Lot 973

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Description:

(1900 - 1986) American admiral responsible for the construction of the "Nuclear Navy", starting with the submarine Nautilus. Great content T.L.S. on USS WILL ROGERS letterhead, 4pp. 4to., "At Sea, North Atlantic", Feb. 13, 1967, containing two signatures. This letter, sent to an associate of powerful Vermont Sen. George D. Aiken, details the first sea trials of the USS WILL ROGERS,"our 41st Polaris nuclear submarine, the last of this type currently authorized by Congress...". He writes an elaborate description of the life and death of folk humorist Will Rogers, for whom the ship is named, and signs at the conclusion of the third page in black ink. The fourth page, titled"THE POLARIS SUBMARINE", begins:"The USS WILL ROGERS is the last of the 41 Polaris submarines authorized by Congress. The occasion seems appropriate for a brief summary of the purpose of the Polaris Program..." Throughout the page, Rickover strongly argues for the importance of a Nuclear Navy, writing in part:"...It is the combination of nuclear propulsion with long-range atomic missiles that makes Polaris submarines virtually invulnerable and highly lethal weapon systems. Nuclear propulsion enables these ships to travel enormous distances beneath the surface of the ocean and remain submerged for months at a time... The advantage to the United States is obvious. Any would-be aggressor is aware that we possess 41 Polaris submarines, whose location he does not know, each equipped with 16 missiles having destructive power greater than that of all explosives used in World War II. For him to attack the U.S. proper, unless he had previously destroyed our Polaris fleet, would be futile..." He signs at the conclusion of the fourth page in black ink. Shows original mailing folds, else fine. With transmittal envelope.

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April 1, 2020 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

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