Lot Details
Lot 191
GOLDWATER, BARRY Archive of approximately thirty-eight personal letters signed.
Mostly Washington, but Phoenix and various locations during WWII: 1930s-70s. The letters on various stationeries and addressed to Torre Seiniger (Mrs. Charles Seiniger) of New York or family, each typed and signed "Barry," several retaining original mailing envelopes. Most about 8 1/2 x 11 inches (21 x 28 cm). Minor creasing, folds, a few short tears, small stains, or signs of handling, a few with docketing punctures. Also included in the lot are a 1964 U.S. Senate Admissions card signed by Goldwater; inscribed copies of Barry Goldwater: Portrait of an Arizonan, 1964, and The Conscience of a Conservative, second printing, 1960, both without dust jackets; and a typed note signed from Betty Ford to Mrs. Seiniger White House stationery.
The earliest letter here is a 1939 two page letter signed on the stationery of Goldwater's, the family owned department store in Phoenix, on his joy at being named godfather to Torre's son. Next are three letters without date or place markings written while Goldwater was an Air Force pilot during World War II. In these letter, Goldwater describes his camp in Yuma where he awaits further placement and patriotically comments "It isn't the army or the navy that will win this war, it is the civilian like those we know who are willing to sacrifice their already crowded time to do work that is needed. I have preached this country's strength so long and have believed in it so long that when some one like those arm chair generals and stork club admirals and unconscious bastards like certain columnists get going on how weak we are I burn." The balance of letters are mostly on Goldwater's U.S Senate or personal stationery and are generally short cordial letters. Of note among Goldwater's letters as senator is a 1963 letter to his godson attempting the question: "What is patriotism? It is the tear in the eye in recalling the deeds of men who built our country. It is the feeling of pride when the Flag goes by."
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