5 Eddie Rickenbacker TLS " Americans have inherited too many blessings...without having contributed in any way to them"

A group of five typed Christmas letters signed by Eddie Rickenbacker, with excellent content. All measure 7.25" x 10.5", Miami and New York, dated 1957 to 1961. All are signed "Eddie" and are addressed to Cory Adams of the New York World-Telegram and Sun. In his letters, Rickenbacker shares his views on progress, business, religion, the history of America, and more. All have light wear and minor soiling but are boldly signed. Overall, very good. Please view photographs for further condition information.

Highlights from each letter include:
Christmas, 1957: "…with the accomplishments in the year of 1957, particularly by the Russians through their satellite development, we must recognize that mankind and the world at large are entering into a new phase of scientific progress. If these new developments can be controlled by men of good will, they cannot help but benefit humanity and the generations to come…"

Christmas, 1958: "…There seems to be a menacing silence surrounding me…there are no reservations available, and there are no friends or relatives arriving, due to the complete cessation of our services since Monday morning, November 24 at ten o'clock, when our flight engineers and mechanics went on strike…Unfortunately, we have been going down this wrong highway for so many years, that it is leading us to our own destruction, through the spiraling wage demands and the failure to match the increases with equal productivity, adding fuel to flame the most deadly of our enemies - inflation…"

Christmas, 1959: "…So why worry about Russia - her progress and achievements? Let us start worrying about our own progress and achievements, and create a heritage of world leadership for future generations, as those of past generations did for us. It seems to me our greatest weakness in recent years is always being on the defensive about how we can retain the many blessings that others created for us…"

Christmas, 1960: "Now that the shouting and the fireworks that covered one of the most bitterly contested presidential campaigns in the history of America are behind us, I sit here on his Thanksgiving Day trying to remember the many good things for which my family and I are thankful…We Americans have an abundance of all the necessities of life, particularly good of all kinds, and when we think of the many peoples throughout the world, who are hungry on this blessed day, we should give thanks to the good Lord for having been born in this land where our brilliant forefathers had the courage and ability to write these blessings and freedoms into the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution…which, unfortunately, too many have never read nor remembered…"

Christmas, 1961: "Another year of frustration, confusion and compromise is almost over. We cry 'peace', when there is no peace…We must realize that a billion human beings are being controlled today by two men, Khrushchev and Mao Tse Tung, and that we are encircled on three sides of the four by communist-controlled peoples…when Khrushchev decides to push a button in Moscow, this helpless sheeplike horde will respond to help destroy civilization if they can…Young Americans have inherited too many blessings of our forefathers without having contributed in any way to them. Naturally, they fail to appreciate their value, because they did not earn them…The historical cycle seems to be from bondage to spiritual faith - from spiritual faith to courage - from courage to liberty - from liberty to abundance - from abundance to selfishness - from selfishness to apathy - from apathy to dependence - and from dependence back to bondage once more…"

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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