.jpg?w=1)
Details
ROOSEVELT, Franklin D. (1882-1945), President. Autograph letter signed ("Franklin D. Roosevelt"), as President, to Mme. R. Besson-Maufrangeas, Marakeich, 24 January 1943. 2 pages, 4to, blank integral, on White House stationery, autograph White House envelope. WITH SIGNED AND INSCRIBED COPY OF: LUDWIG, Emil. Roosevelt. Paris: Flammarion, 1938. Illustrated. 8o, paper wrappers. Signed and inscribed on the front wrapper: "For Mme. R. Maufrangeas-Besson, from the subject of the book, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Casablanca, Jan. 24 1943."
IT'S JANUARY 1943 IN CASABLANCA...AND ROOSEVELT DISCOVERS "A BOOK I HAD NOT READ!"
A witty and rare autograph letter from F.D.R. as President, written to his host at the close of the famous Casablanca conference. "I had hoped to have had the pleasure of seeing you in Casablanca before I departed this morning, but as I could not, I want you to know that I am very grateful to have had the use of your charming house as my headquarters. I was most comfortable in every way. In my room I found this copy of a book I had not read! And I have thought in sending it back to you that I might add the real name of the subject of the book. I thank you again for your hospitality." Roosevelt met with Churchill in the Moroccan city from 14 to 24 January, where the two leaders discussed their next military moves following the successful invasion of North Africa (Operation Torch) in November 1942. Would the Allies concentrate their forces on invading France in 1943 or turn their resources elsewhere? Many of F.D.R.'s military chiefs were eager for a cross-Channel invasion but Churchill opposed it, fearing a repeat of the draining trench warfare of the Great War. To Stalin's disgust, the Americans and British adopted Churchill's plan to invade Sicily and Italy. At the close of the conference Roosevelt made his bold and controversial announcement that the Allies would accept nothing less than the full, unconditional surrender of the Axis powers. He hoped it would reassure Stalin that his American and British partners would seek no separate peace with Hitler.
For the ten days of the conference Roosevelt made his home in the villa of Mme. Besson-Maufrangeas (F.D.R. reverses her name in his inscription and envelope), situated in Anfa Superieur, just five miles outside of Casablanca. The site--selected by General Eisenhower--was heavily protected by both Third Army personnel and Secret Service agents. This French-language copy of Ludwig's popular biography which F.D.R. found in the villa contains a warm evaluation of its subject: "In him there emerges before us, amid the lightning and stage thunder of the dictators, a man who occupying the seat of government, enjoys power without abusing it, who is conducting a silent revolution through persuasion and humor, and who demonstrates to our age that the power of action which issues from a heart informed by justice works with deeper and more enduring effect than all the devices of the gloomy demagogues." (2)
IT'S JANUARY 1943 IN CASABLANCA...AND ROOSEVELT DISCOVERS "A BOOK I HAD NOT READ!"
A witty and rare autograph letter from F.D.R. as President, written to his host at the close of the famous Casablanca conference. "I had hoped to have had the pleasure of seeing you in Casablanca before I departed this morning, but as I could not, I want you to know that I am very grateful to have had the use of your charming house as my headquarters. I was most comfortable in every way. In my room I found this copy of a book I had not read! And I have thought in sending it back to you that I might add the real name of the subject of the book. I thank you again for your hospitality." Roosevelt met with Churchill in the Moroccan city from 14 to 24 January, where the two leaders discussed their next military moves following the successful invasion of North Africa (Operation Torch) in November 1942. Would the Allies concentrate their forces on invading France in 1943 or turn their resources elsewhere? Many of F.D.R.'s military chiefs were eager for a cross-Channel invasion but Churchill opposed it, fearing a repeat of the draining trench warfare of the Great War. To Stalin's disgust, the Americans and British adopted Churchill's plan to invade Sicily and Italy. At the close of the conference Roosevelt made his bold and controversial announcement that the Allies would accept nothing less than the full, unconditional surrender of the Axis powers. He hoped it would reassure Stalin that his American and British partners would seek no separate peace with Hitler.
For the ten days of the conference Roosevelt made his home in the villa of Mme. Besson-Maufrangeas (F.D.R. reverses her name in his inscription and envelope), situated in Anfa Superieur, just five miles outside of Casablanca. The site--selected by General Eisenhower--was heavily protected by both Third Army personnel and Secret Service agents. This French-language copy of Ludwig's popular biography which F.D.R. found in the villa contains a warm evaluation of its subject: "In him there emerges before us, amid the lightning and stage thunder of the dictators, a man who occupying the seat of government, enjoys power without abusing it, who is conducting a silent revolution through persuasion and humor, and who demonstrates to our age that the power of action which issues from a heart informed by justice works with deeper and more enduring effect than all the devices of the gloomy demagogues." (2)