[Rarebooks] FS: Wonderful LBJ letter about his relationship with Sam Rayburn and mentioning JFK

[Charles Agvent]

One of several superb signed LBJ items that will be part of our upcoming 
catalogue of SIGNED PRESIDENTIAL material to be posted on our website early next 
week: http://www.erols.com/agvent.  Also included will be important signed and 
association copies of FDR and Teddy Roosevelt books as well as several letters 
from FDR to his eldest son.

JOHNSON, Lyndon B. TYPED LETTER SIGNED (TLS) as Vice President  on
his  relationship  with  Sam  Rayburn. Washington:  11  October  1961.
Excellent  two-paragraph letter on Vice President letterhead to a  Dr.
Citron.  The first paragraph: "Speaker Rayburn has been like a father,
an  uncle,  an  older brother---he has been my teacher,  my  good  and
close  friend,  my  leader  and my colleague. And,  I  know  President
Kennedy  has  a deep and personal attachment to him." Johnson goes  on
to  say  that he is interested in anything "that might be  helpful  to
Mr.  Sam." This letter might refer to a treatment for cancer, to which
Rayburn  succombed just about a month after the date of this letter on
16  November 1961. A friend originally of Johnson's father, Rayburn is
widely  regarded  as  the  most  effective Speaker  of  the  House  in
American  history,  a position he held until his death and  more  than
twice  as  long  as  any predecessor. Legendary for  his  honesty  and
integrity,  he  despised lobbyists and wouldn't accept  anything  from
them.  He  died with just a little more than ten thousand  dollars  in
his  savings.  Rayburn was instrumental in LBJ's ascent to power,  and
their  relationship  developed quickly into a son-father  kinship.  He
had  a  brief marriage that was destroyed by his drinking, and one  of
his  greatest  regrets was that he did not have a son. Johnson was  as
close  as he would come to having one, a fact made clear by  Johnson's
statements  in  this  letter. One of the most  indelible  images  from
LBJ's  career  is the photograph of him kissing the bald head  of  the
much   shorter  Rayburn.  A  wonderful   letter  with  a  large,  dark
signature.  Some  wrinkling,  few small pinholes at upper  left.  Very
Good                                                          $1500.00

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CHARLES AGVENT
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Mertztown, PA  19539-8750
Voice/Fax: 610-682-4750
agvent at erols.com
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