Scarce and highly amusing ‘gag citation’ signed by President Harry S. Truman, one page, 8 x 10.5, [January 24, 1946]. At a White House staff meeting, President Truman presented this citation, the “Poison Oak Leaf Cluster to Carl Vinson Medal with Crossed Palms,” to his good friend and soon-to-be Secretary of the Treasury John W. Snyder for his role in getting the Navy to cut 37 planned ships from its budget. Although the medal is not included, it's purported that the back was engraved: ‘Don’t give up the ships. Vinson.’ The citation reads in full: “John Wesley Snyder, for exceptional services above and beyond the scope of his authority in the East Wing Sector of the White House Theater of Operations.
Armed only with a handful of papers and with utter disregard for the welfare of the House Naval Affairs Committee, Mr. Snyder undertook and successfully completed a single-handed frontal offensive against a numerically superior segment of the Post-War Fleet. By a series of brilliantly executed bludgeoning movements which were carried out despite heavy cross-fire, Mr. Snyder succeeded single-handed in permanently disabling a total of thirty-seven prospective vessels. Mr. Snyder’s outstanding action is consistent with the highest traditions of the Bureau of the Budget.” The lower portion of the sheet bears an affixed calling card belonging to Snyder, who has signed below his printed name in black ballpoint. In very good to fine condition, with overall creasing. Accompanied by a vintage glossy 8.5 x 6.75 wire photo of Harry, Bess, and Margaret Truman, Snyder (pictured left), and Sam Rayburn at a Jefferson Day democratic dinner (the original paper caption is detached but present).
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