Private secretary (1838–1905) to and, later, biographer of Abraham Lincoln who also served as secretary of state under McKinley and Roosevelt. TLS, two pages on two adjoining sheets, 5 x 8, Department of State letterhead, February 11, 1901. Letter to Reverend Francis Clark, marked “Private,” at the top. In part; “I received your letter…in which you desire me to use my utmost efforts to see that the Gillett bill does not fail in the hurried days before the end of the session. You suggest to me that if it does not prevail, a great number of people will feel that the Administration had not done all that it might to promote it…I have already used my utmost efforts in favor of that bill; that it has the strong favor and support of the President, but that it is utterly impossible for the Executive officers to exercise control over the action of Congress.” In very good condition, with scattered toning to second page, uniform toning to first page, and mounting remnants to bottom of second page. RRAuction COA.
