New York American. New York, NY: J.M. Elliott, Printer, December 4, 1823. Vol. IV. No. 1144. 4pp, 15 x 21 in. Identified in contemporary brown iron gall ink in the top left margin to "Hon. Sec. of State," indicating that this was John Quincy Adams' personal issue of the newspaper.

The issue contains a page two, complete printing of President James Monroe's State of the Union Address, which first articulated the Monroe Doctrine of non-colonization of the Western Hemisphere by European powers. Secretary of State Adams wrote the Monroe Doctrine while serving under President Monroe and his personal issue of the New York American features the declaration that was seen as a defining moment in US foreign policy.