Hollywood loves blockbuster films about World War II and the new “Midway” promises to be another box office success. It tells the story of one of the most important and dramatic naval battles in history. Here, you can read the top secret dispatches that came to the White House during that battle. The spring of … Continue reading Midway – The Battle That Changed the War in the Pacific
Exploring the Archives Dr. Abby Gondek is the Roosevelt Institute’s 2019-2020 Morgenthau Scholar-in-Residence. Here she blogs her research and work in support of the Morgenthau Holocaust Collections Project – a digital history and pathfinding initiative to raise awareness of the FDR Library’s unique but under-explored resources for Holocaust Studies. Henry Morgenthau Jr. Henry Morgenthau Jr. … Continue reading Updates: Morgenthau Holocaust Collections Project
American troops head toward Omaha Beach, June 6, 1944. At 9:57 pm on D-Day, June 6, 1944, FDR sat in front of a microphone in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House waiting to begin a national radio address. Earlier in the day the President had held a press conference in the Oval Office … Continue reading FDR’s D-Day Prayer
FDR with Winston Churchill at the Casablanca Conference, January 1943. The year 1943 dawned with the slightest glimmer of hope that the balance of power in World War 2 was slowly shifting in the Allies favor. In the Pacific the Americans had won a bloody victory on Guadalcanal, and on the Eastern Front the Russian … Continue reading FDR, Churchill and their secret code names for Casablanca
The holiday season brings about the list maker in all of us, well, at least in those of us who give gifts—or make lists. The President certainly took a hands on approach to the Christmas season. We have folders of official gift lists accounting for hundreds of people. We've highlighted the gifts he bestowed in … Continue reading Making His List and Checking It Twice
Eighty-one years ago today, on December 15, 1937, the President broke with tradition to receive the new Nicaraguan ambassador to the United States, Dr. Leon DeBayle (sometimes de Bayle or De Bayle), in his West Wing office, not the White House Blue Room. Photo: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Though nattily attired in a … Continue reading A Diplomatic Break–In Tradition
By Paul M. Sparrow, Director, FDR Library. The Pare Lorentz Film Center at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum has produced a new animated video on FDR and the Dust Bowl. This video was created by FDR’s great-granddaughter Perrin Ireland. We hope teachers will use it to help their students better understand this important … Continue reading FDR and the Dust Bowl
By Herman Eberhardt, Supervisory Museum Curator. When I arrived as the new museum curator at the Roosevelt Library in the summer of 2003 I set to work understanding the museum’s rich collection of over 34,000 objects. My review turned up much that I expected to find. But there were also more than a few surprises. … Continue reading New Exhibit and Book Spotlight Museum’s World War II Posters
By J. Tomney, FDR Presidential Library volunteer. The sons and daughters of thousands of American families heeded the call to serve their country during World War II. The four sons of America’s First Family were counted among those that served with distinction and honor for the duration of the war. The Roosevelt boys – Jimmy, … Continue reading Sons of the Commander in Chief: The Roosevelt Boys in World War II
By Paul Sparrow, Director, FDR Library. Every year on November 11th people all over the world honor and thank those who served their country. Today in the United States November 11th is known as Veterans Day, but until 1954 it was Armistice Day, honoring the millions who had served or been killed in World … Continue reading A Veterans Day to Remember: 11/11/42
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