Taft on Sacco-Vanzetti and the 1928 Republican Nominee

Taft, William Howard

Typed Letter, signed (“William H Taft”), to Colonel Ike M. Ullman, leader of the Republican Party in Connecticut

2 pp. typed on Supreme Court stationery. 4to, Pointe-au-Pic, Canada: August 25, 1927. Light vertical creases and paper clip impression, else near fine. In custom maroon cloth folding box.

Taft writes to his long-time friend, Ike. M. Ullman, leader of the Republican Party in Connecticut, extending an invitation to his 70th birthday. He goes on to offer his thoughts on the Sacco-Vanzetti case: “The conclusion in the Sacco-Vanzetti matter I hope will be followed by no sinister results, in spite of the threats that have been made, but no threats should or would deter the administration of justice and the execution of court judgments The propaganda in this case has been world wide and promoted by the very extended contributions of people, many of whom are reds, some who are pinks, others who are hysterical and prone to think everything wrong, and by others with criminal instincts. It would seem that the rule toward which many people are working would result in immunity for anybody who said that he was a communist, and could torture prosecutions for ordinary crimes into persecutions for being anarchists.” Taft then speaks openly about his opinions on the crop of potential Republican Presidential nominees, “I really do not see any way out of the national political field but to force the nomination upon Coolidge … I agree with you exactly in respect to Lowden, Dawes and Hoover. Hughes I am sure would not take it … Hoover in many quarters would not be a very popular candidate. I think he would make an excellent President …” Coolidge refused to run for a third term and Hoover took the nomination and eventually the Presidency. A candid and revealing letter

Item #247873       Price: $4,000.00