Historic dipping pen attributed to President Lyndon B. Johnson's signing of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 (H.R. 7152), originating from the collection of Dave Powers, who served as Special Assistant to the President in the administration of John F. Kennedy. The official 'bill signer' Esterbrook pen measures 6.25˝ long and features a black plastic grip with a Lucite handle imprinted with "The President—The White House." Housed in a beautiful mahogany display case with an engraved plaque inside the lid, reading: “Lyndon B. Johnson – Bill Signing Pen – July 2, 1964.” A small piece of tape on the grip is annotated: "Johnson 1964." In fine condition.
Accompanied by a letter of provenance from David F. Powers (1912-1998), who was Special Assistant and Assistant Appointments Secretary to John F. Kennedy, and also a long-time museum curator of the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum. In full: "I certify that the pen labeled 'Johnson 1964' is one of the pens that President Lyndon B. Johnson used to sign the Civil Rights Act in 1964 (2nd of July), H.R. 7152. The pen was part of my personal collection of various presidential collectibles. In 1960, I worked on Kennedy's campaign, and I later worked for Kennedy as Special Assistant. I had a good relationship with the Johnson administration and was given this as a gift."
Prior to his assassination, President Kennedy had called for legislation to end racial discrimination and segregation in public accommodations, public education, and federally assisted programs. Shortly after his death, President Johnson urged Congress to honor his memory by passing such an act, declaring, 'We have talked long enough in this country about equal rights. We have talked for one hundred years or more. It is time now to write the next chapter, and to write it in the books of law.' His appeal was successful and manifested itself in HR 7152, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a landmark piece of legislation that banned segregation and racial discrimination while guaranteeing equal job opportunities. The tremendous sociopolitical impact made the Civil Rights Act a crowning achievement of the 1960s Democrats and one of the most important laws passed in the 20th century.
While any bill-signing pen is of great interest to presidential collectors, those used to sign significant legislation are of the utmost desirability. As a pen used to sign one of the nation's most important acts of the modern age, this is a superior and historically meaningful example.
