The original pen used by President Harry S Truman to sign the presidential payraise legislation, January 19, 1949
When your spouse needs to buy a birthday present for her history and political memorabilia collector/nerd husband, what to get? Aha! How about the pen President Harry Truman used, on the eve of his being sworn in for a full term as president, to sign legislation raising his presidential salary the next day from $75,000 to $100,000? WE HAVE A WINNER! Thanks to my adorable wife Christine Apffel Rogan for giving me the perfect gift, and in making last week's 68th birthday as memorable as Truman's first post-1949 Inauguration Day paycheck.
BTW, if you look closely at the photo of Truman signing legislation, you will see him using (and also scattered on his desk) these same Esterbrook dip-style pens that he used to sign the Executive Pay Act.
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