Details
ROOSEVELT, FRANKIN DELANO, President. Fourteen typed letters signed ("Franklin D Rooosevelt"), four as Governor of New York, one as President-elect, and nine as President, to Tom J. Terral, Governor of Arkansas; Albany and Hyde Park, New York, and Washington, 9 March 1931 - 8 February 1939. Together 14 pages, 4to, the first four on Executive Chamber or Executive Mansion letterhead stationery, the fifth on FDR's personal Hyde Park stationery, the remainder on White House stationery, edges of fourth letter frayed, a few minor stains.
As Governor of New York from 1929 to 1933, Roosevelt enacted a number of progressive measures, including reducing the working week of women and children to 48 hours, extending workmen's compensation, and creating a Temporary Relief Agency to help the growing population of the unemployed. His campaign against incumbent President Hoover centered around his record as Governor, both his own Democratic party and the Republicans citing it as support for their arguments. The earlier letters in this series touch more closely on political matters than do the later, more formal notes from the White House:
9 March 1931: "I want much to come to Little Rock and when I do kill two birds with the one stone by going on to Austin. I fear that this spring there is little chance of my being able to do so because of the very late date of adjournment of our Legislature...". 20 March (inscribed "Personal" in FDR's hand): "...The very long and real affection that has existed between Governor [Alfred E.] Smith [FDR's predecessor in New York, and the Democratic presidential candidate in the previous elections] and myself is not likely to be broken over any political issues, even if we occasionally differ on some matters of interest to our party. I hope you will always find me standing on sound principles myself for I believe that after all it is what a man does and not what a man says that entitles him to the confidence of the people". 27 November: "...I think that on the whole things are going well for the party but I do hope that some of our friends will not start trouble along various unnecessary lines". 17 February 1933 (as President-elect): "It seems as though a special fatality attended our correspondence! I have just discovered that your friendly letter of congratulation sent me after the election has been mislaid, and therefore not acknowledged...I look forward...to talking over with you the problems which confront the new administration". 14 September 1936: "...It is very heartening to know that I hace such a straight-forward defender as yourself...". 13 April 1938: "... You have given expression to certain ideas and principles and have recalled certain facts which others with shorter memories seem entirely to have forgotten...". (14)
As Governor of New York from 1929 to 1933, Roosevelt enacted a number of progressive measures, including reducing the working week of women and children to 48 hours, extending workmen's compensation, and creating a Temporary Relief Agency to help the growing population of the unemployed. His campaign against incumbent President Hoover centered around his record as Governor, both his own Democratic party and the Republicans citing it as support for their arguments. The earlier letters in this series touch more closely on political matters than do the later, more formal notes from the White House:
9 March 1931: "I want much to come to Little Rock and when I do kill two birds with the one stone by going on to Austin. I fear that this spring there is little chance of my being able to do so because of the very late date of adjournment of our Legislature...". 20 March (inscribed "Personal" in FDR's hand): "...The very long and real affection that has existed between Governor [Alfred E.] Smith [FDR's predecessor in New York, and the Democratic presidential candidate in the previous elections] and myself is not likely to be broken over any political issues, even if we occasionally differ on some matters of interest to our party. I hope you will always find me standing on sound principles myself for I believe that after all it is what a man does and not what a man says that entitles him to the confidence of the people". 27 November: "...I think that on the whole things are going well for the party but I do hope that some of our friends will not start trouble along various unnecessary lines". 17 February 1933 (as President-elect): "It seems as though a special fatality attended our correspondence! I have just discovered that your friendly letter of congratulation sent me after the election has been mislaid, and therefore not acknowledged...I look forward...to talking over with you the problems which confront the new administration". 14 September 1936: "...It is very heartening to know that I hace such a straight-forward defender as yourself...". 13 April 1938: "... You have given expression to certain ideas and principles and have recalled certain facts which others with shorter memories seem entirely to have forgotten...". (14)