CARTER, JAMES E. President . Autograph letter signed ("Jimmy") as President, TO HIS BROTHER BILLY CARTER, Washington, D.C., 3 April 1979. 1 page, 4to, written in strong black ink on heavy stationery headed "The White House Washington," with original matching envelope, typed address to "Mr. Billy Carter c/o The Navy Alcohol Rehabilitation Unit National Naval Medical Center...," with stamp and postmarks. Very fine. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE AUTOGRAPH LETTER FROM PRESIDENT CARTER IN OFFICE: "A VISIT TO LIBYA...WOULD CREATE SEVERE PROBLEMS FOR US" A very important letter from the President's to his infamous younger brother, written just as Carter approached the end of his term and faced re-election. In this brief, heartfelt letter, the President sympathizes with Billy (then undergoing treatment for alcoholism) and delicately cautions him against making another visit to Libya. In 1978 Billy had made a highly publicized visit to Libya with a group of Georgia legislators and businessmen; in 1979 he reportedly accepted a $220,000 "loan" and agreed to represent Libya in its search for markets for its oil. President Carter came increasingly under fire as the press paid more and more attention to Billy and his activities. Carter had already made several efforts (through such intermediaries as Billy's wife and the former budget director Bert Lance) to dissuade Billy from making another Libyan visit, but when questioned by the press, President Carter explained that "I don't have authority to order Billy to do something; it's not illegal for him to make a trip to Libya..." (quoted in Newsweek , 18 August 1980, p. 31). Here, in a rare handwritten letter, the President tries gentle persuasion once again: "I'll call you also, but wanted to give you my response to your question regarding a visit to Libya in the near future. It would create severe problems for us because of their threats against [Egyptian President Anwar] Sadat and because they are fighting in Uganda for Idi Amin. I just got you on the phone and am glad to know that you're still doing so well. I'll see Jack McGregor when he comes to The White House this week. All of us are very proud of you, & particularly your brother! You've had a rough time lately, I know, but you've really come through it with a lot of courage. Call me whenever I can help. I love you..." The following year, with the hostage crisis still unresolved and the 1980 election approaching, the Justice Department and a Senate sub-committee launched investigations of Billy and his Libyan ties. President Carter himself called a news conference in August 1980 specifically to answer questions in the "Billygate Affair" and to deny allegations that he had helped his brother earn the trust of the Libyans by giving him confidential information. Billy testified before a Congressional Committee and President Carter himself called a special news conference on 4 August 1980 to answer questions regarding the matter. In his memoirs, Carter recalled that "my one-hour televised news conference...was devoted almost entirely to the question of Billy's relationship with Libya and any possible ties among Billy, Libya and my administration. There was nothing for me to hide. The news stories still had to run their course, but we had successfully refuted all the allegations..." (Carter, Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President , p. 559). This letter was discussed and illustrated in the Newsweek coverage of the story. Handwritten letters of President Carter while in office are exceedingly rare. The handful that are known are very brief, usually on small 8vo stationery. Very few have the great biographical and historical significance this one possesses. An informed commentator has termed this letter "the most famous Carter autograph from this period" (John M. Taylor, From the White House Inkwell: American Presidential Autographs , 1989, p. 224).
CARTER, JAMES E. President . Autograph letter signed ("Jimmy") as President, TO HIS BROTHER BILLY CARTER, Washington, D.C., 3 April 1979. 1 page, 4to, written in strong black ink on heavy stationery headed "The White House Washington," with original matching envelope, typed address to "Mr. Billy Carter c/o The Navy Alcohol Rehabilitation Unit National Naval Medical Center...," with stamp and postmarks. Very fine. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE AUTOGRAPH LETTER FROM PRESIDENT CARTER IN OFFICE: "A VISIT TO LIBYA...WOULD CREATE SEVERE PROBLEMS FOR US" A very important letter from the President's to his infamous younger brother, written just as Carter approached the end of his term and faced re-election. In this brief, heartfelt letter, the President sympathizes with Billy (then undergoing treatment for alcoholism) and delicately cautions him against making another visit to Libya. In 1978 Billy had made a highly publicized visit to Libya with a group of Georgia legislators and businessmen; in 1979 he reportedly accepted a $220,000 "loan" and agreed to represent Libya in its search for markets for its oil. President Carter came increasingly under fire as the press paid more and more attention to Billy and his activities. Carter had already made several efforts (through such intermediaries as Billy's wife and the former budget director Bert Lance) to dissuade Billy from making another Libyan visit, but when questioned by the press, President Carter explained that "I don't have authority to order Billy to do something; it's not illegal for him to make a trip to Libya..." (quoted in Newsweek , 18 August 1980, p. 31). Here, in a rare handwritten letter, the President tries gentle persuasion once again: "I'll call you also, but wanted to give you my response to your question regarding a visit to Libya in the near future. It would create severe problems for us because of their threats against [Egyptian President Anwar] Sadat and because they are fighting in Uganda for Idi Amin. I just got you on the phone and am glad to know that you're still doing so well. I'll see Jack McGregor when he comes to The White House this week. All of us are very proud of you, & particularly your brother! You've had a rough time lately, I know, but you've really come through it with a lot of courage. Call me whenever I can help. I love you..." The following year, with the hostage crisis still unresolved and the 1980 election approaching, the Justice Department and a Senate sub-committee launched investigations of Billy and his Libyan ties. President Carter himself called a news conference in August 1980 specifically to answer questions in the "Billygate Affair" and to deny allegations that he had helped his brother earn the trust of the Libyans by giving him confidential information. Billy testified before a Congressional Committee and President Carter himself called a special news conference on 4 August 1980 to answer questions regarding the matter. In his memoirs, Carter recalled that "my one-hour televised news conference...was devoted almost entirely to the question of Billy's relationship with Libya and any possible ties among Billy, Libya and my administration. There was nothing for me to hide. The news stories still had to run their course, but we had successfully refuted all the allegations..." (Carter, Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President , p. 559). This letter was discussed and illustrated in the Newsweek coverage of the story. Handwritten letters of President Carter while in office are exceedingly rare. The handful that are known are very brief, usually on small 8vo stationery. Very few have the great biographical and historical significance this one possesses. An informed commentator has termed this letter "the most famous Carter autograph from this period" (John M. Taylor, From the White House Inkwell: American Presidential Autographs , 1989, p. 224).
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