813502
Franklin D. Roosevelt
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Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1882-1945. 32nd President of the United States, 1933-1945. Typed Letter Signed, Franklin D. Roosevelt, one page, 7” x 8⅞”, with integral leaf attached, on stationery of The White House, Washington, [D.C.], May 4, 1936.
Roosevelt, intent on seeking a second term, thanks Lynn R. Brodrick of the Kansas Democratic Party for the state convention’s unanimous support, which he says gave him “renewed strength and new courage to go on with the work.”
He writes: “It is indeed encouraging to receive the assurances of support and loyalty which you convey in your telegram . . . advising me that the Kansas State Democratic State Convention at Wichita had voted an [sic] unanimous endorsement of the Administration. This action on the part of the Democrats of Kansas gives me renewed strength and new courage to go on with the work.”
The work to which FDR refers was his monumental effort to pull the United States out of the Great Depression. In 1932, with the nation mired in the depression’s darkest days, Roosevelt was elected President of the United States. He told Americans that “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” He embarked on a series of aggressive economic measures and governmental regulations that he termed the “New Deal.” Americans overwhelmingly reelected him in 1936 by a landslide 61%-36% margin in the popular vote, and a 523-8 margin in the electoral vote, over Kansas Governor Alfred M. Landon. FDR eventually saw the nation through the Great Depression and World War II. The exigencies of war led to his unprecedented elections to third and fourth terms in 1940 and 1944.
Historians rank Roosevelt among the top five American presidents.
Lynn Rosegrant Brodrick, to whom FDR wrote this letter, was an active and influential Kansas Democrat. Born in Missouri in 1892, Brodrick was the business manager and part owner, along with his father, of the Marysville, Kansas, Advocate-Democrat, one of the most influential newspapers in northeast Kansas. In 1915, at age 23, Brodrick was elected chairman of the Marshall County, Kansas, Democratic Central Committee. He served as the Collector, and later the Director, of Internal Revenue for the District of Kansas. Records at the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, show that Brodrick was one of several Collectors of Internal Revenue who met with President Harry S. Truman on October 8, 1946. Brodrick was a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar, held Masonic offices, and was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
Roosevelt has boldly signed this letter with a 4¼” fountain pen signature. The letter has mounting remnants on the back of the integral leaf from prior framing, not affecting the appearance of the letter, and the front and integral leaves are tipped together at the upper right. The letter has one normal mailing fold and is in fine to very fine condition overall. It would beautiful a framed display.
Unframed. Click here for information about custom framing this piece.
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