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Document 16441
BENJAMIN HARRISON. TLS: "Benj
Harrison" as President, 1p, 8x10½. Executive Mansion, Washington,
1889 October 21. The grandson of the ninth U.S. President writes to Hon.
H.J. Spooner, Providence, R.I. In full: "Your letter of the 17th
has been received, and I notice what you say about the appointment of a
collector at Providence. I had a brief conversation with Senator Aldrich upon
the subject the other day, when he was here, of which he will advise you, I
am sure." BENJAMIN HARRISON, whose only prior political experience
was U.S. Senator from Indiana (1881-1887), received the nomination as the
Republican Presidential candidate because Party leaders thought he would be easy
to control. The Republicans had been deadlocked between John Sherman of Ohio and
Walter Q. Gresham at their National Convention in Chicago (June 19-23, 25,
1888), prompting James G. Blaine to cable: "Take Harrison". Harrison was
nominated on the eighth ballot. In the November 6, 1888 Presidential election he
defeated incumbent President Grover Cleveland 233 electoral votes (20 states) to
168 votes (18 states), despite losing the popular vote 5,540,309 to 5,444,337.
Harrison named Blaine as Secretary of State to repay him and largely served as a
figurehead, allowing Congress to dictate domestic and foreign policies. HENRY
JOSHUA SPOONER had been elected to Congress from Rhode Island to fill the
vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator NELSON W. ALDRICH, mentioned
in this letter. He served from December 5, 1881 to March 3, 1891 and was
Chairman of the Committee on Accounts. During Harrison's administration, tariffs
reached all-time highs, which may have precipitated Spooner's request for a
collector at Providence. Aldrich had served in Congress from 1879-1881 before
his Senate term (1881-1912). From 1902-1912, he chaired the National Monetary
Commission. His grandson Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller, later served as Ford's Vice
President. Lightly creased, vertical fold touches the "Ha" in Harrison. Fine
condition.
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