America’s First Catholic Presidential Candidate, Alfred Smith,
Letters, Photograph—3 Items
ALFRED EMANUEL SMITH (December 30, 1873-October 4, 1944)
was elected Governor of New York four times and was the Democratic U.S.
Presidential Candidate in 1928, the first Catholic ever to run for the highest
office in the land. His candidacy
brought out women to vote, who had only recently received the right to vote,
and the anti-Catholic vote. Smith was
anti-prohibition. Many protestants feared his candidacy believing that the
Catholic Church and the Pope would dictate his policies. Smith lost in a
landslide to Republican Herbert Hoover. He sought the nomination four years
later but was defeated by Franklin D. Roosevelt. Smith then entered business in New York City
and became a vocal opponent of Roosevelt’s New Deal.
Offering a three-piece lot – two TLSs
by Smith to Henry F. Wilson, Jr., of New York City, one regarding the
distribution of an estate and the other thanking Wilson for sharing the reprint
of an article. The third item is a
photograph of Smith, Calvin Coolidge and Wilson, signed by Wilson and
Smith. Three Smith autographs.
Letters have folds, toning, but are in
overall excellent condition. Signatures on the photograph are in black ink but
have been overwritten with white ink.
Everything we sell is guaranteed authentic forever to the original
buyer. We also offer a 30-day return policy. If you discover a problem or are
dissatisfied with an item, please contact us immediately (617-236-4893). Our
goal is to please every customer. We are pleased to be members of The
Manuscript Society, Universal Autograph Collectors Club and The Ephemera
Society. [P#165]