LYNDON B. JOHNSON.  Important typed letter signed by Lyndon B. Johnson with his initials, “L.B.J.,” to Brigadier General DeWitt C. Smith on January 3, 1973.

IMPORTANT TYPED LETTER SIGNED BY LYNDON B. JOHNSON TO BRIGADIER GENERAL DEWITT C. SMITH ON JANUARY 3, 1973

In one of his last letters sent nineteen days before his death, Johnson reflects on his last public appearance and final speech given at a Civil Rights Symposium at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, TX on December 12, 1972: “I appreciated very much your good letter about my speech at the Civil Rights Symposium.  I am sending you the full text of that address, in the event you would like to read it.”  Johnson’s speech is studied and quoted from regularly, but he is most famous for stating, “Until justice is blind to color, until education is unaware of race, until opportunity is unconcerned with the color of men's skins, emancipation will be a proclamation but not a fact.”

IN ONE OF HIS LAST LETTERS SENT NINETEEN DAYS BEFORE HIS DEATH, JOHNSON REFLECTS ON HIS LAST PUBLIC APPEARANCE AND FINAL SPEECH GIVEN AT A CIVIL RIGHTS SYMPOSIUM: “I APPRECIATED VERY MUCH YOUR GOOD LETTER ABOUT MY SPEECH AT THE CIVIL RIGHTS SYMPOSIUM.  I AM SENDING YOU THE FULL TEXT OF THAT ADDRESS, IN THE EVENT YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ IT.”

Contains one page on personal letterhead, measures 8.75 by 7 inches, and in pristine condition.  Accompanied by two newspaper clippings about Johnson’s remarks at the symposium and Smith’s retained carbon copy of his letter to Johnson thanking the former president for, “the strength and eloquence with which you continue to state the case and need for brotherhood in America.  I think we will reach this mountain top some day in America, and when we do there will be those who will remember the debt owed to you for the achievement.”