Politicians & Statesmen

Autograph, John G. Nicolay

Private Secretary of President Abraham Lincoln

(1832-1901) Born in Bavaria, he came to America as a child, eventually settling in Illinois. He became editor and proprietor, in 1854, of the "Free Press" in Pittsfield, Illinois. President Elect Abraham Lincoln asked him to be his private secretary in 1860, and he served in that capacity until the president's assassination in 1865. Very few men enjoyed Lincoln's confidence as did John Nicolay. He later served as U.S. Consul at Paris, 1865-69, and as Marshal of the U.S. Supreme Court,...  

Autograph John Hay

President Abraham Lincoln's private secretary

(1838-1905) He met Abraham Lincoln while studying law in Springfield, Illinois, and accompanied the President elect to Washington, D.C., in 1861, becoming one of his two private secretaries, 1861-65. He served as U.S. Secretary of State, 1898-1905, under Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. He collaborated with John G. Nicolay on the important multi volume work titled, Abraham Lincoln; A History.

Card Signature: 3 1/2 x 2 1/4, in ink, John Hay. Choice condition.  

Autograph, Salmon P. Chase

U.S. Secretary of the Treasury

Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court

(1808-73) After graduating from Dartmouth, he practiced law in Ohio and became a leader in the Liberty, later Free-Soil, party. Elected to the Senate in 1849, he was chosen Governor of Ohio, representing the new Republican party, in 1855 and served for two terms. He had an extreme anti-slavery viewpoint, which prevented his getting the presidential nomination in 1860. Resigning his Senate seat, he became Abraham Lincoln's Secretary of the Treasury, serving until...  

Autograph Cave Johnson

U.S. Postmaster General

U.S. Congressman from Tennessee

(1793-1866) Born in Robertson County, Tennessee, he attended Cumberland College, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1814, and commenced practice in Clarksville, Tenn. Served as U.S. Congressman, 1829-37, and 1839-45. During his years in Congress he chaired two committees; the Committee on Private Land Claims, and the Committee on Military Affairs. He also served on the Committee on Indian Affairs and the Committee on Expenditures on Public Buildings. Served as U.S....  

Autograph, Albert G. Brown

U.S. Congressman

U.S. Senator

Governor of Mississippi

Confederate Senator

Autographed Letter Signed

(1813-80) Attended Mississippi College, and Jefferson College, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1833, and practiced in Gallatin, Miss. Served as a member of the Mississippi house of representatives, 1835-39; U.S. Congressman, 1839-41; Governor of Mississippi, 1844-48; U.S. Congressman, 1847-53; U.S. Senator, 1854-61. During the Civil War he served as captain, in the 18th Mississippi Infantry, and as...  

Autograph Charles Sumner

U.S. Senator from Massachusetts

Autographed Letter Signed

(1811-74) After graduating from Harvard, he became a lawyer. A staunch abolitionist, he was violently opposed to the extension of slave territory, and was elected Senator in 1851 on this ticket. In 1856 he delivered an invective laden speech called "The Crime Against Kansas" in which he insulted a South Carolina senator who was not present. Two days later, Representative Preston Brooks, of S.C., a relative of the reviled man, attacked Sumner viciously with a cane....  

Autograph Gideon Welles

Union Secretary of the Navy

(1802-78) A former newspaper editor, he held various minor political offices and had been in the Navy Department before joining the Republican party in 1855. Named Secretary of the Navy by President Lincoln, he served with great efficiency. Completely loyal to Lincoln, his support of Andrew Johnson as well made him a steadying influence in the presidential cabinet. Resigning in 1869, he later wrote "Lincoln & Seward" and published his own, "Diary of Gideon Welles."

Signature: 2 x...  

Letter, Edward Everett

Gave the keynote speech at dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery in 1863!

(1794-1865) Famous American orator and statesman. He made many famous speeches for the Union cause, the best known being his 2 hour oration preceeding President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, Nov. 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery. He also served as U.S. Congressman, Governor of Massachusetts, Minister to Great Britain, President of Harvard University, Secretary of State and U.S. Senator.

1856 Letter Written by...  

CDV & Autograph Willard Saulsbury

U.S. Civil War Senator from Delaware

(1820-92) Born in Kent County, Delaware, he was the younger brother of Delaware Governor Gove Saulsbury, and U.S. Senator Eli M. Saulsbury. He attended Dickinson College and Delaware College, studied law, was admitted to the bar, and commenced a practice in Georgetown, Delaware. Served as Attorney General of Delaware, 1850-55, and U.S. Senator, 1859-71. Saulsbury, a Democrat, was a staunch opponent of President Lincoln and his policies. He attempted to prevent a vote sustaining the suspension of habeus...  

CDV John Minor Botts

Autographed carte de visite

Loyal Virginia Unionist

(1802-69) Born in Dumfries, Va., he was a lawyer and politician who stayed true to the Union. The most conspicuous arrest made during the Civil War under the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus was that of this prominent Virginia citizen who had been a large part of the political life of Virginia for 30 years. He had served as a member of the Virginia State Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives. He was a staunch opponent of secession declaring his state had no right...  

CDV Elihu B. Washburne

Autographed carte de visite

U.S. Congressman from Illinois

(1816-87) Studied law at Harvard, was admitted to the bar in 1840, and commenced practice in Galena, Illinois. Delegate to the Whig National Conventions of 1844 and 1852. Served as U.S. Congressman, 1853-69. Was appointed Secretary of State by President U.S. Grant, but resigned a few days afterward to accept a diplomatic mission to France. Upon the declaration of the Franco-Prussian War he protected with the American flag the Paris legations of the various German states;...  

CDV Reverdy Johnson

Autographed carte de visite

Famous constitutional lawyer, U.S. Senator and U.S. Attoney General

(1796-1876) Born at Annapolis, Md., he was a Constitutional lawyer and diplomat. His most famous case was that of the slave Dred Scott, being the major influence in the Supreme Court's decision. He served as U.S. Senator from Maryland, 1845-49, and was Attorney General under President Zachary Taylor. Returning to the senate in 1863, he supported both Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, working affectively against Johnson's impeachment. He...