903316
Richard M. Nixon
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“Excellent . . . greatly appreciate your continuing work on this project."
Richard Milhous Nixon, 1913-1994. 37th President of the United States. Autographed Note, one page, quarto, on the bottom of a correspondent's letter, no place [San Clemente, California], no date [ca. March 1976]. With accompanying original blueprint.
This is an uncommon piece in which former President Nixon encourages work on a marker for the entrance drive to his birthplace in Yorba Linda, California. He pens the note on the bottom of a letter from his distant relative William H. “Hurless" Barton and his wife, Laurietta, who wrote to send Nixon a copy of the plans for the marker and ask his opinion. They noted that they intended to build a “double faced marker" on “the east side of the driveway going up to your birthplace" and that a designer was “drawing up plans for landscaping around the marker which will be close to Y. L. Blvd." In response, Nixon writes "Dear" before their signatures and adds: "(1) Excellent‒ / (2) greatly appreciate your continuing work on this project."
As a disgraced former President who resigned rather than face certain impeachment and virtually certain conviction and removal from office because of the Watergate scandal, Nixon undoubtedly appreciated the efforts to preserve his legacy. Hurless Barton promoted building a museum in Nixonʼs honor, and the New York Times quoted him as saying that “Everybody in town is behind this museum concept and weʼre getting plenty of support from outside visitors, as well." Nixon responded with this note to the Bartons less than two years after he became the only President to resign the presidency.
The Bartons were among the pioneer families in Yorba Linda, and Hurless Barton was distantly related to Nixon. In an oral history interview, Hurless said that his mother was a cousin of Nixonʼs grandmother Almira Milhous—making him Nixon's second cousin once removed. Hurless's parents arrived in 1912, and Hurless built the first garage and service station in Yorba Linda in 1921 and later owned and operated a Chevrolet dealership. Hurless Barton Park, Yorba Linda's first public park, is named in his honor. Hurless, who has been called “Mr. Yorba Linda,” was well known for his interest in people and in public works.
Nixon has written his note on the Bartonsʼ letter in black fountain pen and has underlined their letter where it says that the Bartons would “build the marker and will continue to improve the site as we are able." The letter has two normal mailing folds, neither of which touches Nixonʼs writing, and it has staple holes and a small stain in the upper left corner and a paperclip impression in the blank left margin. Overall it is in fine condition. The accompanying original blueprint of the proposed Nixon birthplace marker is also in fine condition.
Unframed.
This item has been sold.
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