Description:

Lyndon B. Johnson TLS as VP to White House Reporter

TLS, 1p, measuring 7" x 9", dated June 22, 1961, Washington, D.C. A letter from then-Vice President Lyndon Johnson to notable reported Sarah McClendon, following a story she wrote about his recent tour of Southeast Asia in May of that year. The letter, signed "Lyndon Johnson" at conclusion, reads in full: "Your thoughtful story of June 14 was devoured avidly by me. I want you to know I appreciate it deeply. It will hold a spot of honor in my scrapbook and doubtless stir moments of the trip in years to come." Accompanied by original envelope, stamped with Johnson's signature, and postmarked June 23, 1961. Both letter and envelope exhibit remnants of prior mounting on verso, likely removable, as well as expected creasing, flattened letter folds, and light toning throughout. Very good overall- a scarce example of Johnson as VP.

The vice president's trip to Southeast Asia, between May 9-24, 1961, would include stops in Vietnam, Laos, India, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Of particular note was Johnson's meeting with South Vietnamese president Ngô Đình Diệm, who he later called the "Winston Churchill of Asia". A staunch believer in the "domino theory", Johnson viewed the Republic of Vietnam as the linchpin country which could plunge the rest of the region under Communist influence, and thus needed the full support of the U.S. to maintain democracy. The 1963 coup against Diệm's regime followed by his subsequent assassination, coupled with the assassination of JFK just weeks later, ultimately put Johnson in charge of a rapidly deteriorating situation. In the years that followed, the United States would steadily increase its presence in Vietnam using the threat of Communist spread as justification, in turn extending into the presidency of Richard Nixon.

Sarah Newcomb McClendon (1910-2003) was a long-time White House reporter who covered presidential politics for a half century. McClendon founded her own freelance news service as a single mother in the post-World War II era, and became known as a model for women in the press and as a vocal advocate of various causes, particularly those of United States military veterans.

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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