TLS as president, one page, 6.75 x 9, White House letterhead, January 15, 1968. Letter to Kingsbury Smith in Paris. In full: “Dick Berlin has sent me some of your recent dispatches on our efforts to strengthen the dollar and win peace in Asia. Your insights and confidence are a great encouragement and all here who share the burden of America’s large responsibilities are grateful for the strength of your partnership.” In fine condition, with uniform overall toning.
The recipient of this letter, Joseph Kingsbury-Smith, was a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, editor, and chief foreign writer for Hearst Newspapers. At the time, the newspaper organization was headed by Richard Berlin, who is also referenced here. LBJ was a man who understood the importance of shaping public opinion through a powerful organization like Hearst, and to that end supported a stance taken by the publication regarding the burden—economically and militarily—carried by the US as a world leader. To be sure, the escalation of the Vietnam War in early 1968 brought increased pressure on the dollar, with America creating massive indebtedness with the rest of the world. At this time, gold was taking center stage, with the long-standing gold exchange system unraveling quickly and heading for a meltdown. Those financial worries were further complicated by events that would thwart Johnson’s hope for the “peace in Asia” he references. A few days after writing this letter, on January 21, the Battle of Khe Sanh, one of the most publicized and controversial fights of the war, began, and the start of the Tet Offensive on January 30 marked a turning point against US forces. Optimistic words from LBJ in the midst of rapidly changing world events. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
