Rolex, Ref. 1803 Gifted by Lyndon B Johnson Family to Lawrence J Klein; caretaker of the "Western White House" LBJ Ranch, 18k Gold Day Date, circa 1968 Case: 36mm, 18k gold, three body case, with screw down caseback, No. 1774244 Dial: silver with applied gold baton hour markers, luminous gold baton Movement: Rolex Cal. 1556, self-winding, rhodium finished, 26 jewels, chronometer, No. DD45685 Band: Rolex signed 18k gold "President" bracelet, date code: 2/68 Signed: Rolex on case, dial, movement This timepiece is accompanied by its inner and outer presentation boxes, and serial number printed hang tag LOT ESSAY: He was thrust into the presidency on one of the darkest days of twentieth century America, in the cramped fuselage of Air Force One as it prepared to leave Dallas' Love Field with the slain body of his predecessor and good friend. It would prove to be just the first of uniquely heavy burdens placed upon the shoulders of President Lyndon B. Johnson, who bore the weight with a quiet resolve for four and a half years before stunning the political world in a televised announcement: "I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your president." It was that year, 1968, that the presented timepiece was assembled at the Rolex factory, a model that had already formed an unbreakable bond with the man who purchased it. Though some have suggested that the "President" moniker assigned to the gold Rolex Day-Date saw its genesis in a presentation of the brand's 150,000th chronometer to Dwight D. Eisenhower, it was unquestionably LBJ who made the format a constant companion. In 1966, the unspoken partnership was officially consummated when Rolex produced an advertisement of the handsome timepiece on the wrist of an arm gripping a red telephone beneath bold text that read, "The president's watch." That definition becomes fully literal here, a "President" from the president, gifted to the caretaker of Johnson's "Texas White House" and close family friend Lawrence J. Klein upon the occasion of his retirement. Visitors to The LBJ Ranch can still visit the Klein maintenance shop as part of the tour. It would appear that President Johnson purchased a significant supply of his signature Rolex for presentation to Beltway allies as he prepared to exit public life, returning to his native Texas with at least the offered example left over. Here we find it engraved on case back, "To Our Friend L.J.K, Our Love, All The L.B.J.'s, 1956-1982," those years representing the term of Klein's service to Lyndon Baines, Lady Bird and daughters Lynda Bird and Luci Baines Johnson. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved