TYPED LETTER SIGNED by RUSSELL BAKER, to Jean Dalrymple, probably referring to one of his columns.

The American satirical writer Russell Baker (b.1925) worked as a columnist for The New York Times from 1962 to 1998 and hosted Masterpiece Theatre from 1992 to 2004. He covered the White House, the US Congress and the US Department of State for the New York Times and wrote the nationally syndicated Observer column for the paper. The author of 17 books, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary for his Observer Columns in 1979. He was again a recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in 1982 for his autobiography "Growing Up".

The recipient, Jean Dalrymple (1902-1998) was the dynamic producer and director of theater and light-opera at Manhattan's City Center. Dalrymple began her career in Vaudeville, appearing with James Cagney and Carey Grant in the early 1930s. She was a founding member of the American Theatre Wing, the theatre service organization. She worked over the years as a personal manager for the likes of Leopold Stokowski, Mary Martin, Jos Iturbi, Andre Kostalanetz, Nathan Milstein, and Lily Pons. She began her work at City Center with its founding in 1943, serving as a board member, producer, and publicist. Her productions there from the 1940s through the 1960s were a revitalizing influence on the whole New York theatre scene. In 1951, Jean Dalrymple married Major-General Philip deWitt Ginder, commander of the Thunderbirds in Korea. She was a friend to Presidents and entertainment personalities throughout the world.