Beschreibung:

NIXON, Richard M. Printed invitation card signed ("Richard Nixon"), as President, an INVITATION TO SENATOR HOWARD H. BAKER, JR. FOR DINNER AT THE WHITE HOUSE, Washington, 27 May 1969. 1 page, oblong card (3 7/8 x 5 11/16 in.), gold embossed Great Seal of the United States at top . NIXON ASKS A RISING YOUNG GOP STAR TO DINNER AT THE WHITE HOUSE. Here, in the early months of Nixon's first term, he extends the hand of hospitality to the Senator from Tennessee. Baker became the ranking Republican member on the Senate Watergate Committee in 1973, and tried to defend his President. He discreetly passed along inside information to the White House about the direction of the committee's investigation and upcoming witnesses. Nixon, however, did not return the favor. So when Baker asked his now famous question of John Dean - "What did the President know and when did he know it?"--he thought he was helping Nixon by creating a situation where the unsubstantiated words of a young White House lawyer would have to stand against the denials of the President of the United States. Nixon didn't bother to tell Baker about the White House tapes. All of Dean's key allegations against Nixon would be substantiated by the President's own voice. Those tapes would also record the verbal abuse Nixon poured out against Baker, whom he thought wasn't being tough enough against the Democrats on the Committee. Calling him a "simpering asshole," Nixon vowed to never let Baker into the Oval Office again, "never, never, never....I don't want anybody in the White House to ever have any contact with him again. Ever...Cut him off. Give him a deep freeze." Nixon invitations to Baker are rare.