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Franklin D. Roosevelt. Typed letter signed ("Franklin D. Roosevelt") as President....
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Description
Franklin D. Roosevelt. Typed letter signed ("Franklin D. Roosevelt") as President. 2 pages (7 x 8.875 inches), on White House stationery dated November 20, 1944. Written to Hon. Hamilton Holt, President of Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. At the upper left corner, Roosevelt has noted in ink, "Personal".Less than three weeks after the national elections, FDR candidly discusses the most controversial aspect of his Presidency - his unprecedented four terms.
"The real meat of the question is not the length of term, but the continued opportunity of the voters of the country freely to express themselves every four years. And there is the further question of the personality of the individual. You and I know plenty of people who love power of a certain type and who, with perfectly good intentions, would hate to give it up. I am not one of this type, as you know. For as far as individual preference goes I would, quite honestly, have retired to Hyde Park with infinite pleasure in 1941..."
Roosevelt writes (in full):
"Dear Hammy:
I have not had a chance before this to thank you for that nice letter of October twenty-eighth for, as you know, I have been over the hills and far away most of the time since.
I really feel that if we can continue our foreign policy we may arrive at an era and a method of peace that will last at least as long as you and I live. I will, as you know, avoid the political angle that cropped up in 1919, if it is possible so to do.
I hate the fourth term as much as you do - and the third term as well - but I do not worry about it so much as a matter of principle. It would be a mistake, of course, to establish it as a tradition but I think I can well plead extenuating circumstances! The real meat of the question is not the length of term, but the continued opportunity of the voters of the country freely to express themselves every four years. And there is the further question of the personality of the individual. You and I know plenty of people who love power of a certain type and who, with perfectly good intentions, would hate to give it up. I am not one of this type, as you know. For as far as individual preference goes I would, quite honestly, have retired to Hyde Park with infinite pleasure in 1941.
Then there is the other question of the alternative. Willkie was an anomaly who improved greatly in his general thinking after 1940. But, although I like him personally, I did not feel that he had much knowledge of the world and that he would had to have learned about the world in the school of hard experience. This would have been a rather dangerous experiment in 1940.
As to the last gentleman who was the alternative, I say nothing.
I do hope to have a chance of seeing you one of these days.
Always sincerely yours,
Franklin D. Roosevelt"
One has to question FDR's sincerity when he asserts that he would "have retired to Hyde Park with infinite pleasure in 1941". Of course, he could have just declined to run again, like his predecessor Calvin Coolidge; but with war in Europe looming, FDR felt that his services and experience were desperately needed by the country.
Even more astounding in this letter is the way Roosevelt dismisses his 1940 opponent, Republican Wendell Willkie. A young and tireless Wall Street lawyer-turned-CEO, Willkie was FDR's most formidable challenger to date, who lambasted the "third term candidate" in more than 500 speeches in thirty-four states and enjoyed the endorsement of 78% of the nation's newspapers to Roosevelt's paltry 9%. Though Roosevelt won handily, his margin had shrunk markedly from the landslides of his first two Presidential elections.
His election to a fourth term was sealed on November 3, 1944 - just a little over two weeks prior to the date of his letter. His most recent opponent, Thomas Dewey, closed the gap still (53% to 46% of the popular vote), but failed to win the office as the nation turned to the familiar during this time of war. However, it was Providence (George Washington's term for Divine intervention) that ended FDR's tenure as president - he died in office just four and a half months later on April 12, 1945.
Also included in this lot is a typed letter signed ("Franklin D. Roosevelt") on Hyde Park stationary (8.5 x 11 inches), dated October 15, 1925 about the appointment of Hamilton Holt as president of Rollins' College. Roosevelt writes, in part, "He is an old friend of mine... Hamilton Holt is the kind of liberal and progressive thinker who will do honor to Rollins' College." Some toning and spotting to letter, tear along old fold, minor chipping. Signature dark and clear.
The lot also contains a signed photograph, signed by Eleanor Roosevelt, Hamilton Holt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Edward M. Watson. Measures 10 x 8 inches, slightly toned and with minor wear, near fine.
An absolutely amazing letter from Roosevelt as he reflects on his extraordinary string of election victories. The historical significance of this letter cannot be overstated.
Auction Info
2022 May 7 Treasures from the Melvin "Pete" Mark, Jr. Collection Signature® Auction #6256 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
May, 2022
7th
Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 1
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