9x KENNEDY & SHRIVER Signed Photo & Letter Collection: Ted, RFK, JFK, Sargent
Specifications
| Return Shipping Will Be Paid By | Buyer |
| All Returns Accepted | Returns Accepted |
| Item Must Be Returned Within | 30 Days |
| Refund Will Be Given As | Money Back |
| Type | Photograph |
| Year | 1963 |
| Signed | Yes |
| Presidential Campaign | Robert Kennedy |
| Theme | Politics |
| Material | Paper |
| Country/Region | United States |
For sale is a collection of nine pieces of Kennedy/Shriver documents and photos owned by the late William (Bill/Billy) Foley of Boston, six of which are signed by various family members including Ted Kennedy, Joan Kennedy, Ethel Kennedy, and Sargent Shriver. Foley worked as an advance man on multiple campaigns for the family including Ted Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Sargent Shriver, ensuring smooth logistics for his clients as they travelled from venue to venue - through this work he developed a personal as well as professional relationship with the family which is apparent in the documents. The pieces represent a span of 13 years of Bill's career in supporting the Kennedy/Shriver families, the first being a prayer card from the funeral of John F. Kennedy along with a thank you note for his condolences from Ted and Joan Kennedy circa 1963 (it is unknown if Bill attended the funeral or if he was sent the card with the thank you note); he continued to work with Ted, receiving a signed photo of Joan with a thank you note for his efforts, and went on to work with Robert (Bobby) Kennedy until he was assassinated. The three items from this period are quite touching, including a personalized letter from Ted thanking Bill for his logistical support at the cemetery, a photo of Bobby with a Christmas greeting from Ethel, and an invitation from Ethel to join a Memorial for Bobby. He later went out to work on Sargent Shriver's 1976 presidential bid where clearly he made a great impression evidenced by a beautiful personal note from Sarge himself. The collection for sale includes:Prayer card for John F. Kennedy from his funeral with prayer on reverse, 4.75" by 3.5"; condition: good/very good, sunning/toning around border of front, minor wear at cornersCondolence thank you card (for JFK) addressed to Billy and signed Ted & Joan Kennedy; condition: good/very good, sunning/toning around border, minor wear at corners, a little delamination/tearing to the back at cornerSigned photograph of Joan Kennedy with hand-written note, 8" by 10", reads: "Dear Bill, with great appreciation for all your help in 1964 for Ted - Joan Kennedy"; condition: good, minor discoloration from age, stain spot on right side, dry mounted and still affixed to mattingTyped & signed letter on US Senate stationary, dated December 2nd, 1969 from Ted Kennedy to William Foley, 8" by 6", reads: "Dear Bill: I know from Joey Gargan that you were just an invaluable help in making the arrangements at the cemetery. In behalf of my mother and the rest of the family, may I tell you how very grateful we are. You were just wonderful. Sincerely, Ted - My thanks Bill" (signature and last line hand-written in felt pen); condition: good condition, toning/sunning around border, dry mounted to backing, some minor discoloration to backside from adhesiveTyped and signed letter from Ethel Kennedy to Bill, October 29, 1968, 7.75" by 5.75", reads: "Dear Bill: Today Ted and I are announcing the formation of a Memorial to Bobby -- a Memorial to carry on the concerns and commitments which meant so much to him, and dedicated to the purposes for which he gave his life. Both Ted and I hope very much that you will want to become a Friend of the memorial and that we will be able to count on your advice and help in the work that lies ahead. After you have studied the enclosed statement, I hope you will agree to join us. It would mean so much to me to know that you will be a Friend of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial just as you were a friend to Bobby. Sincerely, Ethel"; condition: good condition, mostly uniform toning with crease in middle visible, dry mounted to backing, some minor discoloration to backside from adhesive, small tear to backing material at corner of reversePhoto of Robert F. Kennedy signed by Ethel with note, 8" by 10", reads: "For Billy, With Christmas love. From Ethel"; condition: good condition, minor toning, notes looks a bit faded but still readable, dry mounted to backing, some discoloration to backside from adhesive and some tearing to the backing layer at the top and bottom corners as shownPhotograph of Bill Foley with Sargent Shriver on campaign for President, 1976, 8" by 10"; condition: good condition, previously pinned up with small holes at corners and some wear at edges, some dark colors appear silvery/metallic in angled light, dry mounted and still affixed to mattingPhotograph of Bill Foley with Sargent Shriver on campaign for President, 1976, 8" by 10"; condition: good condition, previously pinned up with small holes at corners and some wear at edges, some dark colors appear silvery/metallic in angled light, dry mounted and still affixed to mattingTyped and signed letter from Sargent Shriver announcing his pulling out of the 1976 presidential campaign with hand-written note in felt pen, 11 by 8.5", reads: (Typed)"Dear Bill, You were a constant source of encouragement and assistance during my campaign for the Presidency. I want to express my appreciation for all that you did financially and otherwise. I'm sorry that our mutual efforts were not more successful, but we did develop certain important issues and we did reach a significant number of people...not enough, to be sure, to win the primaries, but enough to convince me that millions of Americans are genuinely committed to restoring government to those principles of justice and humanity without which we cannot overcome the dangers we face either in the world or at home. That could not have been possible without your help, and I am deeply grateful to you. Enclosed is a copy of the statement I gave at my press conference today. I'm sorry you were not able to be present, but I felt that you were with me. If there is ever anything I can do to be of assistant to you, please let me know." (in felt pen) "You were & are the greatest advance man, hand-holder, confidant, etc. Sorry the candidate wasn't as good as his staff! Hope to see you soon, & often in the future. Best always, Sarge"; condition: poor to fair overall condition, this looks good from the front with a couple of small tears (one with stain on right side), but the back looks poor with damage from from matting/mounting removal including a significant delamination split at the bottom corner and stainingGeneral notes on condition - it looks like all of the components of this collection were previously framed and, with the exception of the two small JFK cards (prayer card and thank-you note from Ted and Joan Kennedy), the other seven items are permanently dry mounted to a backing that was then matted. The matting has been removed from four of the pieces as described but the dry mount layer looks to be a permanent attachment to a backing material (it looks like the Shriver letter was damaged during removal from the matting). The Joan Kennedy and Shriver photographs were cut from frames with matte but it looks like they also are dry mounted. Due to the value of the lot signature will be required for delivery per eBay policy. A surcharge has been included in the shipping fee to help cover the cost for insurance. Please be sure to review all pictures and let me know if you have any questions regarding condition or otherwise prior to purchase. Thanks for looking!
