Choice partly-printed DS, signed “John F. Kennedy" as president and "Robert F. Kennedy" as attorney general, one page both sides, 9 x 13.5, April 2, 1963. A presidential pardon of exotic bird smuggler Mary Ascani, in part: "Whereas Mary Ascani, now known as Mary Ascani Doughty, was convicted in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California on Counts 1 and 2 of an indictment (No. 25854-SD) charging violation of Sections 371 and 545, Title 18, United States Code, and on September twenty-fourth, 1956, was sentenced to pay a fine of six hundred dollars ($600.00) and was also placed on probation for five years; and whereas the said Mary Ascani duly paid the fine and satisfactorily complied with the conditions of probation…I, John F. Kennedy, President of the United States of America…do hereby grant unto the said Mary Ascani…a full and unconditional pardon." Signed boldly at the conclusion by President John F. Kennedy, and by his brother, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. The gold foil Department of Justice seal affixed to the lower left remains intact. In fine condition.
Accompanied by a Department of Justice letter to Ascani informing her of the pardon, her voter's registration stub, and a Department of Justice transmittal form and envelope. Also includes a photocopy of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy's letter to JFK recommending the pardon, which explains that Ascani was the co-owner of a pet shop and convicted of illegally smuggling 'parrots or parakeets' from Mexico for resale. Given the magnitude of the offense and her clean record since, RFK recommends granting the pardon.
We have offered only one other JFK/RFK dual-signed pardon, and the unusual nature of the crime committed makes this an especially interesting example.
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