Description:

Truman Harry

Truman After Death of FDR "Carry on the great work of the President who preceded me"

 

Typed Letter Signed “Harry. / Bess & Margaret want to be remembered,” one page, 7” x 6.75”. On pale green White House stationery, Washington, D.C., May 3, 1945. To Mrs. Henry C. Chiles, Lexington, Missouri. Light handling creases and marginal soiling. Fold does not affect dark signature or postscript. Fine condition.

 

Accompanied by original White House envelope, 7.25” x 4.5”, soiled, with penciled notations, not in Truman’s hand, on verso. Flap removed.

 

In full, “Dear Mary: Thanks a lot for your good telegram of the sixteenth. I do appreciate most highly the wholehearted way in which my home state is supporting my efforts to carry on the work of the great President who preceded me.” Seven word handwritten postscript: “Bess & Margaret want to be remembered.”

 

A photocopy of Mrs. Chiles’ telegram is present, courtesy of the Truman Library: “Your speech was great. Many personal and telephone calls have come to me. Our community wholly behind you. Through you destiny has united the nation. You have the qualifications of a great man.”

 

Henry P. Chiles and Mary Chinn were both high school classmates of Harry Truman and Bess Wallace. All four are in the 1901 Independence High School Senior Class Photograph. In 1923, one of Henry P.’s cousins, Henry Clay Chiles, married Mary Chinn.

 

At the time of this letter, Mrs. Henry C. Chiles was Vice Chairman of the Democratic State Committee. On May 8, 1945, five days after President Truman wrote her this letter, she was chosen National Committeewoman. Mrs. Henry C. Chiles (1882-1977) had served as state regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution and president of the Lexington Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Her husband, Henry Clay Chiles (1886-1966), was a freemason who had served as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Missouri. Harry Truman was Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Missouri.

 

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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