Posted 14 years ago
VikingFan82
(373 items)
Dated September 29th, 1952, six days after his famous "Checkers Speech". After Eisenhower had named Nixon as his running mate in September of 1952, controversy began to swirl around Nixon and he had been accused of improprieties relating to a fund established by his backers to reimburse him for his political expenses. With his remaining on the ticket in jeopardy he went on television to defend himself. During the speech, he stated that regardless of what anyone said, he intended to keep one gift: a black-and-white dog, named Checkers by the Nixon children, thus giving the address its popular name. These postcards were sent out to his supporters afterwards. This one is addressed to my grandparents. It reads:
Dear friend,
This is just a note to tell you how deeply Pat and I appreciated your expression of confidence after the broadcast last tuesday. We want you to know we shall do our best to never let you down.
Dick Nixon.
Ironically, twenty years later to the day, on September 29, 1972 it was revealed that John Mitchell, while serving as Attorney General under President Nixon, controlled a secret Republican fund used to finance intelligence-gathering against the Democrats, part of the Watergate scandal that would ultimately lead to Nixon's impeachment and resignation.
IMO, Yes.. If I had it, I would have it checked out for sure Viking... Looks like Nixon's sig too me...
It's a stamp, or a photocopy, not actually hand written, so the value would come from the rarity or the historical significance. I read further that these were only mailed to people that wrote in response to his speech. I'll have to ask my grandparents about that one haha
Ooo a photocopy, Hmmm.... I don't think it will be worth it then...It's just a keepsake then.....
I read about the "Checkers Speech" on wikipedia and they had a picture of the postcard, and it was EXACTLY the same...except the address...I'm guessing that was written by a secretary or something.
Hmmmm, Do ya think Nixon wrote just one, then they photocopyed ALL the rest of them? Then the secretary put the address's on them? Could have happened that way.......
Yeah thats what I think happened. It's his hand writing. Politicians still do stuff like that for supporters and doners.
Hmm, maybe someone else will chime in on this. I just don't know, but I'd like too know more about it.......
Nixon frequently used the Autopen, which is a machine that, once programed, would sign a facsimile of any signature desired. Most of nixon's autographs are Autopenned. As for this postcard, I also have a copy. It was printed en-mass to satisfy his many fans who expected a reply to there letters to him. It is not his authentic signature, nor is it one-of-a-kind. A copy of this item generally sells for anywhere from $20.00 to $100.00, depending on condition. Many folks had thier copy re-signed by Nixon at a later time, which increases the value considerably.
Since this post I have learned a lot more, except price. I was expecting a lot less, pretty cool.