Description
First edition of Hurrah and Hallelujah by J.P. Bang, signed by future Vice President Alben Barkley.
Twelvemo, xi, [13] – 234pp. Brown cloth, title embossed in black on spine and front cover. Clean text throughout. In publisher’s near fine dust jacket, closed tear to top edge of spine, archival repair to top edge, otherwise a fine example. Signed by Alben Barkley, dated August 1917.
When this book was signed, Barkley was serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. He supported neutrality in World War I, but in 1917 after the United States declared War, Barkley considered resigning and enlisting in the army, but was persuaded by President Woodrow Wilson to stay in congress. Barkley would go on to serve in the United States Senate, representing the state of Kentucky. He was the Senate Majority Leader from 1937-1947 and Minority Leader from 1947-1949. He was Harry Truman’s Vice President from 1949-1953. When Truman announced he would not seek another term in 1952, Barkley was interested in the presidential nomination, but at 74 years old, he had trouble convincing the democratic party he had the stamina to serve.
