Two enormous oak beer steins, one owned by President Truman and displayed in the White House and the other belonging to his secretary William Hassett. Beautiful oak Truman stein stands 16″ tall, has a 7″ diameter base, a 4″ diameter top, and a hinged lid. Stein features a nicely carved lid and handle, with “The President, Harry S. Truman,” in impressive raised relief on one side. Stein also has six prominent metal bands attached with brass tacks. William Hassett’s stein is of the same dimensions and overall design but with an affixed Milwaukee’s Best Blatz Brewing Company label, with “1949 Best Wishes to the 35th Division from Battery ‘D. [his and President Truman’s old World War I combat group]’” and Hassett’s name on the opposite side. President Truman and Hassett would have been presented these steins when they both attended their World War I combat group reunion. Accompanied by a 1982 detailed letter of provenance, on White House letterhead, from Carl W. Ferguson, White House doorman from 1939 to 1956. In part: “The large stein was given to me by President Harry S. Truman, on May 8, 1945. This was the same day he signed a Proclamation calling for May 13, 1945, to be a Day of Prayer as Germany had finally surrendered…On this day we were alone briefly in the Oval Office. President Truman gave me a pencil…On this same day he gave me the large stein which had been in his Office or Study. It is a fine looking Stein and I felt so honored that the President wanted me to have it…This is the personal possession of the President.” Also included is a handwritten note for the William Hassett stein from Raleigh DeGeer Amyx on a White House card which reads, in part: “Battery D refers to Harry S. Truman’s World War I battery and the steins would have been presented to Wm. Hassett at a Battery D reunion.” Accompanied by a photo of Hassett’s secretary Rae Randell, a friend of Mr Amyx and from whom he obtained the Hassett stein. Both in fine condition. A superior presidential relic—with ties to Truman’s World War I military career—that makes for a magnificent display piece.
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