Description:

Franklin Roosevelt
various, ca. 1945
FDR Rare 1945 Archive: One of His Last Projects Days Before His Death, Charges of Communism Directed At Joseph Lash, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Biographer & Eleanor's Close Friend
Archive

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962). Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945). A rare presidential archive of seven items largely concerning charges of communism aimed at Eleanor Roosevelt's close personal friend and future-biographer Joseph P. Lash (1909-1907). An exceptional collection of controversial presidential materials in overall near fine condition.

Comprises:

1) Henry Lewis Stimson (1867-1950). Typed Letter Signed, "Henry L. Stimson," as Secretary of War to President Roosevelt, 1p, on War Department letterhead hand stamped "Secret" at top and bottom, 8.5" x 11", Washington, D.C., no date. Expected mailing folds and creases. Faint rusted paper clip impression at top left and lower left portion. Light handling wear and minor soiling. Very boldly signed.

In full, "Dear Mr. President: Technical Sergeant Joseph Lash was admitted on January 18 to Officer Candidate School in accordance with what is understood to have been your direction to General Watson to see that Sergeant Lash was not precluded from attending Officer Candidate School because of his beliefs and affiliations in civilian life. At present he is undergoing training to qualify him for a commission. / There has been brought to my attention the result of an Army investigation of Sergeant Lash, while a soldier and without reference to his civilian activities before induction. This investigation indicates that Sergeant Lash lacks the necessary qualifications expected in an officer. Sergeant Lash has stated in writing that while a soldier his job was to work out ways by which the Army could be made a political force. This statement, even without his continued maintenance of political contacts while in the Army, requires me to conclude that Sergeant Lash has such a misconception of his function in the Army that he should not be commissioned or assigned to sensitive duties and should be removed from Officer Candidate School without further delay. / I wished you to be informed of the situation and the action I propose to take unless I hear from you to the contrary. / I think you know that the Military Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives has appointed a Special Committee to investigate the commissioning of subversive personnel. This Special Committee has expressed deep interest and is specifically inquiring as to the case of Sergeant Lash. There is every indication that the Special Committee will press us for information regarding Sergeant Lash and his beliefs and activities, which I feel must, in accordance with our usual practice, be kept confidential; but irrespective of the investigation, I have concluded that the action I have outlined above is necessary. Respectively yours, (Signed) Henry L. Stimson / Secretary of War."

2) Franklin D. Roosevelt. Typed Note Signed in Type, "F.D.R.," 1p, on White House letterhead, 5" x 8", Washington, D.C., April 6, 1945. Expected folds and creases. Pencil notations from previous collector at upper right. Small ink smudge at bottom blank margin.

In full: "MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF WAR / Please take no action in regard to Sergeant Lash continuing at Officer Candidate School until my return. / F.D.R."

3) Franklin D. Roosevelt. Typed Note Signed in Type, "F.D.R.," 1p, on White House letterhead, 5" x 8", Washington, D.C., April 6, 1945. Expected folds and creases. Pencil notations from previous collector at upper right. Minor soiling and toning. Accompanied by an unstamped transmittal envelope, no postmark, addressed in type: "Miss Grace Tully, The White House, Washington, D.C." Typed address crossed out and penciled above in an unidentified hand: "Anne Boettiger."

In full: "MEMORANDUM FOR E.R. / The enclosed took me entirely by surprise this morning. Apparently they (probably the same crowd) are trying to 'get' Joe. I think that speed is essential and I wired Stimson today to do nothing further about withholding his commission until I get back. In the meantime, I think it important that you should see Stimson about it. His former connections apparently had nothing to do with the case and the evidence is apparently new in regard to his political activities. Exactly what this evidence is, I have no way of telling. Therefore, it seems best that you should take it up with Stimson. / F.D.R."

4, 5) Franklin D. Roosevelt. Typed Note Signed in Type, "F.D.R.," 1p, on White House letterhead, 5" x 8", Washington, D.C., April 9, 1945. Expected folds and creases. Scattered faint rusted paper clip impressions. Minor soiling and discoloration.

In full: "MEMORANDUM FOR COLONEL JOHN BOETTIGER / Dear John: In regard to the man we were speaking of the other day, I wish you would find out from the Secretary of War just what there is against him at the present time. The Secretary tells me that it had nothing to do with his opinions of several years ago, sometime before he was in the Army. / F.D.R."

6, 7) Eleanor Roosevelt. Autograph Letter Signed, "L.L.," 1p, on her personalized stationery measuring 2.5" x 3.5", no place, no date. Accompanied by a small ivory envelope with printed "The White House / Washington" at upper left corner. Addressed in Eleanor Roosevelt's hand, "John."

In part: "John dear, don't worry yourself! ...will ever come between us. May you...be happy & remember how much I love you all. L.L."

This rare archive of presidential materials largely concerns Joseph Lash, Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, whose friendship of over 20 years with the First Lady was one that her daughter, Anna Roosevelt Boettiger, called "as close a relationship as I ever knew Mother to have." Lash, who "had been swept up in the revolutionary fervor of the 1930s," was a one-time member of the Socialist Party and "had served as national secretary of the American Student Union, a militant popular-front organization committed to radical change" (Kearns Goodwin, No Ordinary Time, 122).

Lash met Eleanor Roosevelt in 1939 when he was called to testify before the anti-communist Dies Committee. The two quickly became close, sharing an intimate yet platonic friendship that would attract the interest of J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI. After the United States entered the war, the First Lady intervened on Lash's behalf and "pulled strings in an attempt to get him a commission in Naval Intelligence. But, given his 'suspected communist affiliations,' the Navy didn't want him, in any capacity, and in April 1942 Lash was drafted into the Army" (Gentry, J. Edgar Hoover, 304).

Joseph Lash would become a distinguished historian, writing biographies of figures such as Dag Hammarskjold and Helen Keller. "But it was Eleanor and Franklin, the first installment in his two-volume biography of Mrs. Roosevelt, that won him the most enduring fame" and earned him the Pulitzer Prize (New York Times).

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