Franklin D. Roosevelt Requests Campaign Assistance in his Bid for Senator

Franklin D. Roosevelt
Washington, D.C., September 10, 1914
Franklin D. Roosevelt Requests Campaign Assistance in his Bid for Senator
TLS

A fine association typed letter signed by FDR as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, addressed to Hon. Clayton L. Wheeler, Roosevelt's former colleague in the Senate. 1p. on his Assistant Secretary of the Navy letterhead, Washington, D.C., dated September 10, 1914, measuring 7" x 9.25". Very slight scuffing at right margin, otherwise near fine condition. Ex: Estate of Malcolm Forbes, Jr.

Marked "Personal" at top left, it reads, in part: "…I am hoping for your active support of my candidacy at the coming primaries and I am therefore going to ask you to become a member of my personal campaign committee and to allow me to use your name as such…It will be of really great assistance in my candidacy and I know you will understand…".

Signed just three months after the start of World War I, when Roosevelt found himself at odds with Wilson's administration in his desire for the Navy to play a greater role in the war. Frustrated with Wilson's opposition, he undertook a bid for Senator for his home state of New York. Despite the support of politicians such as Wheeler, Roosevelt lost the bid and remained as Assistant Secretary of the Navy for the duration of the war.

Clayton L. Wheeler (1876-1950) was a prominent New York politician who, with Roosevelt, undertook to oppose the Democrats in Tammany Hall. The two remained political allies, with Roosevelt saying of Wheeler in 1928: "there isn't a finer citizen anywhere in the State of New York than my friend your fellow townsman." (Franklin D. Roosevelt, The Master Speech Files).

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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7" x 9.25"