A 1p typed letter signed by 26th U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), as "Theodore Roosevelt" at the center. Roosevelt has also struck out a word, and handwritten "advise you about" in between the sixth and seventh lines. Written in Washington, D.C. on May 22, 1908. Typed in blue ink on watermarked bifold paper with "The White House / Washington" letterhead. The inner and outermost pages are blank. Expected paper folds and minor weathering commensurate with age, else near fine. 7.125" x 8.875." Accompanied by a sales receipt from Linda Payne Autograph Company (Racine, Wisconsin) dated November 20, 2001.

President Roosevelt wrote this letter to his old friend Dr. Henry Waldo Coe (1857-1927). The two men were contemporaries who had first met in the Dakota Territory in the early 1880s, where Roosevelt unsuccessfully tried his hand at cattle ranching, and Dr. Coe served as one of the territory's first physicians. Roosevelt wrote Dr. Coe in part: "I congratulate you and I am pleased as possible over the result in Oregon. It was just what I hoped for…"

The exact context of the letter is unknown, but we can assume it has political implications. This conclusion is drawn from the fact that Dr. Coe, an inveterate Republican, served as Roosevelt's confidential political adviser for all matters Oregonian. (Dr. Coe had moved from the Dakota Territory to Oregon in 1890.) It is likely, then, that President Roosevelt was congratulating Dr. Coe's work in drumming up support for the Republican Party candidates and initiatives. Two weeks later, on June 1, 1908, nineteen statewide ballot measures in Oregon were voted upon, including Measure 9, whether to extend suffrage to women (rejected). Oregon would vote for President Roosevelt's hand-picked successor William H. Taft in the 1908 presidential election later that year.

Theodore Roosevelt served as president from McKinley's assassination in September 1901 until 1909.

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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