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Auction: 322 - The Numismatic Collector's Series Sale
Lot: 485

Rankin, Jeannette (1880-1973). First woman elected to U.S. congress, in 1916 and again in 1940; representing her state of Montana, she remarked after winning her seat in 1916 "I may be the first woman member of Congress but I won't be the last," a lifelong pacifist, Rankin was one of 56 members of Congress who voted against U.S. entry into World War I in 1917, and the only member of Congress to vote against declaring war on Japan after Pearl Harbor in 1941; studied pacifist teachings of Mahatma Gandhi after leaving Congress, active in the anti-war movement during the Vietnam War era - in fact at the age of 91, she considered mounting her third House campaign to gain a wider audience for her opposition to the war (her death in 1973 cut short these plans); only woman to cast a Congressional vote in favor of the Constitutional Amendment granting women unconditional voting rights; a statue "I Cannot Vote for War" of Rankin stands in the U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall and a replica of it in her state capital of Helena. Excellent content Letter Signed "Jeannette Rankin" in blue marker. One page typed, 8 ½ x 11", 1 May 1972. Rankin thanks a Doctor Marcus for his kind letter and support of her ideas. She mentions Flexner's book on the history of the woman's movement, and that she has "been travelling quite extensively since Christmas advocating the ideas included in the enclosed letters." She concludes with the hope that Dr. Marcus finds ways in his community to work "actively for the end of our terrible waste and brutality in Laos, Cambodia and Viet Nam.". Rankin has typed her letter on the blank back of an anti-war letter "To the Editor" that she typed 9 November 1971 (the contents of which had been printed in the "Athens Banner Herald" and the "Athens Daily News). This letter is also signed by Rankin in blue marker. Trifold, About Very Fine. An interesting and powerful signed letter duo.

Sold for
$250