The 30 Minute Rule begins June 10 at 7:00 PM EDT. An Initial Bid Must Be Placed By June 10 at 6:00 PM EDT To Participate After 6:00 PM EDT
American naval admiral (1882-1968) who commanded the Pacific Fleet at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor. ALS, one page, 7.25 x 10.5, personal letterhead, July 13, 1958. Handwritten letter to Keith Thompson, in full: “Thank you very much for your letter of July 2, 1958 with enclosures. They are most interesting articles. I mailed to Mr. Harry Elmer Barnes a copy of my interview with Mr. Cannon including my letter to Cannon dated July 7, 1958. I mailed a copy of my letter of July 7 to you on July 8 and presume you have received it by now. I have had no word about Mr. Cannon from Washington since I mailed my last letter to him. Just how he will react I do not know. My thanks to you again.” In fine condition.
By the late 1950s, Admiral Husband E. Kimmel was actively engaged in efforts to defend his actions and restore his reputation following his relief after the attack on Pearl Harbor. His correspondence with Congressman Clarence Cannon, a powerful figure in Washington as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, likely related to ongoing debates over responsibility for the disaster. Kimmel consistently argued that he had been denied critical intelligence, particularly regarding Japanese intentions, and that failures in Washington, rather than at Pearl Harbor, were decisive.
At the same time, Kimmel was in contact with historian Harry Elmer Barnes, a prominent advocate of revisionist interpretations of American entry into World War II. Barnes and like-minded writers contended that the Roosevelt administration had prior knowledge of the attack and failed to adequately warn commanders in Hawaii, advancing arguments that challenged the prevailing narrative of Pearl Harbor and the role of the Roosevelt administration. The present letter, referencing both Cannon and Barnes, reflects Kimmel’s continued involvement in postwar efforts to reassess responsibility for the events of December 7, 1941.
From the personal collection of a lifelong collector, teacher, and traveler with a passion for world history. His collecting years ranged from the 1970s to the present day, meaning that several of the premier pieces have not been on the market in decades.
This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
(inquire for price)
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
Third-party authentication service applies only to signatures and handwriting, and does not cover the addition of sketches, artwork, musical quotations, etc.
