"To Capture a Great Dream Before it Dies" Historians often speculate what FDR would have done after the presidency had he lived. Would he write his memoirs? Would he run the United Nations? Recently, one of our archivists came across this exchange of letters between Librarian of Congress Archibald MacLeish and FDR that sheds some … Continue reading Found in the Archives
The Roosevelt Library celebrated President's Day Weekend with a host of afternoon events last Saturday, February 18. Washington College Professor of History Richard Striner, author of "Lincoln's Way: How Six Great Presidents Created American Power," delivered a fascinating talk on Presidential power to an audience of 85 attendees. Following the lecture visitors were invited to … Continue reading Public Programs News and Events
Mary Jikhars I am one of the most recent additions to the staff of the FDR Library, having started work as the assistant to Director Lynn Bassanese in May, 2011. After graduating with a B.A. degree in English Lit from Marist College in 1998, I enlisted in the U.S. Army to become a Linguist (98G) … Continue reading Staff Perspectives
Assassination Attempt Lead Bullet Fragment in Case (MO 1946.81.1) On February 15, 1933, President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt attended a reception at Bayfront Park in Miami, Florida. After addressing a crowd of supporters from atop the back seat of an open car, Roosevelt slid back down his seat. Suddenly, gunshots rang out. An unemployed bricklayer … Continue reading From the Museum
FDR’s Naval Boatcloak (MO 1981.54) FDR wore this distinctive wool and velvet cloak during his trip to the Yalta Conference in the Crimea, Ukraine, in February 1945. It is a U.S. Navy regulation officer’s boatcloak. Roosevelt wore similar boatcloaks during other trips he made during his presidency. The image of FDR in these cloaks is … Continue reading From the Museum
To prepare the lower levels of the historic Library building for the next phase of renovation the Museum staff is moving all 35,000 artifacts to the attic floor. ARTEX Fine Art Services is assisting the staff with the move. The massive museum collection—including campaign memorabilia, ship models and naval prints, clothing and presidential gifts—will be … Continue reading Renovation Update
FDR and Japanese American Internment February 2012 marks the 70th anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 9066. The decision to intern Japanese Americans is widely viewed by historians and legal scholars as a blemish on Roosevelt’s wartime record. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the FBI arrested over 1200 Japanese aliens throughout the … Continue reading Franklin D. Roosevelt Day by Day – February
Marion Dickerman’s Toga Costume (MO 1975.38a-b) Franklin Roosevelt’s harsher critics sometimes compared him to a dictator. In 1934, the President and his staff turned this criticism into a lighthearted joke at FDR’s 52nd birthday party. The party was held on January 30, 1934, at the White House by members of the Cuff Links Gang, … Continue reading From the Museum
As we're nearing the last days of January the National Archives staff -- along with our friends at the National Park Service -- prepares to celebrate Franklin D. Roosevelt's birthday on January 30th. At 3:00 p.m. the National Park Service will hold a Rose Garden Ceremony and, following the ceremony, the FDR Presidential Library will … Continue reading Public Programs News & Events
75th Anniversary of FDR's Second Inaugural and a New Inauguration Day January 20, 2012 marks the 75th anniversary of Franklin Roosevelt's Second Inaugural Address. It also marks the first time that a president was sworn in on January 20th, the date having been moved by the 20th Amendment to the United States Constitution. Previously, American … Continue reading Found in the Archives
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