Tag: lyndon johnson

Vintage Item Spotlight-Lyndon Baines Johnson Bill Pen…Part 2

lbj-Proclamation 3603-pen-1By David G. Firestone

As you may remember, a few weeks ago, we discussed a Lyndon Baines Johnson Esterbrook pen, used to sign S. 510 in 1965, well we will take a look at another pen used by LBJ to sign legislation, but this pen is completely different.

On August 1, 1944, The Warsaw Uprising took place. The Polish Resistance Home Army launched Operation Tempest to combat the Nazi occupation, and to establish sovereignty before the Soviet Red Army arrived in Poland. For 63 days, the Home Army fought against the Nazis. Tragically, due to a lack of outside support, and lack of supplies, the Warsaw Uprising failed.

20 Years later, on July 31, 1964, President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed Proclamation 3603, which states:

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Whereas August 1, 1964, marks the twentieth anniversary of the historic uprising of Polish patriots to liberate their capital, the City of Warsaw from the Nazi occupation; and

Whereas the bravery of the Polish people demonstrated their determination to achieve liberty and independence; and

Whereas the American people regard the action of the Polish patriots in the Warsaw uprising as a great manifestation of bravery and devotion to home and country; and

Whereas this historic effort should serve to inspire people everywhere to rededicate themselves to the cause of freedom and justice:

Now, Therefore, I, Lyndon B. Johnson, President of the United States of America, do hereby designate August 1, 1961, as Warsaw Uprising Day.

I invite the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities, and I urge them to mark this event as an exceptional demonstration of man’s courage and devotion in the long and continuing struggle for human freedom.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed.

DONE at the City of Washington this thirty-first day of July in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and sixty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and eighty-ninth.

LYNDON B. JOHNSON

By the President:

DEAN RUSK,

Secretary of State.

For that event, Lyndon Johnson used this pen to sign the proclamation.lbj-Proclamation 3603-pen2 It is an Eversharp 45, which was the predecease to the Parker 45, which became a staple for most political bill signer pens, presidential and governor alike. It has been mounted in a shadowbox with the pen boxlbj-Proclamation 3603-pen-1, a picture of Johnson signing the proclamation, a portrait of Johnson,lbj-Proclamation 3603-pen-4 and a plaque stating when the pen was used.lbj-Proclamation 3603-pen-3This is an example of an item that has changed the United States.  This pen, which is made of plastic, metal, and felt was used by a President to sign a proclamation that did in fact change our world forever.  While the Warsaw Uprising was in the end, a failure, it has a legacy left that tells the story of those who stood and fought for what they believed in.

Vintage Item Spotlight: Lyndon Baines Johnson Bill Pen…Part 1

lbj-s503-pen-1By David G. Firestone

It dawns on me I should use this blog more often. So what I’m going to do is every other week, I will take a vintage item, and analyze it up close. The Driver Suit Blog will be for racing items, this will be for everything else.lbj-s503-pen-1

For the first part of this new blog, we will take a look at a Lyndon Baines Johnson bill pen, used to sign a legislative bill in 1965.lbj-s503-pen-2

The pen is an Esterbrook crystal fountain pen, which, in addition to LBJ was used by John F. Kennedy, and Dwight D. Eisenhower. This particular style was used for a number of high profile bill signings, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1963. This particular pen was used to sign S. 510, “An act to extend and otherwise amend certain expiring provisions of the Public Health Service Act to community health services, and for other purposes.”

The pen is clear, with THE PRESIDENT THE WHITE HOUSE engraved on the side.lbj-s503-pen-3The steel fountain pen tip has ink remnants from that signing still present on the pen over 49 years later, which adds to its mystique. This 49 year old ink on this 49 year old pen changed the United States of America and affected all of the citizens within it.lbj-s503-pen-4Pens such as these are highly desired by collectors…but how do collectors get them?  Here is a simplified version of how a bill signing works in the United States:  The House and Senate pass the bill, and the bill goes to the President who signs the bill.  In a media ceremony, the President signs a number of copies of the bill, each with a different pen, and then gives the pen to individuals who helped pass the bill, Senators, Representatives, and private citizens alike.  These pens are treasured by the recipients, but often times, after the recipients pass away, or if they need some extra money, they will sell them to collectors.

Many examples of “bill signer” pens exist on eBay and other collector sites where it is unclear if it was used to sign legislation.  Those pens that actually have signed legislation command a much higher price, and are very highly desired by collectors.  Benjamin Franklin once said “The pen is mightier than the sword,” and this pen is a perfect example of that.