Typed Letter Signed

1916. ("W. G. Harding") in black fountain pen ink on his United States Senate, Washington, D.C. letterhead, watermarked "Cranes", February 22, 1916. 8" x 10 5/8"; 2 separate pages (recto only). Very good. To O.S. Rapp, Esq. Marion, Ohio Interesting letter to his old friend O.S. Rapp, president of the Prendergrast Co., a lumber and coal concern, in his hometown of Marion, Ohio, ".I have wishes to avoid the appearance which sometimes leads to suspicion, when one is doing too much gallivanting around the country to keep speech-making engagements. I note what you say concerning [lawyer D.R.] Crissinger's admission to the Saturday Night Club. Please see that he is thoroughly initiated and kindly caution him to see that the supply of Cherry Bounce is not exhausted until I am again able to meet with the Club.his brew is entirely too good to be wholly consumed by the regulars.I do not believe that I can be of any assistance to you in the matter of disposing of the portion of the vacant space in the church lot.The Harding Publishing co. has contracted the purchase or [sic, of] my one-third of the old Baptist Church lot and the foundations are being laid for the ultimate improvement of that property and the erection of a newspaper building." From the typos and tone, the present letter was undoubtedly typed by Harding personally (or a bad secretary). A good social letter from Harding, mentioning that his wishes to 'avoid the appearance' that his is campaigning for a national office - as he would do four years later. Once in office as President, Harding would hand out appointments to many of his old Marion associates with little thought to their fitness for the posts. D.R. Crissinger, whose cherry bounce [a concoction of cherries, brandy, and sugar] Harding admires here, was named Comptroller of the Currency, although he had almost no banking experience.. Soft cover. Very Good.