ALS signed “Howard,” one lightly lined yellow page, 8.5 x 14, no date [circa August 1965]. A communication between Hughes and his wife, the actress Jean Peters (1926–2000). The letter takes the form of one of the famous handwritten legal-sheet “memos” that became the billionaire’s preferred form of communication during the final years of his life, when he actively avoided all contact with the outside world. Hughes writes: “Dearest Sweetheart, Whom I love & adore, how would you like to visit me earlier tonight? Like about Saint time at 11:15? If this is OK, I will be all set & ready. I love you very much.” Underneath, in pencil, Peters responds: “Dearest—That will be fine—I’ll wait for your message—or come in at 11:15—without. J.” On the reverse, Hughes pens an erratic response: “They are still postponing Saint. That SOB cost this country a tremendous loss of prestige. He ought to be shot. She is so F— artificial. I am going to work all night & most of it our projects. Is that a part of his swallowing and digesting process? I just said I know you didn’t enjoy it. I gonna fly straight. A Giant pitcher hit a Dodger catcher on head with bat in game today & I want to hear how he was. If you wake up later let me know. I love you. hyperbolicly [sic].” In 1957, shortly before Hughes retreated from public view, he married Peters, then recently divorced from her first husband, Texas oilman Stuart Cramer. With his characteristic controlling “thoroughness,” Hughes supervised virtually every aspect of Peters’ life until their divorce in 1971. The divorce settlement guaranteed Peters a lifetime stipend of $70,000 per year, adjusted for inflation, in return for which she waived all claims to Hughes’ estate—an unexpectedly fortuitous arrangement for her, given the chaos that attended the settlement of Hughes’ will over the course of several years. For her part, Peters demonstrated an unusual loyalty to Hughes even after his death, refusing lucrative offers to reveal the details of the unusual marriage “arrangement” in which she seldom even saw him in person. Bisecting horizontal fold, 5.5″ vertical strip of paper loss to lower left, and a few creases, otherwise fine condition. A scarce and fascinating relic from the very heart of the legendary billionaire’s personal “darkness!” Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
