Thank you Bob

In 1997, as a result of his tireless efforts to entertain American troops and campaign on their behalf, an act of congress was signed which resulted in Bob Hope becoming the world's 'first and only honorary veteran of the U.S. armed forces'. Nothing illustrates the effect of Hope's humanitarian work more than the following letter, written in 1973 by a U.S. pilot named Frederic Flom. When he wrote the letter, Flom was days away from being released as a prisoner of war, an unimaginable 6½ years after being captured in Vietnam. After hearing of Hope's POW-related work from another captured pilot, Flom felt the need to write Bob the following letter of thanks.

Transcript follows.

Source

Transcript

24 Feb, '73

Dear Mr. Hope,

Just another fan letter from a different address. I am an F-105 pilot, shot down over North Vietnam on 8 August, 1966. I have been held captive since that time, but will finally be released in three days. We have almost no contact with the outside world here, however, some word has gotten in, via POWs shot down in '72, concerning some of the activities of the American people, & you in particular, on behalf of the POWs. That is what prompted this note.

I want to thank you for all you have done or attempted to do on our behalf. You are truly a POW's friend, & are deserving of more than just a letter from each of us. There have been many a dark & lonesome night when we have felt all but forgotten. It thrills our hearts & makes us glow with pride to learn that the American people have not forgotten us, & that a celebrity such as yourself has active concern. I extend to you & all of America my deep appreciation & I know I speak for all of us.

There is something great about our nation & its people. A celebrity can have a large effect in influencing its thinking & attitude. This effect can be positive or negative, good or bad. Thank you Bob, for being such a large part of America & our wonderful way of life.

Best of luck to you,

Fred Flom

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

In 1897, on the advice of her father, eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a short letter to the editor of New York's now-defunct newspaper The Sun in which she seeked confirmation of Santa Claus' existence. In response, Francis Pharcellus Church published an editorial - entitled 'Is There a Santa Claus' - which went on to become, and is still, the most reprinted English language editorial in history. Interestingly, in 1997 Virginia's great-grandson appeared with the letter on the Antiques Roadshow, where it was valued at $20,000 - $30,000. The valuation can be watched here. 

Below are both the original letter and its reply. Transcripts follow.

Transcript

Question:

Dear Editor,
I am eight years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says "If you see it in the Sun it's so." Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia O'Hanlon.
115 W.95th St

Answer:

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank GOD! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Anything which weakens you, weakens America

Just a few days after appearing before the Tower Commission as a result of his involvement in the Iran-Contra arms scandal, Ronald Reagan received the following handwritten letter of support from British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. In it, Thatcher empathises with 'Ron' over his harsh treatment by the press, informs him that his previous achievements are too great for him to suffer any 'lasting damage', and then offers some advice with regards to his next move. Apparently the letter was later discovered attached to a note, written to then Chief of Staff Donald Regan, which read 'DTR. FYI - this explains the weekend phone call, but not how this note got to the President. Pls return to my office'.

Image found at the Margaret Thatcher Foundation.

Transcript follows.

Source

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10 DOWNING STREET
LONDON SW1A 2AA

THE PRIME MINISTER

4th December 1986

Dear Ron

I was glad that we were able to talk on the telephone the other day so that I could tell you directly how very much you and Nancy are in my thoughts at this difficult time. The press and media are always so ready to criticise and get people down. I know what it's like.

But your achievements in restoring America's pride and confidence and in giving the West the leadership it needs are far too substantial to suffer any lasting damage., The message I give to everyone is that anything which weakens you, weakens America, and anything that weakens America weakens the whole free world.

Whatever happened over Iran is in the past and nothing can change it. I fervently believe that the message now should be that there is important work to be done and that you are going to do it.

You will find great support for that over here in Europe - and I am sure in America too.

If you would like to talk about the issues on which we need to press ahead, I hope that you will call me.

Denis joins me in sending you and Nancy our affectionate good wishes and support.

Yours ever

Margaret

The Quill Letter

I've spoken before about the secretive communication methods used during the Revolutionary War - see The Masked Letter and Fire or Acid - and here's another, decidedly lower-tech example: The Quill Letter. The idea was simple and effective: messages were delicately written on long, extremely thin strips of paper, then rolled up and inserted into the hollow quill of a flight feather. A spy would then deliver the message discreetly, fairly safe in the knowledge that if he was intercepted en route, such a small document could easily be swallowed. Below is one such letter, written by General William Howe to General John Burgoyne in 1777, in which Howe informs him of his plans to invade Pennsylvania.

The images are from the Clements Library.

Transcript follows.

Click here for larger image

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Transcript

Lieut. Gen. Burgoyne

New York, July 17th. 1777. Dear Sir, I have received yours of the 2.d ins.+ on the 15th, have since heard from the Rebel Army of your being in possession of Ticonderoga, which is a great Event carried without loss. I have rec.d your two letters viz.+ from &Quebec your last of the 14th May, & shall observe the contents. There is a report of a messenger of yours to me having been taken, & the letter discover.d in a double wooden canteen, you will know if it was of any consequence; nothing of it has transpired to us. I will observe you in writing to you, as you propose in your letters to me. Washington is waiting our motions here, & has detached Sullivan with about 2500 men, as I learn, to Albany.- My intention is for Pensilvania where I expect to meet Washington, but if he goes to the Northw.d contrary to my (...) and you can keep him at bay, be assured I shall soon be after him to relieve you. After your arrival at Albany, yr movements of the Enemy will guide yours; but my wishes are that the Enemy be drove out of this Province before any operation takes place in Conecticut. S.r Hen.y Clinton remains in the command here, & will act as occurrences may direct. Putnam is in the Highlands with about 4000 men.- Success be ever with you. Yours.

WHowe