Franklin D. Roosevelt: Typed Letter Unsigned with Autograph Note....

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An interesting typed letter, unsigned, with 20 words in FDR's own hand to Robert Moses, dated June 4, 1932. This is a draft of the final letter sent by FDR as Governor of New York to Moses, then the Chairman of the Long Island State Park Commission. FDR writes: "Dear Bob:–/ On looking into the statutes I do not think that there is any necessity at all for the appointment of any committee by me or by Colonel Greene for negotiating with the Board of Estimate and Apportionment in New York City relative to the Nassau–Queens–Kings Parkways./ The statute provides that the Superintendent of Public Works should build them on plans and specifications to be approved by the Long Island State Park Commission and the Board of Estimate and Apportionment. It seems, therefore, obvious that Colonel Greene or one of his Deputies and a nominee of the Long Island State Park Commission, preferably its Chairman, should negotiate with the Board of Estimate and Apportionment on these plans./ I think, therefore, that the obvious thing to do is for yourself, as nominee of the Commission, and Colonel Greene, or an appointee of his, to proceed with this work. [In FDR's own hand]: In other words this is a direct function of yours and Colonel Greene's and requires no action of the Governor./ Very sincerely yours," The document contains several stamps indicating it was received by the Superintendent of Public Works on June 7, 1932 and the Commissioner of Highways on June 9, 1932. Robert Moses (1888-1981) was a ranking member of the "kitchen cabinet" in the administration of Alfred E. Smith, FDR's predecessor as New York governor. Moses was an acid-tongued secretary of state under Smith, who was expected to remain in that capacity upon FDR becoming governor of New York in 1929. Moses was quoted as saying of FDR "he'll make a good candidate but a lousy governor." In order to avoid a break with Smith, FDR allowed Moses to remain as the chairman of the state Council of Parks. The ill will between FDR and Moses was alleged to be rooted in the refusal of Moses to put Louis McHenry Howe on the state payroll as secretary of the Taconic State Park Commission when Al Smith was governor. At the time FDR was the chairman of the commission. "If you want to pay personal debts and take care of your secretary, you can't do it in the park system," Moses later said he told FDR. A fascinating and direct note, absent the cordiality of most of FDR's other letters, memos, notes, and other documents in this FDR Collection, to one of his least favorite people, Robert Moses, with twenty words written by FDR in his own hand.