Details:

James Francis Byrnes autographed typed letter (TLS), dated December 8, 1936, on official United States Senate Committee on Appropriations letterhead. Written from Spartanburg, South Carolina, to Congressman Hampton P. Fulmer in Washington, D.C., the letter concerns Byrnes's efforts to prevent the dismissal of a postal employee experiencing financial difficulties. Signed "James F. Byrnes" in ink at the conclusion.

Byrnes explains that a man identified as L. W. George had approached him seeking assistance because of outstanding debts and a legal judgment that threatened his employment with the Post Office Department.

He writes, in part:

"Like many other people, he is in debt. I wrote the Department asking about his case and they told me that inasmuch as there was a judgment against George, unless it was settled the Postmaster would be authorized to dismiss him."

Byrnes continues by describing his intervention with federal postal authorities:

"As a result of our talk I wired the First Assistant Postmaster General asking that he withhold action in the matter until Congress convenes, and when I return to Washington you and I can talk the matter over and determine whether or not it will be possible for us to help him."

An interesting piece of political correspondence documenting Byrnes's involvement in constituent affairs during his tenure in the United States Senate. The letter illustrates the influence exercised by members of Congress in administrative matters during the Great Depression, when personal financial difficulties could threaten federal employment.

The official Senate letterhead identifies Carter Glass as Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations and lists its members, including future President Harry S. Truman, who would later appoint Byrnes as United States Secretary of State.

The letter dates to a particularly interesting period in Byrnes's career, five years before his appointment to the United States Supreme Court by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Very good condition with original mailing folds.

James Francis Byrnes (1882–1972) was an American statesman who served as a United States Senator from South Carolina (1931–1941), Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court (1941–1942), United States Secretary of State (1945–1947), and Governor of South Carolina (1951–1955).

A prominent figure in the Roosevelt and Truman administrations, Byrnes resigned from the Supreme Court to assist President Franklin D. Roosevelt with wartime economic mobilization, eventually directing the Office of War Mobilization. As Secretary of State under President Harry S. Truman, he played an important role in American foreign policy during the early years of the Cold War.

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Includes a full letter of authenticity from JG Autographs, Inc.

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Reference sku: 11700 1419381-1