THIS EXTRAORDINARY PIECE OF HISTORY WAS PURCHASED BY ME AT THE RECENT BRIMFIELD MASS ANTIQUES EXTRAVAGANZA IN MID MAY. BY VIRTUE OF ITS HISTORY AND PROVENANCE IT MAY BE THE MOST UNUSUAL, INTERESTING, AND IMPORTANT ITEM OF VINTAGE MID 20TH CENTURY US GOVERNMENT MEMORABILIA I HAVE EVER OWNED.
THE ITEM BEING OFFERED HERE IS A SILVER LIDDED PRESENTATION NOTEPAD COVER THAT WAS AWARDED BY THE BRAZILIAN ARMY TO (AT THE TIME) MAJOR VERNON WALTERS FOR HIS EFFORTS IN ASSISTING THE BRAZILIAN ARMY DURING WW2 AS LIAISION BETWEEN THEM AND THE US FIFTH ARMY COMMANDED BY GENERAL MARK CLARK.
THE ENGRAVED INSCRIPTION IS IN PORTUGUESE AND IS AS FOLLOWS:
"AO MAJOR VERNON WALTERS HOMENAGEM DO EXERCITO BRASILIERO ; BRASIL MAIO 1940" IT TRANSLATES AS THE MAJOR VERNON WALTERS IN TRIBUTE FROM THE BRAZILIAN ARMY MAY 1948.
FOR THOSE UNFAMILIAR WITH MAJOR (LATER LIEUTENANT GENERAL AND THEN AMBASSADOR) VERNON WALTERS, THIS MAN WAS A MAJOR PLAYER IN WASHINGTON FOR EVERY PRESIDENT FROM TRUMAN TO REAGAN! THAT IS EIGHT PRESIDENTS. YES EIGHT!
ONE OF THE MORE INTERESTING SNIPPETS OF HIS CAREER (IN MY OPINION) WAS THE FACT THAT HE WAS APPOINTED DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE CIA BY RICHARD NIXON, WHO, AS THE STORY GOES...'WANTED A FRIEND IN THAT POSITION'. AND YET LATER WHEN THE FBI WAS LAUNCHING AN INVESTIGATION OF THE COMMITTEE TO REELECT THE PRESIDENT (AKA C.R.E.E.P) , NIXON WENT TO HIS FRIEND VERNON WALTERS AND ASKED HIM TO USE HIS POSITION WITH THE CIA TO QUASH THIS INVESTIGATION, AND WALTERS DECLINED. THE OUTCOME OF THIS EVENT, KNOWN IN HISTORY AS THE WATERGATE INCIDENT, IS WHAT LED TO THE RESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT NIXON.
THAT, OF COURSE, IS THE SHORT SUMMARY OF THE EVENT. THERE IS AN EXHAUSTIVE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE ABOUT AMBASSADOR WALTERS IF YOU CARE TO GOOGLE HIS NAME. FOR EXAMPLE:
http://huachuca-www.army.mil/files/History_MWALTERS.PDF
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/vawalters.htm
http://www.walrus.com/~jklotz/watergat.htm
http://www.nixonlibrary.gov/forresearchers/find/tapes/watergate/trial/transcripts.php
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/specials/watergate/haldeman1.htm
MEANWHILE, I SEE IN MY MINDS EYE THIS NOTEBOOK SITTING ON GENERAL WALTERS DESKS AS HE MOVED AROUND DURING HIS CAREER AND PONDER WHAT NOTES MIGHT HAVE BEEN WRITTEN ON THE PAGES THEREIN OVER THOSE YEARS. CERTAINLY IF THIS ITEM COULD SPEAK IT WOULD LIKELY HAVE QUITE THE STORIES TO TELL.
THIS IS A TRULY SPECIAL ITEM AND PRICED ACCORDINGLY. I AM AMENABLE TO OFFERS BUT PLEASE BE REASONABLE ABOUT IT. I AM NOT GOING TO AGREE TO SELL IT CHEAPLY SO PLEASE DO NOT INSULT THE ITEM BY PUTTING FORTH OUTLANDISHLY LOW FIGURES. THANK YOU.
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING IS BY USPS REGISTERED MAIL OR INSURED PRIORITY MAIL ONLY TO ENSURE SAFEST POSSIBLE TRANSIT AND DELIVERY OF ITEMS.
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