JUST PRIOR TO HIS APPOINTMENT AS CHIEF JUSTICE WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT WRITES FROM HIS VACATION IN BERMUDA TO THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING THE BUILDING OF THE HOLLAND TUNNEL AND WHO WAS LATER RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE

TAFT, WILLIAM HOWARD (1857-1930) 27th President of the United States (1909–1913) and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States (1921–1930); the only person to have served in both of these offices. Attractive Autograph Letter Signed “Wm H Taft” on imprinted Princess Hotel / Bermuda pictorial stationery. To General George R. Dyer.  Two and a half separate pages, large octavo. ”New Years Day / 1921”.  Very fine condition.   Taft writes:  

“Dear General Dyer,   Thank you for good wishes the coming year. It is a great blessing to have met you and your family and to know you. We have so many common friends and agree so well in regards to the questions that present conditions force on us that we are never at a loss for interesting discussion. I like to see you and Mrs. Dyer with those three fine boys of yours enjoying this vacation together. I hope and believe you and Mrs. Dyer have great happiness bless you in living your own lives over again in their struggles and successes. Of course they will swarm from the family hive after a time as they ought to, but the constant comfort they are, I can testify from my own experience. They grow old too fast, we think, but not they. My heart always goes out to friends of mine who are denied children. I sincerely hope that it may be the good fortune of Mrs. Taft and me to meet you and Mrs. Dyer often in the future. We reciprocate your New Years greetings.  Sincerely yours,    Wm H Taft

P.S.   —   Mrs. Taft asked me to thank Mrs. Dyer cordially for the Bermuda palm, which she was good enough to send her. It gives a subtropical appearance to our sitting room.”

 

Just a fine attractive letter with a level of personal content reflecting on Taft’s take on the value of having children that supersedes most.  George Rathbone Dyer (1869–1934) was a Rhode Island–born businessman, military officer; best known for his leadership in building the Holland Tunnel and his role as chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey which also supervised the building of the George Washington Bridge (opened in 1931).

$1500.00