ALS signed “Gary,” four pages, 7.75 x 10, November 8, 1960. Letter to his wife, Barbara. In part: “Tonight as I write this letter it is about two o’clock in the afternoon there and it is Election Day. Needless to say I wish I were there. Tomorrow I should know who has been elected President. From the news I have of what is going on, it seems to be pretty close. From what I have read I personally hope Kennedy is elected. There doesn’t appear to be too much difference in their policies but his does seem to be a little more realistic...I was told that you might be able to contact someone in the State Dept. and send a package through Diplomatic channels and let the American Embassy take care of it here…I really do enjoy the coffee—more than anything else except the cigarettes I guess. Yesterday was a big holiday here in Russia as you know. Of course it didn’t affect me but all the people outside had a big celebration. The radio was full of celebrations all day. Last night at eight o’clock according to the radio there was a twenty gun salute from one hundred large guns plus a firework display in Moscow. That would have been something to see I am sure. Maybe it will be in the newsreels. Last Sunday morning, instead of a movie, there was a concert given by some of the prisoners. I enjoyed it very much. Some of them had a lot of talent. One in particular could play almost any musical instrument. The whole day was spoiled for me by the prison commander. I’ll tell you about it some [sic] of these days. He is the only person I have seen in the Soviet Union who I dislike...I am not looking forward to the cold weather. It has already been colder than I have experienced in the last six or eight years. You wouldn’t like it at all.” In fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope, addressed in Powers’s hand, as well as the list of locations where the custom duty can be paid in the US. Powers’s comments about JFK are particularly resonant—little did he know that Kennedy would go on to authorize the prisoner exchange that would free him from the Soviets. RR Auction COA.
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