Franklin D. Roosevelt

White House commemorative cover with a cachet honoring the USS Indianapolis Pan-American Presidential Cruise in 1936, signed along the top left edge, “Franklin D. Roosevelt.” Envelope bears a vertical notation, “USS Indianapolis,” along the left edge, and is addressed in another hand to US Navy Captain William R. Van Auku. In fine condition. President Roosevelt boarded the USS Indianapolis—his personal 'Ship of State'—on November 18, 1936, for a “Good Neighbor Tour” cruise to South America, including the Pan American Conference in Buenos Aires. The trip marked the first time that a sitting president had visited outside North America. The USS Indianapolis was later sunk by the Japanese after two torpedo hits on the night of July 30, 1945. Out of the crew of 900 who survived the sinking, only 316 survived the shark-infested Pacific waters. It was the worst loss of life in the history of the United States Navy.

Format: FDC