SIGNED BY Bruce Babbitt (Arizona Governor, Sec Interior)! Ben Franklin Biography

Description

Up for sale is a terrific autograph (signature) of Bruce Babbitt on a book, a biography of Benjamin Franklin.  The book is well worth reading and the autograph well worth collecting.
Book title:
The Most Dangerous Man in America
Book subtitle:
Scenes From the Life of Benjamin Franklin
Author:  Catherine Drinker Bowen
Publisher:  Little Brown and Company, Boston and Toronto (An Atlantic Monthly Press Book)
ISBN:  0-316-10396-9
Stated FIRST EDITION (10/74)
Copyright 1974.
Bruce Babbitt was born in 1938 in Flagstaff, Arizona.  He attended the University of Notre Dame, was a Marshall Scholar, and received his law degree from Harvard University.  In 1974, he was elected Arizona Attorney General.  In 1978, he succeeded Wesley Bolin (who died in office) as Governor of Arizona.  Babbitt served the remaining portion of Bolin's term and won re-election to successive 4 year terms in 1978 and 1982.  While still Governor, he helped found the Democratic Leadership Council.  In 1988, he sought the Democratic Presidential nomination.  He was the darling of the media early in the campaign but registered disappointing finishes in the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries..  Babbitt dropped out, reportedly quipping (in an allusion to a famous quote from Richard Nixon) that the press "won't have Bruce Babbitt to puff up anymore".  Babbitt then became the head of the League of Conservation Voters.  In 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed him as Secretary of the Interior, a post he held for 8 years.  It has been reported that Clinton seriously considered Babbitt for the Supreme Court on two occasions:  in 1993, when he finally chose Ruth Bader Ginsburg and in 1994, when he finally chose Stephen Breyer.  In 2000, while still Secretary of the Interior, Babbitt founded the National Landscape Conservation System, a collection of 15 National Monuments and 14 National Conservation Areas, to be managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) with the goal of keeping them "healthy, open, and wild".  He also had a major role in the California Desert Protection Act and the National Wildlife Protection Act.  After leaving public office, Babbitt became chief counsel of the environmental litigation department of the international firm of Latham and Watkins.  He drew some criticism from both environmentalists and Native Americans stemming from some of the clients he represented.  Babbitt is Director Emeritus of the World Wildlife Federation.  He is currently President of Raintree Ventures, in Washington DC.
Author Catherine Drinker Bowen (1897 - 1973) was born on the campus of Haverford College in Pennsylvania.  She initially studied music, becoming an accomplished violinist, including training at the Julliard School.  She then became an author, specializing in biographies.  Initially, she chose subjects related to music but then took on other historical figures and events.  Bowen did all her own research.  Some in academic circles looked down on her methods.  But she was very successful and, in fact, achieved recognition such as the National Book Award for Non-Fiction in 1958 (for
The Lion and the Throne:  The Life and Times of Sir Edward Coke
).  In 1962, she became the first woman to receive an honorary degree from Lehigh University.  (Her ex-husband, Ezra Bowen, was Chair of Economics at Lehigh.)
The Most Dangerous Man in America:  Scenes From the Life of Benjamin Franklin
was her very last book, being published posthumously in 1974.
PROVENANCE:  I obtained this book at a thrift store, several years ago, while living in Arizona.  Bruce Babbitt's signature looks consistent with published examples.  This book may have been part of Bruce Babbitt's personal library.  If so, it is interesting to speculate that Benjamin Franklin may have served as a role model for Babbitt, at a time when he was running for his first elective office (Attorney General of Arizona).
Please see above for full description of condition and for photos.  Sold as is.
Attention US Buyers:  I will ship by USPS Media Mail or by USPS Priority Mail, your choice.  Please note that if you have a Military Mail address (e.g. APO), I must ask that you choose USPS Priority Mail as it is my understanding that USPS Media Mail is not reliable to Military Mail addresses.
Attention International Buyers:  Unfortunately, it appears that international shipping from the US (via the USPS) has become unreliable, because of the pandemic.  Therefore, I have decided to remove the international shipping option.  You are still welcome to bid on this item, but will need to supply a shipping address in the US.  I'm sorry for the inconvenience.  Thank you for your understanding.