TYPED LETTER SIGNED by JOHN J. PERSHING on "GENERAL OF THE ARMY" letterhead to the founder of The Dial Press Lincoln MacVeagh.

(MacVeagh, Lincoln); Pershing, John J.

Published by Washington, D.C.: June 18, 1927., 1927

About this Item

- Over 85 words typed on 9-1/4 inch high by 7 inch wide "GENERAL OF THE ARMIES" letterhead with attached integral blank leaf. General Pershing writes to Lincoln MacVeagh, founder and president of The Dial Press, thanking him for sending "a copy of Mr. Mottram's work, 'The Spanish Farm Trilogy'. I appreciate very much your kind thought of me". The letter is signed in full "John J. Pershing". The World War I novel which Pershing mentions centers on a Flemish farm woman around whom the author relates his war experiences. MacVeagh published the work at his Dial Press in 1927, the year of this letter. Folded for mailing with some light creases to the edges and inner corners. Very good. A wonderful association as "With the American Expeditionary Force in World War 1, Mr. MacVeagh served in the Artois, St. Mihiel and Meuse Argonne campaigns as an aide to the commanding general of the 80th Division and of the Ninth and Sixth Army Corps. He rose to major and was cited by General of the Armies John J. Pershing in 1919 for "exceptionally meritorious services". - [Quoted from the New York Times, January 17, 1972 issue].John Joseph Pershing (1860-1948), nicknamed "Black Jack", was a senior United States Army officer. He served most famously as the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I from 1917 to 1920. Pershing is the only American to be promoted in his own lifetime to General of the Armies, the highest possible rank in the United States Army.Lincoln MacVeagh (1890-1972), a Renaissance man, graduated from Harvard magna cum laude in 1913. He went on to study languages at the Sorbonne and became fluent in German, French, Spanish, Latin, Greek and Classical Greek. After World War I he became a director of the Henry Holt and Company publishing firm where he became friendly with the poet Robert Frost. In 1923 he left the firm and founded the Dial Press. His name appears on the imprint of many of their publications. In 1933 President Roosevelt appointed him Minister to Greece. He followed presentation of his credentials with a speech in Classical Greek. While in Greece he conducted excavations beneath the Acropolis and made archeological contributions to the National Museum in Athens. He left Greece in 1941 when the German army over ran the country. From there he was appointed the first US Minister to Iceland where he negotiated agreements for the construction of the Keflavik airfield. In late 1942 he became Minister to the Union of South Africa and coordinated American wartime agencies there. In 1943 he was sent to Cairo as Ambassador so that he could assist the governments in exile of Greece and Yugoslavia. He returned to Athens as Ambassador in 1944. MacVeagh gave secret testimony before Congress concerning the Balkans in 1947, testimony that was an important factor in the formation of the Truman Doctrine. In 1948 as Ambassador to Portugal MacVeagh was influential in admitting her into NATO. In 1952 President Truman named him Ambassador to Spain. President Truman wrote to him on March 9, 1948: "On the occasion of your appointment as Ambassador to Portugal, I would like to make some personal expression of appreciation for the high services you have already rendered your country. During the past fifteen critical years you have served with distinction as Chief of the United states Missions to Iceland, the Union of South Africa, Yugoslavia and Greece. In this last post especially - as Minister from 1933 to 1941 and as Ambassador since 1943 - your scholarly statesmanship and diplomatic judgment have been of the utmost value.".

Seller Inventory # 98654

Bibliographic Details

• Title: TYPED LETTER SIGNED by JOHN J. PERSHING on "GENERAL OF THE ARMY" letterhead to the founder of The Dial Press Lincoln MacVeagh.
• Publisher: Washington, D.C.: June 18, 1927.
• Publication Date: 1927
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Very good
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • Military