Gerald Ford TLS 2 Weeks before Becoming VP in Midst of Watergate Scandal: "The President and his staff have obviously been preoccupied with very pressing matters"

1p typed letter signed by then House Minority Leader Gerald R. Ford, Jr. (1913-2006) as "Jerry" near bottom center. Written in Washington, D.C. on September 27, 1973, just 13 days before Ford would be nominated to replace disgraced Vice President Spiro Agnew (1918-1996). On watermarked cream stationery with "Congress of the United States / Office of the Minority Leader / House of Representatives / Washington, D.C. 20515" letterhead. Expected light folds. A few isolated stains and a partially rusted paper clip impression found at upper left, else very good to near fine. 8" x 10.5".

House Minority Leader Ford informed a fellow Michiganite that he did not have a definite answer in regards to a proposed White House Conference on Library and Information Sciences scheduled for 1976.

In part:

"Please excuse my delay…In addition to sponsoring a Joint Resolution in the House, identical to those introduced by Senator Pell and Congressman Hechler, I have personally made inquiries at the White House on your behalf.

Unfortunately, I cannot give you a clear reading of the crystal ball on this question. The President and his staff have obviously been preoccupied with very pressing matters and it is difficult to obtain any firm commitments this far in the future…"

Ford's characterization of the state of the Nixon administration was an understatement. In late September 1973, Vice President Spiro Agnew's days in office were numbered. Agnew, who had been investigated for committing tax fraud, bribery, criminal conspiracy, and extortion while holding office in Maryland, pleaded no contest to a single felony charge of tax evasion and resigned on October 10, 1973. President Nixon, who was already embroiled in the Watergate Scandal, nominated Republican Congressman from Michigan and House Minority Leader Gerald Ford to assume the vice presidency. Little did Nixon know that Ford would soon replace him as well!

On June 17, 1972, five men had broken into Democratic Party headquarters at the Watergate Hotel to dig up dirt on Nixon's 1974 reelection campaign rivals. The break-in and its subsequent investigation had revealed systematic wrongdoing and coverup in the Nixon administration. Nixon officials were accused of various illegal activities, ranging from unauthorized tape recording to the intimidation and harassment of political opponents. In July 1973, just two months before Ford wrote this letter, it was revealed that President Nixon had taped his Oval Office phone conversations. Despite increasing public and political pressure, President Nixon held out until August 1974, when he finally resigned. His successor was Gerald Ford.

Ford's letter mentions two fellow Congressmen involved in the federal library and information services agenda, West Virginia Representative Kenneth Hechler (1914-2016) and Rhode Island Senator Claiborne de Bord Pell (1918-2009).

Ford's letter recipient Dorothy Smith McAllister (1899-1983) was a fellow Michiganite, the dynamic civic leader and wife of U.S. Court of Appeals Sixth Circuit Judge Thomas F. McAllister (1896-1976). Dorothy, a graduate of Bryn Mawr College, obtained her Master's degree at the University of Michigan (Fords alma mater).

A kind and sensitive letter showing President Ford still remembered his Midwestern roots.

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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