TLS as president, one page, 7 x 10.25, White House letterhead, May 16, 1962. Letter to Lewis Gruber, chairman of P. Lorillard and Company, in part: "During President Eisenhower's Administration, he signed an Act of Congress creating a Board of Trustees charges with responsibility for planning and constructing and then operating a national center for the performing arts. This National Cultural Center is to be financed by voluntary contributions from the public, and will be constructed on a site in the Nation's Capital designated by Congress. We have been very interested in carrying forward this project, and I understand that you have talked with LeMoyne Billings concerning the National Cultural Center Journal, which is one of the interesting programs developed by the Trustees to help raise funds for the Center. It would give me great pleasure to appoint you to serve on my Business Committee for the National Cultural Center Journal. I hope that you will find it possible to help in this worthy cause." In fine condition, with some creasing to the top and bottom edges. Accompanied by a booklet entitled "An Invitation to American Business and Industry on behalf of The National Cultural Center," which notes Gruber as a member of the business committee.
The planned National Cultural Center on the Potomac had been approved by Congress during the Eisenhower administration but was not yet built. Less than two months after JFK's assassination, Congress would designate this National Cultural Center as the 'John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts'—commonly called the 'Kennedy Center' today. A fantastic presidential letter demonstrating JFK's commitment to the American arts.
This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
$150.00
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
