Stephen Beck's Autograph Page
How I Got This Autograph:
Four Presidents Photo
(Click on image for larger version)
Photograph signed by four United States Presidents
I am very proud to have a "four presidents" photo in my collection, particularly a unique one such as the image above. But I often look at this photo with regret about what might have happened if my timing had only been a little better. This is the story.
I was unaware of group presidential items until 1992, when I read a letter published in the UACC's Pen and Quill. In the letter, Bob Wittemore described how he obtained a signed four-president's photo, being the "classic" image of Nixon through Reagan at the White House taken before the former presidents went to the funeral of Anwar Sadat in 1981.
The original "four presidents": Nixon, Reagan, Ford, and Carter
I was intrigued by this. How do I get the photo? How do I get the signatures? I quickly penned a letter to Mr. Wittemore to ask his assistance. This moment was the beginning of my correspondence with other autograph collectors.
Bob Wittemore wrote me a very kind reply, explaining that he had purchased a copy of the photo years ago but forgot the source. He obtained the signatures through the mail, Nixon first, then Carter, Ford, and Reagan. At the time Reagan's office would only submit the photo to him if he were the last to sign.
(As a side note, Mr. Wittemore and I exchanged many letters after that. Mr. Wittemore is the most experienced collector I have ever known, as he obtained a wide range of autographs of historical figures since he began collecting in the 1930's, among them Herbert Hoover, Franklin Roosevelt, Marilyn Monroe, and others. Sadly, I have not heard from him in a long time as our correspondence has lapsed, but I am grateful to him for having started my interest in historical collecting.)
I was desperately in search for a four-presidents photo to start on my own. I hunted every source I could find, without luck. Imagine my surprise then when I found a FIVE presidents photo, in an unlikely spot.
In late 1993 I was casually having a beer in a pub next to my house in New Orleans when I spotted a newspaper stand for the New York Times. There was an advertisement posted on the vending machine with a black and white photograph of Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Bush! I was ecstatic and knew that I had to have that photograph.
While having a beer in a pub on St. Charles Avenue, I saw this image on a newspaper vending machine. I later purchased it from the New York Times.
I learned that the photo had been taken on November 4, 1991, when the Reagan Presidential Library was opened. It was the first time in history that five U.S. presidents had ever gathered. I contacted the New York Times and found that I could have a print of the photo for $60. A few months later I received it in the mail, complete with a beautiful white border for signatures.
I mailed it to President Ford hoping for a quick response. Unfortunately, it came back unsigned with a letter from an assistant explaining that the five presidents had agreed not to sign that photograph. Instead, a limited number (5000) were signed among the presidents themselves to distribute as they wished. (Unlike later letters from Ford himself, this one claimed that the photos were going to be sold in limited numbers in the presidential libraries. They never were.)
An example of a five-presidents photo, authentically signed by all. These photos were only distributed among the presidents themselves
This is a letter from Gerald Ford himself explaining why he doesn't sign the five presidents photo
Undaunted, I began to devise a plan to get it signed. I called a friend of mine who worked for a congressman, and asked for a "favor."
My friend presented the photo to the congressman, who agreed to try to get it signed by the five presidents. He first sent it to George Bush, who called the congressman when he received the photo. Bush explained that the proper etiquette was to go in order of senority, so Nixon should have been the first to sign. He said that he would gladly sign the photograph if the others did first. (He also sent along a nice signed photograph of himself, which I asked my friend to keep as a thank-you for his assistance.)
The photograph was packaged and ready to go to President Nixon when disaster struck. I will always remember turning on CNN in April, 1994, and hearing the words "....former President Nixon was hospitalized today." He had suffered a massive stroke, which proved to be fatal. The five presidents photo would never be completed.
So I had to start over. I wanted a group photograph signed by several presidents, but I needed ideas. Five presidents had met for Nixon's funeral, but I thought that a funeral photo was in too-poor taste to get signed. However, I remembered that several presidents met for the signing of the NAFTA agreement in late 1993. A little research using newspapers on microfilm in the Tulane University library revealed the splendid photo as seen above, which I purchased from the Associated Press.
Ford and Carter signed quickly. Bush refused but I was persistant and finally got the autograph. Now, will I have to wait for Clinton to leave office before I had the chance to sign?
Luckily, as fate would have it, I did not have to wait that long (although I had to wait five years!) Last July I had a very special opportunity. A friend was going to the Oval Office for a special Apollo 11 30th anniversary meeting. He took along my photo and President Clinton signed it most graciously (in the presence of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins no less!) Clinton said "Neat!" as he signed the photo I'm told.
So I did get a wonderful, unique item after all, with a little strategy and the help of some good friends. This is certainly one of the longest chapters in my history as a collector. Still, it's not quite over--I'm determined to buy a five presidents photo someday.