Lot 63

RFK on Trip With JFK "around the world...In the Arab countries...the position of the United States is deteriorating," Best ALS We Have Seen!

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RFK on Trip With JFK "around the world...In the Arab countries...the position of the United States is deteriorating," Best ALS We Have Seen!

Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000

Current Bid: $1,300

(4 Bids)

by University Archives
July 28, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
88 Danbury Road
Suite 2A
Wilton, CT, US 06897

Robert F. Kennedy
Washington, DC, December 17, 1951
RFK on Trip With JFK "around the world...In the Arab countries...the position of the United States is deteriorating," Best ALS We Have Seen!
ALS

Robert F. Kennedy (1925-1968). Autograph letter signed, "Bob Kennedy," 4pp, on his personal bifold stationery, 5.25" x 7.75", Washington, December 17, 1951. Central horizontal mailing fold and minor creasing. Paperclip impression and partially rusted staple punctures at top left. Light staining at lower central vertical fold, not affecting text. Else, in fine condition and boldly signed.

Kennedy writes a lengthy letter to Dr. Daniel A. Poling rich with content such as family news, his new assignment at the Justice Department, and his overseas trip with John F. Kennedy.

In full:

"This is a very late note to thank you for your letter and the enclosure of the article that you were kind enough to write about Dr. Bunche's visit to Charlottesville. Your treatment of my part in the incident was certainly generous and is greatly appreciated.

My brother Jack and I just returned home at Thanksgiving time from a seven week tour around the world with practically all the time spent in the Middle and Far East. It was a wonderful opportunity and I think we both learned a great deal. I am afraid though that with this increase in knowledge of the world we didn't acquire a simultaneous increase in optimism about its future. In the Arab countries and in Malaya, Indo China, and Burma the position of the United States is deteriorating at a disturbingly fast rate. A strong forceful policy could save the situation even now but we saw no signs that such a policy was to be forthcoming.

Incidentally that trip is to blame for the lateness of this letter. My wife, Ethel, sent me your letter to Hong Kong but it missed me there and was just returned to us here last week. I have just started to work down here in Washington. I am in the Criminal Division of the Justice Department and am presently assigned to the subversive section. It looks very interesting and I'm sure I'll enjoy it.

Ethel and I had a baby girl on July 4 whom we named Kathleen. I would like you to meet Ethel and her and I so hope that if you ever get to Washington you will drop me a note and plan to come to our home for either lunch or dinner. I am sure you would all enjoy each other. Thank you again for your letter, Dr. Poling, and I hope you will accept my invitation."

The "Dr. Bunche" mentioned at the start of Kennedy's letter would be Ralph Johnson Bunche (1904-1971). Dr. Bunche was an American political scientist and diplomat who, in 1948, became an acting mediator for the Middle East, negotiating an armistice between Egypt and Israel. For this success, Bunche was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950. "The incident" Kennedy is most certainly referring to would have occurred while he was serving as president of the student forum, when he invited Bunche, the first person of color to win the Nobel Peace Prize, to speak at the University of Virginia Law School. Because Virginia state law at the time required public gatherings to be segregated, Bunche stipulated that he would only appear before a racially integrated crowd. Kennedy fought the university's governing board and successfully secured one of the first integrated public events in the school's history.

Though Kennedy's letter is warm and he extends sincere wishes for Poling to visit his home for a meal, the relationship between Poling and the Kennedy family would become fundamentally adversarial, rooted in political and religious divides, especially during the 1960 presidential campaign. Poling publicly endorsed Richard Nixon, partly because he distrusted John F. Kennedy's Catholicism. As campaign manager for his brother, Robert F. Kennedy had to navigate fierce opposition from Protestant leaders. Dr. Poling was a leader among conservative Protestants and member of a group that openly questioned JFK's loyalty to the U.S. Constitution. Eventually, although Dr. Poling said that religion would continue to be an issue in political campaigns, he believed that Senator John F. Kennedy had "lifted himself above that issue" in the campaign for the Presidency.

Daniel A. Poling (1884-1968) was a passionate prohibitionist, and began campaigning for it at age eighteen. He attended Dallas Academy, where he was captain of the football team and known as "the fullback preacher," graduating in 1905. In 1911, Poling ran for the Governor of Ohio as a prohibitionist, although he was too young to hold the office had he been elected. He became an Evangelical minister, like his father and grandfather. During World War I, he served as a chaplain. In 1936, he was rebaptized as a Baptist minister and became the minister of Grace Baptist Church at Temple University in Philadelphia. Poling was Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Christian Herald Magazine. He wrote twenty-two books and three hundred annual book reviews. During World War II, Poling joined the Chaplains Reserve and was elected president of the Military Chaplains Association.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 5.25" x 7.75"
  • Medium: ALS

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000