LS signed as president-elect, “J. A. Garfield,” one page, faintly-lined, 5 x 8, December 1, 1880. Letter to Colonel James Belger accepting thanks on his election to the presidency. In full: “Accept my thanks for your kind congratulations of the 20th ultimo.” Letter is archivally sleeved in acid-free Mylar. A couple extra horizontal folds, one through Garfield’s signature, and a bit of scattered light soiling, otherwise fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope.
Garfield may have ultimately captured the presidency, but the road to the White House—and the 1880 presidential election—was anything but smooth. The Ohio legislature had originally tapped Garfield, then a congressman, to fill a seat in the US Senate. However, at the Republican National Convention, his name was floated as a presidential nominee, eventually rising from a dark horse candidate to capturing the nomination on the 36th ballot. Interestingly, this was signed as Garfield held the distinction of being the only person to simultaneously hold the positions of sitting representative, senator-elect, and president-elect. The Fates had another historic role planned: seven months later he was shot, dying in September and becoming the second assassinated US president.
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