Memorial Addresses in the House of Representatives: Together With Tributes on the Life and Ideals of Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (Signed and Inscribed by William Fitts Ryan to Theodore Bikel)

William Fitts Ryan et al

Published by U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1966

About this Item

Appears to be the only edition, thus the first. From the ' Eighty-eighth Congress, First Session.' Signed and inscribed by the late Congressman William Fitts Ryan to the renowned actor, baladeer, and political activist Theodore Bikel. The inscription is on the first front end paper. It reads: 'To Theo Bikel, who shared the commitment of Eleanor Roosevelt and who has so unselfishly dedicated himself to the cause of political democracy, with deep appreciation, Bill Ryan, 9/15/66.' This is a rare signed copy, and the Only one signed by William Fitts Ryan--- excepting the other one I have listed. In my book collecting days I was fortunate to be able to purchase a good number of books previously owned by John J. McCloy and a good number previously owned by Theodore Bikel. And somehow, oddly enough, both of them had the same book signed and inscribed by William Fitts Ryan. The first memorial address in the book is from Representative Ryan. It runs from page 15 through to page 21. 'William Fitts Ryan was the first member of the U.S. House of Representatives to speak out against the Vietnam War. He served as assistant district attorney in New York County from 1950 until 1957 and then again from 1957 until 1961. In 1961, he was elected to Congress as a Democrat, representing Manhattan's Upper West Side, and was elected five more times before his death in 1972. He was active throughout his political career in support of the civil rights movement.' 'Theodore Bikel was an active supporter and campaigner for John F. Kennedy. He did some of his campaigning during the run of The Sound of Music which got him into trouble with the producers, who did not think it was becoming for an actor. He recalls, "I would go out sometimes between matinee and evening performances, go to a rally and speak from a flat-bed truck, and then come back to the theater." The producers stopped complaining, however, when after one show he was picked up backstage by a limousine carrying Eleanor Roosevelt, and he accompanied her to a Democratic rally as her special guest.' As you can see from the photos, the black covers are in very nice condition. They don't have any conspicuous soiling. There is a little bit of smudging or fingerprinty spots on the rear cover visible depending upon how the light hits it, not much of anything. The edges and corners are in very good shape. The top edge of the spine has just a little bit of crinkling. The gilt lettering on the front and on the spine is very bright. The book is very solidly bound from cover to cover, with nicely tight pages throughout and nicely tight covers as well. The interior of the book is in excellent condition. I scrolled through the pages a number of times without finding any instances of soiling. The white inside covers and end papers are quite clean as well. I'm not seeing any creasing. There are no markings. No attachments. And with the exception of the Congressman's signed inscription, no one has written their name or anything else anywhere. Seller Inventory # 003658

Bibliographic Details

Title: Memorial Addresses in the House of ...

Publisher: U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC

Publication Date: 1966

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Near Fine

Signed: Inscribed by Author(s)