Lot 1211 Contents of President John F. Kennedy's Briefcase on November 22, 1963

Contents of President John F. Kennedy's briefcase on the day he was assassinated, November 22, 1963; the items were removed by Evelyn Lincoln upon her return to Dallas and are authenticated by Lincoln's handwritten note on White House stationery, ""When I cleaned out his brief case I found the following material."

  1. Two typed documents addressed to Mrs. Lincoln from Walter B. Smalley dated November 14, 1963. The longer letter mentions various newspaper and magazine articles and particularly a reporter for the NY Times, Abou Ben Reston. Good condition. The shorter letter, also written by Smalley, is signed "Snoopy, Jr." It starts with "you may show the enclosed to the President at your own risk" and refers to Pierre [Salinger] as "that piano-playing, cigar-chewing Pierre." Very good condition. 11 x 8 1/2, 9 x 6
  2. Handwritten note on Vermont Senate Chamber letterhead by State Senator Frederick J. Fayette (D-Vt.) to Mrs. Lincoln, dated November 12, 1963, referring to an attached typed letter. Very good condition. 11 x 8 1/2
  3. An article from the Burlington (Vt.) Free Press dated September 13, 1963 noting that Governor Hoff (D-Vt.) believes Fayette can defeat the incumbent Republican senator Winston L. Prouty. Very good condition. 7 x 2, Mat 11 x 3 1/4
  4. A typed letter on Vermont Senate Chamber letterhead from Fayette to the President, dated November 12, 1963, asking for the President's support should Fayette choose to run again for the Senate in 1964. Apparently Kennedy had campaigned for him when he ran in 1958. Very good condition. 11 x 8 1/2
  5. One page from an April 18, 1960 Newsweek article about how Kennedy was faring in the Southwest against Nixon in the Presidential elections with illegible pen markings in blue delineating a paragraph about possible Vice Presdiential candidates. Good condition, slightly creased. 8 1/4 x 11 1/4
  6. One page from unknown publication picturing a chart with employment future numbers in 54 industries with red check marks by coal mining, which shows no change. Good condition, folded upper right corner. 7 x 10 1/4
  7. Newspaper clipping from unknown publication entitled "If the World's to Know Us" and continued from page 1. Seems to be an editiorial review of a book by a "Mr. Larson" regarding the world's perception of America. Paragraph concerning appearances and aspirations delineated with pencil lines. Good condition. 4 1/2 x 8 1/2
  8. Copy of entire newspaper article from Congressional Quarterly on brown sheet of paper entitled "Johnson, Reuther Aids Working for Kennedy" and detailing Johnson's initial support of Hubert Humphrey for President during the 1960 campaign. Fair condition, faded and creased. 11 x 8 1/2
  9. Three-page program of the events to be held in honor of Chancellor Ludwig Erhard of West Germany during his Nov. 24-27 trip to America. Dated November 19, 1963 and typed double-sided on white paper headed with "Department of State, For the Press." Good condition. 10 1/2 x 8
  10. Protocol information and pronunciation information for the German dignitaries who would be accompanying Erhard. Dated November 19, 1963 and typed in black front-and-back of two stapled pages of white paper. Headed "Department of State, Washington D.C., Office of the Chief of Protocol." Good condition, 10 1/2 x 8
  11. Memo for the President initialed by Kermit Gordon, Director of the Budget Bureau, dated Nov. 20, 1963 with typed message, "Attached is our report on congressional action on 1964 appropriation bills for the week ending November 15, 1963." Attached are five one-sided pages typed on white paper and numbered "Report No. 20, November 18, 1963" detailing appropriation bill figures. Good condition. 10 1/2 x 8