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southern support. He was appointed by Truman as his attorney general (in part as Truman wanted another Catholic to replace the former incumbent Frank Murphy), holding the position from August 1949 to April 1952. McGrath afterwards was asked to resign by Truman for his refusal to co-operate in a corruption investigation initiated by his department. The photograph was inscribed on a pivotal day, when Truman effectively confirmed he was going to run for a further term in the 1948 presidential election, due to a slip-up by McGrath. “In December 1947, by selecting Senator J. Howard McGrath to be chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Truman gave a strong clue to his intentions for 1948. Certainly, the senator made little secret of the fact that he was working for Truman’s election. On a radio forum program in February 1948, McGrath slipped up by saying that he was going to elect Truman. When pressed, McGrath retreated, indicating that this was only a hunch. The president’s response, in his February 5 news conference, was that it ‘was a good hunch’” (McCoy, p. 152). Official photograph, 279 × 355 mm. Dark oak frame with conservation acrylic glazing, 351 × 427 mm. A little toned with a few white spots, bump to bottom fore corner, slight shadow around Truman’s face, very good. ¶ Donald R. McCoy, The Presidency of Harry S. Truman , 1984. £1,500 [158159] 136 TRUMAN, Harry S. Memoirs. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1955–56 presentation copy to his secretary of the army
First edition, deluxe issue, presentation copy to Truman’s secretary of the army Gordon Gray, inscribed by the author on the half-titles “To the Honorable Gordon Gray with kindest regards and with great appreciation of his friendship & service to the nation. Harry Truman. Independence. Jan. 6, 1956” (vol. I) and “To Hon. Gordon Gray from Harry Truman 5/5/56” (vol. II). The volumes are further inscribed by Truman on the slipcases “To Hon. Gordon Gray from Harry Truman” (vol. I) and “Hon. Gordon Gray” (vol. II). Gordon Gray (1909–1982) played an important role in US national security under both Truman and Eisenhower and continued in an advisory role through to Ford. He was appointed by Truman as second secretary of the army (1949–50), afterwards (following a stint as president of the University of North Carolina) serving under Eisenhower as assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs (1955–57), director of the office of defense mobilization (1957–58), and national security advisor (1958–61). He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1961 shortly before Eisenhower left office and served on the president’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board from 1961 to 1976. The Memoirs were released in a trade issue in black cloth and jacket, alongside this deluxe issue. Truman purchased 500 copies of the deluxe issue from Doubleday, which he inscribed to associates and dignitaries over the years. 2 volumes, octavo. Original blue buckram, spines lettered in gilt on black ground, gilt facsimile signature to front covers, grey endpapers, top edges gilt. With the original acetate jackets. Both volumes housed in the original card slipcases. Fine copies, in fine acetate jackets, and near-fine slipcases with only a hint of rubbing. £8,500 [158325]
All items are fully described and photographed at peterharrington.co.uk
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