Signed book: Profiles in Courage. Later printing. NY: Pocket Books, Inc. Cardinal Edition, 1960. Paperback, 4.25 x 6.25, 233 pages. Signed inside the front cover in blue ballpoint by John F. Kennedy. In very good to fine condition, with heavy wear from reading affecting the covers and spine, very light dampstaining to the textblock, and light creasing touching the otherwise clean, bold signature.
Accompanied by a provenance note from the original recipient, in part: "I went to see Kennedy at a campaign stop on the square in front of the theatre in Market Square in Harrisburg. We were on the rope line and either Gram or Mom, I forget which, it was so long ago, put this in front of JFK. He signed 'John' and was whisked away before completing." Interestingly, the recipient naively believed that the autograph was signed "John" because JFK was in such a rush, but it is indeed a complete—albeit rushed—exemplar, characteristic of Kennedy's hurried in-person autographs.
The York Daily Record reported on Kennedy's visit to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on September 15, 1960, presumed to be the date of signing: 'Following the late arrival at the airport Thursday evening, Kennedy could only spare five-minutes to talk to the 7,000 that had gathered at Market Square in Harrisburg. He was late for a fundraiser at the Zembo Mosque, where 9,000 had paid $100-a-plate to attend.' The visit came as part of a whirlwind 24-hour tour of central Pennsylvania, which had stops in five counties: Dauphin, Lebanon, Berks, Lancaster, and York. Kennedy's campaign tactics proved effective: he won Pennsylvania by a 2.3% margin in the 1960 presidential election, securing 32 electoral votes en route to victory.
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