Franklin D. Roosevelt: Typed Memorandum Signed "FDR"....

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Franklin D. Roosevelt memorandum on The White House Washington stationery signed July 28, 1933, 5 ½ x 8 ¼," written to his Postmaster General, James A. Farley. FDR writes: "Memorandum for/ the Postmaster General/ Senator Dieterich is very anxious to have us put Colonel Culbertson on the Mississippi River Commission in place of Senator Glenn's brother who is a hold-over. Colonel Culbertson is now on the National Guard Advisory Commission and comes from Delevan, Illinois./ FDR." Illinois Democrat William Henry Dietrich (1876-1940) had entered the Senate in 1933, serving until 1939. He had defeated incumbent Republican Senator Otis F. Glenn in the Democratic tide that swept away Republicans from both the Executive and Legislative branches of Government as a result of the Great Depression. As created by Act of Congress in 1879, the Mississippi River Commission consisted of three officers of the Corps of Engineers, one member from the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, and three civilians; each member would be appointed by the President of the United States, subject to confirmation by the United States Senate. Postmaster General James A. Farley was the person responsible for coordinating such political appointments. At one time in American history, the problem of who in the Cabinet handled the President's political "dirty work" had been solved satisfactorily, but the solution fell victim to "reform" when in 1970 the independent United States Postal Service was created. The Postmaster General's job was ideal cover. The Post Office essentially ran itself, and there were many jobs to pass out, both within the Post Office and in the other branches of the Federal Government. The PMG had perhaps the most lavish office in Washington, D.C., the better to entertain, cajole and threaten political job seekers, allies, and foes. The PMG's headquarters were only a short walk from The White House and adjoined the Old Post Office, one of downtown Washington D.C.'s more spectacular. As political patronage began to matter less, and the raising of significant amounts of campaign funds in the modern electronic age began to matter more, the job of "Politico-In-Chief" in the 1970s shifted from the Postmaster General to the Secretary of Commerce, the Cabinet position dedicated to promoting American business. James Aloysius Farley (1888-1976)was a businessman and public official, born in Grassy Point, New York He was a bookkeeper and company correspondent before he formed a building supplies company. His affable nature gave him a boost when in 1912 he began his career as a Democratic Party functionary. As he became increasingly prominent in New York State Democratic politics, he worked for Al Smith and then Franklin D. Roosevelt. He managed FDR's first run for Governor of New York and backed him at the 1932 and 1936 Democratic Conventions. He was rewarded with the positions of chairman of the Democratic National Committee (1932-1940) and postmaster general (1933-1940). He broke with FDR in 1940 over the issue of a third term, and failing to get the Democratic nomination for himself, he went back to business. He was a board chairman of Coca-Cola Export Corporation (1940-1973). A wonderful, political memorandum from FDR to his Postmaster General. There are also Pittman shorthand notes across top margin in an unknown hand.