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Veteran of the 1916 Easter Rising and prominent Irish politician who served as Taoiseach, head of the Irish government, from 1959 to 1966. TLS, one page, 7.5 x 9.5, Department of the Taoiseach letterhead, November 8, 1963. Lemass writes to General Maxwell Taylor, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In full: “On my return to Ireland, I am writing to express my appreciation of the military honours which were rendered to me on my arrival in and departure from Washington on the occasion of my recent visit as guest of President Kennedy. The superb ceremonial, executed with such precision by representatives of the combined Services, was truly impressive and colourful. I should like also to let you know how deeply moving I found the ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, when I had the privilege of laying a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The ordering of the arrangements and the dignity of the setting were in keeping with the solemnity of the occasion. I felt greatly honoured to participate in such a ceremony at a hallowed shrine of your country.” In fine condition, with Lemass’s name noted in pencil in another hand beneath his signature. Barely two weeks after Lemass sent his regards to Taylor for the hospitality shown him as Kennedy’s guest, JFK was assassinated in Dallas. RRAuction COA.
