Outstanding Lengthy TLS as Presidential Candidate on his Progressive Platform

Signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt

$1750

Item: 21335

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ROOSEVELT, FRANKLIN D. (1882-1945). Thirty-second president of the United States. TLS. (“Franklin D. Roosevelt”). 1½pp. 4to. Albany, June 1, 1932. On two separate sheets, the first of which is his governor’s stationery with a gold-embossed seal of New York. To Mr. W.A. Wilson of Exeland, Wisconsin.

“Let me assure you that I appreciate your recent letter and your frank expression of opinion. I am always glad to have all the criticism, suggestion and comment which I can possibly obtain.

In a way, I agree with you that my views are ‘old’. So are the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount. In other words, it is not easy to be original in stating fundamental principles and truths which we all recognize and which are all too often overlooked.

I have felt that it was most important to analyze the fundamental questions now before our country before we proceed to build for the future. I can assure you that as Governor of New York my administration has been a progressive one and that we have had to meet fairly and squarely many of the problems which now confront the country as a whole. We have had a balanced budget; we were the first state in the nation to vote practical financial relief for the unemployed; we have made an intelligent and helpful survey of seasonal industries, thereby creating many jobs and stabilizing others, and we have actually reduced taxes by applying common-sense methods to our administration.

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There is of course still much to be done, but I must say that I am proud of the fact that during the last three years both the city laborer and the country farmer have profited by the progressive legislation passed in this state.

I am enclosing one or two pamphlets which will give you further details as to what we have done.

I can assure you that I read with deep interest your enclosed memorandum. With your permission I shall keep this in the file of material which I have collected for constant reference on the subjects you cover.

I shall be glad to hear from you at any time and appreciate your patriotic desire to contribute to the good of our people as a whole…”

Franklin D. Roosevelt

After spending the years 1921 to 1924 trying to recover from polio, Roosevelt triumphantly returned to public life with his New York gubernatorial victory in 1928. Following the October, 1929 stock market crash, the American economy started to unravel as the country sank into the Great Depression. As governor, FDR offered tax relief to New York farmers and created the first state relief agency in the U.S.

His bold initiatives earned him national prominence and the Democratic presidential nomination in July 1932. In an unprecedented move, Roosevelt accepted the convention’s nomination in person rather than wait for the formal ceremony several weeks later. It was at the convention that Roosevelt promised a “new deal for the American people” and in November he was elected to the first of four terms. His first hundred days in office were marked by drastic reforms that brought immediate relief to the American people. These policies were followed by additional initiatives that comprised Roosevelt’s New Deal and helped restore much of the economy while dramatically changing the nature of American government.

Interestingly, Roosevelt, an Episcopalian, touts the progressive legislation he enacted as governor and refers to the “fundamental principles and truths” contained in the Bible’s Ten Commandments and Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.

Marked “Personal” by FDR. Lightly age toned with normal folding and in very good condition.

Outstanding Lengthy TLS as Presidential Candidate on his Progressive Platform

Signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt