Franklin D. Roosevelt: Autograph Memo as President to Francis Perkins Regarding Social Security.. -February 27, 1935. [Washi... (Total: 2 Items)

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Put with my memorabilia...

Franklin D. Roosevelt: Autograph Memo as President to Francis Perkins Regarding Social Security.
-February 27, 1935. [Washington D.C.]. One page. 5" x 8", plain paper.
-To: Labor Secretary Francis Perkins.
-Rusty paperclip imprint, else very fine.

This is a very rare and important note, written by FDR to his secretary of labor, concerning the Social Security legislation that was being crafted during this period. He writes (in pencil), in full: "Unemployment insurance as applied to Colleges' & Universities' employees. This will bankrupt a large % of the private institutions." Secretary Perkins writes in her own hand below FDR's feedback: "Written by F. D. Roosevelt Pres. Of the U.S.A. as memo to me to exempt this from Social Security Bill. February 27th 1935./ Frances Perkins/ Sec. Of Labor." Attached to this historic note is another note, on 4" x 5" Department of Labor stationery, also in Secretary Perkins' hand (written in pencil): "Put with my memorabilia." Obviously, Perkins thought at the time that this was important enough to keep in her own collection of memorabilia.

Francis Perkins served ably in her position from 1933 to 1945, the first female ever appointed to a cabinet-level position. The Social Security Act was signed into law on August 14, 1935 and photos of Roosevelt signing the bill show Perkins standing just behind him. After FDR's death and her resignation from the cabinet, Perkins wrote a book about her years of service, The Roosevelt I Knew. An amazing item with association to one of the most important pieces of legislature passed during the FDR years.