70th Anniversary of the Casablanca Conference – January 14-24, 1943 From 1942 to 1944 one subject dominated Allied strategic debate—the creation of a Second Front in Europe. This thorny issue caused friction between America, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union. It topped the agenda of the January 1943 summit meeting between FDR and Winston Churchill … Continue reading Casablanca Conference
Aquamarine Stone (MO 1947.115.1) Several weeks after winning his second presidential election, FDR boarded the cruiser USS Indianapolis for a month long “Good Neighbor” cruise to South America. On November 27, 1936, the President stopped at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he met with Brazilian President Getúlio Vargas. During this visit, President and Mrs. Vargas … Continue reading From the Museum
FDR's “Lucky” Campaign Hat (MO 1945.58.20) This hat is one of several distinctive “lucky” felt hats Franklin D. Roosevelt wore during his four presidential campaigns. As you can see in the photos below, these trademark fedoras were a common sight on the campaign trail. After the 1940 election, Roosevelt generously donated this hat to be … Continue reading From the Museum
1940 Wendell Willkie Campaign Buttons The 1940 election was the most challenging and divisive of FDR’s political career. The President’s decision to seek an unprecedented third term inflamed his opponents—and some former supporters—who charged he wanted to become a dictator. And his efforts to aid countries fighting the Axis Powers led to charges he would … Continue reading From the Museum
1936 Podium (M.O. 2007.125) This aluminum and steel podium was specially designed for use by FDR during a 1936 presidential campaign stop at the new Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri—an immense structure built with funds from the New Deal’s Public Works Administration (PWA). A plaque inside the podium reads, “Presented by the citizens of … Continue reading From the Museum
Roosevelt Campaign Posters Franklin Roosevelt is the only American president elected to four terms. The campaign posters seen above represent all four of his presidential campaigns—1932, 1936, 1940, and 1944. Before the era of television and the internet, campaign posters were one of the primary visual tools used by presidential candidates. These posters reflected … Continue reading From the Museum
Hispanic Heritage Month: September 15, 2012 – October 15, 2012 “Holy Family” Carving (MO 1956.328) This pine carving, titled “Holy Family,” was created by artist Patrocinio “Pat” Barela in 1936 while he was employed by the New Deal’s Works Progress Administration (WPA). President Roosevelt created the WPA by executive order in 1935 to provide … Continue reading From the Museum
Model of Independence Hall in Philadelphia (MO 1941.12.38) “Philadelphia is a good city in which to write American history. This is fitting ground on which to reaffirm the faith of our fathers; to pledge ourselves to restore to the people a wider freedom; to give to 1936 as the founders gave to 1776—an American way … Continue reading From the Museum
Summertime in Hyde Park "All that is within me cries out to go back to my home on the Hudson River" - Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1944 Springwood Springwood, FDR’s childhood home, was often called Roosevelt’s “Summer White House.” Owned by his mother Sara until her death in 1941, the property remained Roosevelt’s home throughout his … Continue reading From the Museum
Social Security Placard (MO 2012.2.4) Soon after its enactment, FDR began working to expand Social Security. Congress ignored his calls to open coverage to farm and domestic workers and other excluded groups. But in 1939, lawmakers passed amendments that added Social Security benefits for the spouse and minor children of retired workers. Congress also provided … Continue reading From the Museum
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