Justice Charles Evans Hughes on WWI Aircraft Inquiry PSA
Justice Charles Evans Hughes on WWI Aircraft Inquiry PSA
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Title: 1918 Charles Evans Hughes ALS on Aircraft Inquiry Commitments – PSA/DNA Certified (AP07524)
Description:
Offered here is a remarkable Autograph Letter Signed (ALS) by Charles Evans Hughes, dated October 5, 1918, written on his personal stationery at Thirty-two East Sixty-fourth Street in New York. Authenticated by PSA/DNA with certification number AP07524, the letter spans two pages and is entirely handwritten in Hughes' flowing script, concluding with a strong ink signature.
Addressed to Thomas D. Neelands, the letter expresses Hughes’ regrets for being unable to attend a dinner honoring General William W. Wotherspoon, citing his obligations tied to the Aircraft Inquiry, a major federal investigation Hughes was leading at the time. In full, Hughes writes:
" My dear Mr. Neelands,Returning to the City for a few hours, I find your note of October second. I deeply regret that it will be impossible for me to attend the dinner to General White on Tuesday evening. I am under most severe pressure in the effort to finish the Aircraft Inquiry and must return to Washington this afternoon and remain there throughout the week. – I do not recall – not having the correspondence before me – whether you desire a representative of St. David’s Society present in view of my inability to attend. If you do, I should be much obliged to you if you will communicate directly with the Secretary of the Society – Mr. George Morgan Lewis, 289 Fourth Avenue, New York.
Historical Context:
By the fall of 1918, Charles Evans Hughes was nearing the end of his crucial role as the lead investigator in the Aircraft Production Board Inquiry, an extensive investigation into government inefficiencies and mismanagement in military aircraft procurement during World War I. Appointed by President Woodrow Wilson, Hughes worked tirelessly to uncover wartime waste and to ensure future accountability in defense contracting.
This letter was written just five weeks before the Armistice, during one of the most intense periods of Hughes' investigative work. Despite being a former U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Governor of New York, and 1916 Republican presidential nominee, Hughes placed national duty above all, forgoing social and ceremonial events to fulfill his mission in Washington.
Authentication & Encapsulation:
This autograph has been fully authenticated by PSA/DNA, one of the most respected names in autograph certification. The letter is accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity (LOA) bearing certification number AP07524, which affirms the signature's authenticity based on detailed analysis of slant, pressure, flow, and historical exemplar comparison.
Closing Appeal:
This beautifully preserved ALS offers a poignant, firsthand glimpse into the wartime responsibilities and civic dedication of one of America’s foremost legal and political minds. Referencing his leadership in the Aircraft Inquiry—a defining moment in his post-judicial career—this letter is not only a collectible artifact of World War I-era public service, but also a personal expression of Hughes’ deep sense of duty. A premium acquisition for collectors of presidential history, legal luminaries, or wartime governance, enhanced by full PSA/DNA certification.
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