding, as "Calvin Coolidge" near right center. Coolidge's signature is unusually large for the size of the paper, measuring approximately 4.5" x 1.875" alone. November 5, 1920. [Boston, Massachusetts.] On a single leaf of watermarked stationery with "The Commonwealth of Massachusetts / Executive Department / State House, Boston" letterhead, complete with an embossed state seal in striking gilt and cobalt blue at upper left. Expected flattened transmittal folds and a few extra wrinkles, else near fine. 7.375" x 10.375." Accompanied by its original transmittal envelope with matching letterhead, postmarked, hand-stamped, and letter-opened.

Coolidge thanked a fellow lawyer named William H. Pauling-Emrich for having sent his congratulations all the way from Paris, France. Pauling-Emrich was a member of the American Society of International Law then practicing abroad. It is likely that Pauling-Emrich and Coolidge knew each other from legal connections; Coolidge had opened his first law practice in Northampton, Massachusetts in the late 1890s.

Coolidge wrote in part:

"It was exceedingly thoughtful of you to send me such a gracious message. I want to thank you for your kind wishes which I assure you I reciprocate…"

On November 2, 1920, Harding and Coolidge had defeated Democratic presidential nominee James M. Cox, then Governor of Ohio, and vice presidential nominee Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had been serving as Assistant Secretary of the Navy. The Harding/Coolidge ticket garnered 404 Electoral College votes out of the total 531, and secured 60.4% of the popular vote.

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: 7.375" x 10.375"
  • Medium: TLS

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University Archives

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