Details
ROOSEVELT, FRANKLIN D., President. Typed letter signed ("Franklin D. Roosevelt") as Governor, to Edward I. Wade in Cleveland, 9 June 1932. One page, 4to, on State of New York Executive Chamber stationery.
FDR'S EVASIONS ON TAMMANY HALL
"Thank you for sending me the clippings and for your frank comments on the New York political situation. I am glad to have this opportunity to assure you that as Governor of New York I have acted promptly, and shall continue so to act, on all evidences of official wrong-doing properly submitted to me. It is not always understood that our state constitution contains a rigorous home rule clause which gives the different cities almost complete autonomy. You may be sure that I shall live up to my oath of office and administer my duties without fear or favor of any locality, organization or individual...".
During Roosevelt's dynamic term as Governor of New York from 1929-33, the one area in which he showed indecisiveness was in dealing with the corruption of the New York City government. While revelations of the Tammany organization's misdemeanors were inundating the press and leaders across the political spectrum were urging the Governor to step in, he vacillated beÿtwen energetic promises and argments of his legal incapacity to intervene. The truth was that he hesitated to lose the political support of the Tammany block. Only after his presidential nomination, a week or two after writing this letter, did he take effective measures, by presiding over a hearing investigating charges against New York City's Mayor James Walker, who resigned in September.
FDR'S EVASIONS ON TAMMANY HALL
"Thank you for sending me the clippings and for your frank comments on the New York political situation. I am glad to have this opportunity to assure you that as Governor of New York I have acted promptly, and shall continue so to act, on all evidences of official wrong-doing properly submitted to me. It is not always understood that our state constitution contains a rigorous home rule clause which gives the different cities almost complete autonomy. You may be sure that I shall live up to my oath of office and administer my duties without fear or favor of any locality, organization or individual...".
During Roosevelt's dynamic term as Governor of New York from 1929-33, the one area in which he showed indecisiveness was in dealing with the corruption of the New York City government. While revelations of the Tammany organization's misdemeanors were inundating the press and leaders across the political spectrum were urging the Governor to step in, he vacillated beÿtwen energetic promises and argments of his legal incapacity to intervene. The truth was that he hesitated to lose the political support of the Tammany block. Only after his presidential nomination, a week or two after writing this letter, did he take effective measures, by presiding over a hearing investigating charges against New York City's Mayor James Walker, who resigned in September.