Franklin D. Roosevelt: Typed Letter Signed as a Partner in the Emmet, Marvin & Roosevelt Law Firm....

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FDR writes to Edwin A. Elsbach, Esq., of San Francisco, California, relating to what would become known as the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, just months before he contracted poliomyelitis. The letter, on Emmet, Marvin & Roosevelt" stationery, is dated May 25, 1921. FDR writes: "My dear Mr. Elsbach:/ Thank you for your letter of May 19th and for your offer to assist in the campaign./ The Committee discussed very carefully the suggestion which you have made in regard to adding the words ‘world peace' instead of merely ‘distinguished public service', and it was decided that while, of course, world peace would remain the great criterion in the award, there are so many other things which President Wilson exemplified that we want it as broad as possible in construction./ As a matter of fact, it might be difficult to make the award at any given time for lack of some particular individual or organization which had, at that particular time, contributed much toward world peace; and at the same time there might be some person or organization who had greatly contributed to some other branch of public service. Therefore, I think you will agree with me that it is better to leave the wording pretty general, with the understanding that world peace is the basis of it./ Very sincerely yours,/ Franklin D. Roosevelt." FDR was within several months of contracting poliomyelitis when he served as a leading participant in what was later entitled the Woodrow Wilson Foundation. The Wilson fund was termed by FDR the Wilson Memorial after this March, 1921 meeting, and the name of the fund was changed in July, 1921 to the Woodrow Wilson Foundation. The name had been adopted after the ailing ex-President had written FDR, on July 4, 1921, protesting in jocular fashion the use of the word "Memorial" to describe the fund which FDR was raising. "Memorial" implied that he, Woodrow Wilson, was dead whereas he hoped "in the near future to give frequent evidences" that he was not. FDR's attention to the Woodrow Wilson Foundation was his last duty in New York City before embarking on his vacation to his cottage at Campobello, where he suffered his attack of poliomyelitis in August, 1921. The unfolding of this initiative to honor President Wilson is showcased in this letter to Mr. Elsbach, with wonderful discussion given to the importance of world peace, in an early and rare letter from FDR in the last months before confronting the onset of poliomyelitis.