Description:

Roosevelt Franklin

Franklin Roosevelt Re: His Disability "I am still on crutches"

 

Typed letter signed, 7" x 9", on letterhead of "Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland, New York City". Dated "December 14, 1922", and signed by Roosevelt with a large 4" signature "Franklin Roosevelt". Fine condition with expected folds.

 

Ex. The Forbes Collection. Malcolm Forbes (1919-1990), American owner-publisher of Forbes magazine, and consummate collector,  amassed one of the most substantial and broad collections of such breadth and depth that it filled a half-dozen residences, and sat on three continents. Many of his manuscripts were sold in multi-million dollar sales by Christie's in the early 2000s. The Forbes name is considered to be the apex of provenance when attached to an item like the above. We are honored to have been chosen by the family to sell at auction the substantial balance of the collection.

 

A extremely scarce letter in which Roosevelt writes about his disability. Shown in full below:

 

" It is nice to have your note, and thanks for sending me the clipping from the Evening Star.

 

I am just back in New York and am going to the office twice a week though I am still on crutches. My legs are getting stronger all the time, however, and soon I hope to discard one crutch and substitute a cane for it.

 

Be sure to look me up the next time you are in New York. I hope all goes well with you - apparently we still have some Navy left!"

 

During the summer of 1921, FDR was enjoying a day of sailing on his yacht when he suddenly fell overboard into the icy waters of the Bay of Fundy, which ironically felt paralyzing to his body. The following day, FDR complained of lower back pain and went for a swim in hopes to ease the soreness. As the day progressed, he could feel his legs becoming weaker and by the third day, he could no longer hold his own weight. His skin quickly became very sensitive and eventually even a slight breeze across his body caused great distress, and shortly thereafter was diagnosed with infantile paralysis (i.e. polio).

 

In January 1922, FDR was fit with braces that locked in at the knee and continued the length of his leg, and by the spring of that year he could stand with assistance. FDR made a plan that one day he would walk the length of his driveway, which was a quarter-mile long. Although he never accomplished the task, he used it as a training procedure, working himself to the bone in hopes that he would be able to walk again if he continued exercising.

 

This Roosevelt letter was written during the period in which he anticipated eventually returning to a more normal life and walk again. Letters from Roosevelt regarding his disability are quite rare.

 

 

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

 

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