Description:

Dwight Eisenhower
[Washington, DC], ca. August 8, 1956
Dwight D. Eisenhower Pen Used To Sign Automobile Dealers' Good Faith Act, 2 Months After Eisenhower Interstate System! Cars in 1950s America
Other
The pen used by 34th U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) authorizing Public Law 1026, or S. 3879, known variously as the Automobile Dealer Franchise Act of 1956, the Dealer Bill, and the Automobile Dealer "Day in Court" Bill. Ca. August 8, 1956. [Washington, D.C.] The fountain pen with Esterbrook nib, black plastic grip section, and tapered translucent handle engraved "The President - The White House" is carefully suspended in a shadowbox frame above a printed copy of the law. Near bottom is a typed collector's label reading: "President Dwight D. Eisenhower Used This Pen On August 8, 1956, In Signing S. 3879, 'The Dealers' Good Faith Act.'" Expected age-related wear to the paper, including gentle even toning, and a tiny closed tear affecting the label edge, else near fine. Not examined out of the frame. The sight size of the pen is approximately 6.125" long. The overall frame size is 10" x 13.25" x 1.375."

President Eisenhower used this pen to sign into law S.3879 on August 8, 1956. This was "An Act to supplement the antitrust laws of the United States, in order to balance the power now heavily weighted in favor of automobile manufacturers, by enabling franchise automobile dealers to bring suit in the district courts of the United States to recover damages sustained by reason of the failure of automobile manufacturers to act in good faith in complying with the terms of franchises or in terminating or not renewing franchises with their dealers."

The U.S. Senate had passed the bill 75-1 on June 19, 1956. Eisenhower approved the law with reservations, because the law interfered with normally private business affairs.

This was just one of dozens of automobile-related pieces of legislation which Congress was in the course of reviewing in 1955-1956, during a time of exponential growth in passenger and commercial vehicle use in the United States. In 1950, there were about 40,000,000 motor vehicles on American roadways. That figure had increased by 30% by 1956, with an overall total of 54,000,000, and by decade's end, the rate had increased another 12%, to 61,000,000 vehicles on the road. Americans' nearly insatiable demand for automobiles led to some questionable business practices among automobile manufacturers, which this bill attempted to redress. Some of these acts of bad faith included terminating franchise automobile dealer contracts if unrealistically high car sales quotas weren't met; "bootlegging," or allowing unauthorized vendors to sell car brands; and phantom freight, or charging franchise automobile dealers unfairly for transport.

The growth of cars in the United States did not just impact the automobile manufacturers' and franchise automobile dealers' business practices, it also necessitated a massive buildup of America's transportation network. Just two months earlier, on June 29, 1956, President Eisenhower signed into law the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, which led to the construction of the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System. This legislation earmarked $25 billion over the next 10 years for the construction of approximately 41,000 miles of interconnected U.S. roadways and highways. The network proved vital not only to national security but also laid the groundwork for 1950s American car culture.

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: framed: 10" x 13.25" x 1.375.
  • Medium: Other

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