Lot 16
Johnson, Lyndon B. -- LBJ Is the Unwitting Victim of a Con Game. (1908-1973) 36th President of the United States (1963-69). Typed letter signed "LBJ," one page, 4to, Austin, Texas, Feb. 28, 1972. To Mr. and Mrs. Robert Colbert, " Thanks for sending me that good picture of your young son and my namesake. I am so proud of him that I have written him the enclosed letter" [letter not present].
The recipient of this letter, Bob Colbert, was an elevator operator in Philadelphia who wrote to famous people and, in order to get their autograph, told them that he had named his son (or daughter) after them. In actuality, Bob had only one son named Robert Colbert, Jr.! When Colbert wrote to Yasser Arafat, chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and told him he had named his newborn son after Arafat, Colbert not only got a congratulatory letter from Arafat but the PLO leader decided to visit his namesake in Philadelphia while in the United States to attend a meeting of the United Nations. The deception was divulged and embarrassment ensued all around. This may well have been the last time Colbert tried the namesake ploy, but then again, maybe not! Estimate Value $500 - UP
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| Realized $240 |
