Description:

Cleveland Grover

Bi-fold ALS on Executive Mansion letterhead, 4.75" x 8". Penned on three pages, with final page blank. Dated "April 24, 1893", and signed by Grover Cleveland while President as "Yours very truly/ Grover Cleveland". Accompanied by the original mailing envelope, 5" x 4", addressed in the hand of Grover Cleveland. Signature on the envelope in another hand. Addressed to "Hon John S. Wise, 44 Broad Street, New York City". ALS near fine with expected folds, envelope slightly grubby, with the postage stamp torn off. Although many early Presidents were allowed Free franking privileges, most post-civil did not have franking privileges.

 

 

President Cleveland writes a lengthy letter to John Wise in the first month of his second Presidential term making jocular comments of "I've heard of daring things and having things in your mind" in addition to a references one of his favorite vacation getaways at Broadwater. John Sergeant Wise (1846-1913), author, lawyer and public servant - U.S. Congressional Representative from Virginia, candidate for Governor of Virginia in 1885, son of Henry Alexander Wise - Confederate General, antebellum Governor of Virginia. 

 

After the excitement of the campaign Mr. Grover Cleveland, President-elect of the United States, felt the need of quiet and rest. He was beset by office-seekers, by invitations to public dinners and by friends who wanted to "advise" him. Indeed he made his escape, on November 22d, into a land where the spirit of the sportsman never tires and the place-hunter is not.

The greatest of these island-girt bays is the Broadwater, and its most hospitable island hovered twelve miles away to the eastward, like a phantom in the morning radiance. Grover Cleveland would become a frequent visitor to Broadwater for years to come with sources showing him continue his visits  through 1901.

 

This lovely letter is shown in part below:

 

"My Dear Mr. Wise

I've heard of daring things and having things "in your mind'. I don’t think I ever had such a good hunch and … in my mind as when I read your letter initiating me to go with you.

 

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind remembrance of me and I tell you how delighted I would be to accept your invitation …

 

If I could go I am afraid it would have to be the (illegible) of May as Broadwater … Nov or Dec. I expect he thinks he has an engagement with me …

 

Yours very truly,

Grover Cleveland"


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