TLS, two pages, the larger page measuring 8 x 10 (visible), July 12, 1969. Lindbergh writes to Nelson Buhler, of Buhler, King, and Buhler, concerning the Baruch award. In full: “On returning from several weeks abroad, I find your June 20th letter in the stacks of accumulated mail in my home in Connecticut, which has been closed since mid-June. I am sorry about the lateness of my reply. Obviously, an embarrassing situation is arising. As I wrote in a previous letter, I now want to lead a life that is unrelated to honors and awards. I find myself involved in an award for which I am deeply appreciative, yet for which I have no desire. I feel strongly that I should have been consulted before this involvement took place. Let me repeat here that I have the greatest respect for the name Baruch, and consider the award a high honor—especially so in view of the distinguished members of the award committee. I was deeply touched that I was selected for the Baruch award in 1968. But I am most anxious to continue living and working quietly. I had done so for many years, and planning on continuing for the rest of my life, when my alarm at our civilization’s destructiveness took me into fields of conservation. I have tried to be effective in these fields, and am delighted that your Baruch award committee feels that I have been effective. My conservation activities have already brought to me a, to me, disturbing amount of publicity. I do not work well under the distractions and among the superficial values resulting from publicity. I prefer to observe rather than to be observed. Also, I have many obligations and interests aside from fields of conservation. In order to be effective in conservation activities, it is essential that I concentrate hours and days available on the most important projects—at best, I can touch only a small percentage of them. Scheduling a ceremony reduces, often seriously, I have found in the past, the time I can spend in the field, where my primary interest lies and where I think I can be most effective. The correspondence alone takes hours and becomes a major distraction when one is not organized to handle correspondence. I do not have a secretary to help with my correspondence, and do not want one. Ceremonies are also conducive to a chain reaction - more publicity, more invitations, more correspondence, more ceremonies. One’s life becomes submerged in them. I learned that when I was concentrating my attention on fields of aviation, years ago. I am again in a position where further pressure is simply going to reduce flow. It is bound to result, as it did before, in withdrawal toward the core of my major interests where I can work quietly and effectively although without as quick results. My gratitude goes to you with this letter, but I must say once more that I am most anxious to avoid ceremonies of any kind, even though a White House presentation might be possible.” Accompanied by the original mailing envelope. Both pages and the envelope are matted and framed with a photo of Lindbergh in his flight jacket, to an overall size of 31 x 19. In fine condition, with intersecting mailing folds to both pages. Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA. Oversized.
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