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Description

Franklin D. Roosevelt: Typed Letter Signed "FDR" as New York Governor.
-March 11, 1932. Albany, New York. One page. 8" x 10.5". State of New York letterhead.
-To: William H. Kelley of Syracuse, New York.
-Original folds, else fine.

FDR writes (in part): "Thanks for the clippings about that crackpot Mayor of yours. I shall wait until a favorable time in Syracuse and then dissect both him and Stone. I am writing to Fred Betts. I am sorry to know about his father." Also includes a photocopy archive of correspondence from Kelley to FDR.


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The extended description below was supplied by the consignor. We are making it available to our web bidders who are interested in more in-depth research and broader historical perspective. Please note that presentation (i.e. framing), lot divisions, and interpretations of condition and content may occasionally differ from our descriptions. Assertions of fact and subjective observations contained in this description represent the opinion of the consignor. These remarks have not been checked for accuracy by Heritage Auctions, and we assume no responsibility for their accuracy; they are offered purely to allow the bidder insight into the way the consignor has viewed the item(s) in question. No right of return or claim of lack of authenticity or provenance based upon this extended description will be granted.

 

Fascinating letter on State of New York, Executive Chamber, Albany stationery, dated March 11, 1932, to the Honorable William H. Kelley, perhaps a follow-up of sorts to the January 27, 1930 memo to Dr. Brooks which is also part of this collection.  FDR writes "Dear Will:/ Thanks for the clippings about that crackpot Mayor of yours. I shall wait until a favorable time in Syracuse and then dissect both him and Stone./ I am writing to Fred Betts. I am sorry to know about his father./ Yours very sincerely,/ FDR." William H. Kelley was a delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York in 1924 and 1928 (alternate). The Mayor of Syracuse in 1932 was Rolland B. Marvin, a Republican whose two-year term was to expire on December 31, 1933. The Assemblyman for the First District of Onondaga County during that year was Horace M. Stone, a Republican who was first elected to the Assembly in 1922. In the Franklin D. Roosevelt Papers as Governor of New York, 1929-1932, there is a file of correspondence with William H. Kelley (Series I: Correspondence; File: Kelley, William H.; Container 45). Mr. Kelley was the President of The Merchants National Bank & Trust Company of Syracuse, NY. On the carbon type copy of this original letter to which FDR responded in this letter, Mr. Kelley writes FDR about a compilation of newspaper articles concerning the attacks on FDR by Mayor Marvin and Assemblyman Stone. The newspaper articles in question, now part of the FDR Library, make reference to Mayor Marvin's possible gubernatorial aspirations, the Mayor's attacks on the Governor's state tax program, and Assemblyman Stone's parallel attacks on the floor of the Assembly. Also, interestingly, one of the articles states that Mayor Marvin and Assemblyman Stone were law partners at the time. Fred Betts was the City Editor of The Syracuse Herald whose father, the Reverend Doctor Betts, passed away the week prior. Copies of this supporting documentation, including other correspondences between FDR and Mr. Kelley obtained from the FDR Library, accompany this original letter from FDR. What a fantastic letter: FDR as the sitting New York governor at the time, actively planning his first run for the Presidency, writing to a friend about the "crackpot" mayor of Syracuse, and how he will "dissect" him! The "R" in FDR's signature is the largest and most magnificent fountain pen stroke of this first letter in his last name that I have ever seen, a truly interesting and historic letter.



Auction Info

Auction Dates
June, 2008
7th Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 1
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Sold on Jun 7, 2008 for: $298.75
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