Buzz
In an era dominated by instant communication, letter writing may seem like an ancient practice. Yet, up until recent times, it was the primary way to send messages over long distances. The art of letter writing offers a unique lens through which we can uncover the lives of historical figures, and many archives of such personal correspondence exist for some of the most well-known people in history.
Letters often reveal hidden opinions and personal insights that individuals may not have shared publicly. They also serve as a window into relationships, offering glimpses into connections between the influential and famous, many of whom had surprising correspondents. From those trying to sway political leaders to secret admirers and influential pen-pals, here are ten lesser-known instances where renowned figures corresponded with one another.
10. Einstein and Freud
It seems logical to imagine that bringing together some of the world's most brilliant minds could help solve major global issues, like war. That was the intent behind the International Institute of Intellectual Cooperation, which in 1932 facilitated a fascinating exchange of letters between physicist Albert Einstein and psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud.
Entitled “Why War?”, the correspondence began with Einstein seeking Freud’s perspective on human psychology to explore whether world peace was possible or if violence was an inherent part of human nature. Their letters then delved into the history of war, its impact on politics, and their shared aspirations for the League of Nations.
Unfortunately, the letters exchanged between these two intellectual giants did not bring about global peace. In fact, the hoped-for impact of their exchange was undermined when it was published in 1933, the very year Hitler rose to power. The Nazi regime quickly sought to discredit the work of the two Jewish pacifists, Einstein and Freud.
9. Gandhi and Hitler
Einstein and Freud were not the only pacifists trying to prevent another world war. In 1939, Mahatma Gandhi, from the other side of the world, also wrote a letter—this time directed at Adolf Hitler. It was a final attempt after an earlier effort to persuade Mussolini had failed. War seemed imminent, and despite his opposition to colonialism, Gandhi did not want Europe to be devastated, nor did he desire India’s independence to come at the cost of England’s destruction.
Gandhi felt a moral obligation to prevent the coming conflict. He pointed out his own “considerable success” in achieving goals without resorting to violence and asked Hitler if any object was worth the price of plunging humanity into savagery. Sadly, the British colonial government prohibited him from sending the letter. His apologetic tone, however, suggested that he anticipated Hitler’s likely response. Gandhi attempted to send another letter in late 1940, but once again, it was thwarted.
8. Henry Ford and Gandhi
Gandhi’s commitment to pacifism and his successful civil disobedience movement garnered admiration from an unexpected quarter—Henry Ford, one of the wealthiest men in the world and a key manufacturer of bombers for the Second World War. Despite his involvement in the war effort due to government pressure, Ford personally believed that the USA should have maintained neutrality. He was also critical of imperialism, and as his cars gained popularity in India’s largest cities, he took an interest in the country. In 1941, Ford wrote to Gandhi to express his admiration, calling him 'one of the greatest men the world has ever known.'
Curiously, a few years earlier, Henry Ford had allegedly received a letter from a famous admirer. However, this letter was likely a hoax, and certainly not from a pacifist. In 1934, Ford received a letter purportedly from the infamous gangster and bank robber John Dillinger, praising the 'excellent' cars Ford made, which Dillinger was known to have used.
7. Churchill and H.G. Wells
Winston Churchill, a man whose life has been extensively documented, harbored a lesser-known fondness for science fiction—a fact that remained largely unnoticed until 2006. Churchill was especially enamored with the works of H.G. Wells, renowned author of *The War of the Worlds* and *The Time Machine*. Churchill not only quoted Wells’ phrases in his famous speeches but also claimed in 1931 that he could 'pass an exam' on Wells' writings. It’s even speculated that Wells may have influenced Churchill's political ideas, particularly through his non-fiction works, such as *Anticipations*, which contained bold predictions about the future.
Churchill also enjoyed the fiction of H.G. Wells—although he once criticized one of Wells's works for being too thought-provoking and lacking enough action. After the release of *Anticipations* in 1901, Wells’s publishers sent a copy to Churchill, who responded with a letter, stating that he read everything Wells wrote. The following year, they met in person, and continued exchanging letters until Wells's death in 1946.
6. Abraham Lincoln and Karl Marx
Politicians are often assumed to spend their leisure time engaging with scholars and economists rather than science fiction writers. Abraham Lincoln certainly engaged with intellectuals, but some of the individuals he corresponded with were unexpected. Although Lincoln was neither a socialist nor a communist, he was familiar with the works of Karl Marx and even exchanged letters with him. The two were born just nine years apart and shared a mutual friend, Charles Dana.
As the managing editor of the *New York Tribune*, Dana had hired Marx as the paper’s British correspondent. Later, Dana left the *Tribune* to become an adviser to President Lincoln during the U.S. Civil War. In 1865, Marx wrote to Lincoln to congratulate him on his reelection and his efforts to abolish slavery. Lincoln responded through the U.S. ambassador to Britain, expressing that he considered Marx and his followers to be 'friends.' This exchange was printed in newspapers on both sides of the Atlantic, and Marx was delighted that it caused the bourgeoisie to 'shake their heads.'
5. Mary Todd Lincoln and Queen Victoria
After the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, his widow, Mary Todd Lincoln, found herself under intense scrutiny. The public was eager to see if she could regain her composure and conform to the standards of 19th-century society, which demanded that a lady show no outward emotion during such a personal loss. Unfortunately for Mary, who is now thought to have struggled with mental health issues, possibly even bipolar disorder, she could not meet those expectations. It was rumored that she often expressed her grief through wailing, shrieking, and writhing in emotional distress. To the public, this was seen as attention-seeking behavior, though there were some who showed her compassion.
In the same year, 1865, Queen Victoria of Britain, a fellow widow who had lost her husband in 1861, sent a heartfelt and handwritten letter of sympathy to Mrs. Lincoln. Despite never having met her, the Queen wrote that she was ‘utterly broken hearted’ over the loss. In her message, Queen Victoria explained her own sorrow and her inability to stay silent in the face of such a tragic event. This letter stands in stark contrast to the usual stoic demeanor associated with the British monarch and her era.
4. Catherine the Great and Voltaire
Catherine the Great of Russia, like other rulers of her time, maintained a correspondence with influential thinkers beyond her borders, most notably with the French philosopher Voltaire. Although they never met in person, the two exchanged numerous letters, discussing politics, philosophy, and governance. After her husband's death, when she assumed the throne, Catherine became a champion of the arts and, in many ways, saw herself as a philosopher. She sought out the minds of her era and garnered the respect of people like Voltaire, who was already an admirer of her.
Voltaire, despite Catherine’s autocratic reign, praised her leadership and compared her favorably to the French monarchy. His admiration for her was so strong that he even had a portrait of her displayed in his bedroom, a testament to his deep respect for the Russian empress.
The two corresponded in 26 letters, which have been characterized as deeply personal rather than formal. These letters remained confidential until 2006, when a Russian art dealer acquired them from a private collection in Paris for €583,200.
3. Alexander Graham Bell and Helen Keller
Although his greatest invention was related to sound, Alexander Graham Bell had a strong empathy for the deaf. Later in life, he confessed that his work helping the hearing impaired brought him more fulfillment than his recognition as the telephone's inventor. While certain aspects of his methods were critiqued, his enduring friendship with Helen Keller, a deaf-blind author, demonstrated his profound compassion.
Bell's first encounter with Keller occurred in 1886 when she was still a child. Throughout her life, Bell provided her with support, often welcoming her into his home and financially assisting her. He even created a trust fund to cover Keller’s education at the esteemed Radcliffe College. By around 1900, Bell learned to use a braille typewriter to communicate with Keller directly. She was so moved by his effort that she responded to his first braille letter, telling him that she had not found a single mistake and that it felt as though he had held her hand in his.
2. J. Edgar Hoover and Martin Luther King Jr.
Anyone advocating for societal change is bound to face opposition and covert tactics, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was no different. One such challenge appeared in the form of a letter, which, although unsigned, was believed to have originated from the FBI. At the time, the bureau was under the leadership of J. Edgar Hoover, who had the FBI surveil King, including wiretapping both his home and office.
After obtaining recordings of his extramarital affairs, the FBI sent King a tape along with an anonymous letter condemning him as 'evil,' a 'colossal fraud,' and accusing him of 'immoral conduct lower than that of a beast.' The letter’s harsh tone and choice of words went beyond simply trying to shame or undermine King; the Senate Select Committee later interpreted it as an attempt to push King into suicide.
King was not swayed and, as fortune would have it, the FBI misjudged the media atmosphere of the time. The press refused to give attention to the letter, and its contents remained private until a decade later.
1. Elvis and Richard Nixon
It takes a certain degree of fame and influence for a hastily written note on a piece of airline stationery to secure a meeting with the president of the United States. But by 1970, Elvis Presley had reached that level. After flying to Washington D.C. in December of that year, the rock n' roll legend delivered his letter to the White House and, just hours later, found himself in the presence of President Richard Nixon.
Elvis's aim was to acquire a badge from the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs to add to his growing collection of police badges. To obtain one, he needed credentials as a federal agent, so in his letter, he turned to the man with the most influence to grant him this request.
In his letter to Nixon, Elvis expressed his deep love for the United States, his ability to connect with anti-establishment groups who didn’t view him as an adversary, and his knowledge of drug abuse and communist brainwashing tactics. When the two met, Elvis gifted Nixon a pistol, and in exchange, he received his long-sought badge.
