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Lot 833
Steinbeck, John (1902-1968) American writer; 1939 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for The Grapes of Wrath; 1962 winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature. ALS ("John"), 3pp, written in pencil on rectos only, on ruled legal paper, 12½" x 8", n.p., n.d. (autumn 1955). To Mark and Jim Pope, proposing to cover the Democratic and Republican conventions in 1956. With a 19-page autograph essay/letter, written in pencil on rectos only, on ruled legal paper, 12½" x 8", n.p., n.d. (late 1955). Addressed to "Dear Richey" (editor of the Democratic Digest) about the Democrats' strategy in the 1956 election. Both manuscripts are in fine condition; they are encased in a quarter red morocco folding box.
The intended recipients of the letter were James S. Pope, Editor-in-Chief of the Louisville Courier-Journal, and Mark Etheridge, publisher of the paper, whom Steinbeck had met on a trans-Atlantic crossing aboard the Andrea Doria and with whom he corresponded afterward. In this letter, Steinbeck outlines his plans to cover both the Democratic and Republican 1956 conventions for the newspaper, suggesting the initial terms and that they contact his business agent, Elizabeth Otis, to finalize the agreement. In part: "I will definitely go to both conventions and…I will file a number of stories from each one…The intentions of the stories will be toward lightness, a humor of a Curse on both your Houses type…." Terms, expenses, etc. are sketched out in some detail. Steinbeck continues, "I am working on a novel and am deeply involved with it…." [the novel would be The Short Reign of Pippin IV] and closes, "And I seem to feel that Jim Pope is a kindred soul and might be one hell of a poker player…." He signs "John" and adds, jestingly, "(vice president of the Nixon Memorial Assn.)" Steinbeck did cover the conventions for the Courier-Journal and syndicate; some thirty-four papers ran his dispatches.
The second item is a remarkable political document advising the Democratic party on how to prevent President Eisenhower from winning a second term. Steinbeck was a strong supporter of Adlai Stevenson, and had written speeches for his campaign of 1952. He writes, "It is generally considered that novelists are not good politicians. As candidates I should [think] this would be true but as designers of political method the reverse is probably true." His first principle is "attack is the best defense….no defense is necessary if your attack is effective." He says that the Republicans have turned to advertising and "The Big Lie-the statement so outrageous that people believe it must be true since it couldn't have been invented" to win the 1956 election, and suggests that the Democrats fight fire with fire, "…I do not believe there are nor have been many moralities in politics any more than in war…." His major suggestion for Democratic dirty tricks is that Eisenhower's heart attack should be used to scare voters away, rather than allowing the illness to attract votes of sympathy: "…people do not like sick people…I believe there should be a section of every Democratic political speech devoted to the illness…Great emphasis should be put on this--that in electing him we are electing half a president…Profit should be made of Dulles' admission that for a number of days he was out of touch with the government."
Steinbeck suggests that "the myth of prosperity should be thoroughly explored" and that Eisenhower's folksy image be debunked, "Has he in fact any access to anybody except corporation heads?" Steinbeck closely examines the scandals of the day, hoping for advantage: "The Israel mess should be exploited. Why is Saudi Arabia favored?" He suggests "slogans and catch words: Agonized reappraisal; brink of war; part time president; Chairman of the Board; golf mobile…" and runs through over twenty different ideas. His final suggestions include increased use of direct canvassing by telephone, especially by celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe and Burgess Meredith. The document ends without closing, but seems to be fairly complete.
There is no evidence of any publication of either document.
Estimated Value $15,000 - 20,000.
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| Realized $11,500 |
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