America 250 — Landmark Documents from President Roosevelt’s Early American History Collections
Follow our #America250 series of articles highlighting hundreds of remarkable historical documents, manuscripts, and rare books collected personally by Franklin D. Roosevelt. These special collections reflect Roosevelt’s abiding interests in early American history, our nation’s founding fathers, the American Revolution; and they evidence the personal importance he placed on historical preservation of American heritage. President Roosevelt donated each of these treasures to the National Archives so they would be permanently preserved and made available for public research and exhibition at the FDR Presidential Library & Museum in Hyde Park, NY.
For our next article, we reveal another fascinating letter from within President Roosevelt’s personal collection of historical manuscripts – this one written by prominent New Yorker, and a founding father, Robert R. Livingston to Benjamin Franklin, who was then leading the American peace delegation at Paris, on November 21, 1782.
Robert R. Livingston lived a remarkable life which included serving on the “Committee of Five,” which was tasked by the Continental Congress to draft the Declaration of Independence (he was unable to sign the Declaration however).
Livingston was the first Chancellor of New York (1777-1801), the highest judicial officer in the state, and as such, administered the presidential oath of office to George Washington at his first inauguration in New York City, the nation’s capital at the time. He would be known as “The Chancellor” for the rest of his life. He also served as minister to France during President Jefferson’s first term, during which he helped negotiate the Louisiana Purchase agreement in 1803.
While in France, Livingston also met and partnered with Robert Fulton to develop a steamboat and the two later built the world’s first commercially successful one, named the North River Steamboat (known also as Clermont). For contemporary audiences however, Livingston’s persona may be most recognizable for having a small part in the classic musical production of “1776.”
In Livingston’s letter to Benjamin Franklin (see also its transcription), he begins with exciting news that Thomas Jefferson had just been appointed by Congress to the peace commission headed by Franklin. He continues with a glowing recommendation and asks Franklin to present this announcement, along with Mr. Jefferson’s credentials, to the French court. This leads one to wonder – did anyone clear this with Thomas Jefferson first? Perhaps not, as he did not join the peace delegation. Instead, Thomas Jefferson would stay in America, but would later serve as a minister to France, beginning in 1784.
Livingston continues his letter with humor, as he vents his frustration at the dragging peace process – when suddenly letters are replaced by numbers. What was once a convivial conversation, now takes on hushed tones. Using a diplomatic code, Livingston (revealed once the cypher was decoded) begins to disclose updates on the military picture from America, such as the current location of the French Army and Navy.
Espionage is often associated with the Cold War, but American diplomats such as Benjamin Franklin, serving in France during the American Revolution, could never be certain their mail was safe from prying eyes in Paris. Such information as found in Livingston’s letter, could have proven useful to the British, and so portions were encrypted. Even the safety of America’s shores brought no guarantee for Livingston either, as spies and informants at home were known to be gathering intelligence for the British military and its government.
For more information, read: Revolutionary Secrets: Cryptology in the American Revolution
Livingston concludes his letter to Franklin with, among other things, a postscript referring to a poetry sample and proposals from a Mr. Barlow for Franklin to examine and give his feedback. Such is the life of success and fame – Benjamin Franklin can no more escape the requests for time, advice, and endorsement, than a modern record producer or studio executive. Perhaps President Roosevelt smiled whenever he read this portion, as he could certainly relate.
This letter can be found in the Hudson River Valley and Dutchess County Manuscript Collection, part of the President’s personal papers preserved at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
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