Description:

Roosevelt Franklin

F. D. R. The New Deal Manuscript After 1st Nom. For Pres. "as I write this I feel confident of the victory of a unified Democracy and that, as leader of it, I shall be President". Highly Important and Unique.

 

Writing soon after his 1932 nomination for President, Roosevelt outlines his platform which would become "The New Deal", in a lengthy, extensively hand-edited typescript, "… as I write this I feel confident of the victory of a unified Democracy and that, as leader of it, I shall be President".

 

Important Typescript with copious autograph corrections and emendations in Roosevelt's hand, entitled "HOW I AM GOING TO CONDUCT MY RESPONSIBILITIES", 16 pages, plus cover sheet, 8.5 x 11" [no place, c. August 1932?], staple-bound at left margin. Light soiling, minor creasing at top left corner, some rust spots from old staples, else fine condition. Offered together with a published version of the typescript, How I Am Going to Conduct My Responsibilities, My Personal Attitude (Privately printed by Donald S. Carmichael, The Steinhour Press, Lunenberg, Vermont and The Meriden Gravure Company, Meriden, Connecticut, 1982), unpaginated, quarto, bound in dark blue leather titled boards. Carmichael's volume includes an editorial introduction and an exacting replica of Roosevelt's annotated typescript. Both pieces are housed in a custom cloth slipcase with an elegantly-titled spine. 

 

Subtitled in pencil on the cover, "My Personal Attitude," this phenomenal typescript outlines F.D.R's personal philosophy on governance. Unpublished in his lifetime, the speech addresses how he would conduct himself in victory and defeat at the polls in November 1932. The origins and the exact date of the present typescript are unknown, but its composition may have been prompted by an August 15, 1932 memorandum from Adolf A. Bearle, a member of Roosevelt's "Brain Trust," who wisely advised the Democratic nominee, "Should the campaign go off merely on a series of scattering issues, defeat would probably end your career, as it did the careers of Cox, Davis, and even Al Smith. Should you, however, quite definitely become the protagonist of an outstanding policy, your significance in American public life would continue—as did that of Bryan and Theodore Roosevelt… Obviously the line is, therefore, to make some statement analogous to Woodrow Wilson's 'new freedom' speech…. I feel that appropriately placed, some such pronouncement would probably make at once your place in history…" 

 

Roosevelt apparently took a part of Bearle's advice and composed a speech to address this issue. He opened by declaring: "I am prepared to face the music whether I am elected President of the United States or whether I join the company of defeated candidates for this and other public offices. In either event, whether in the White House or at Hyde Park, I will have definite and great responsibilities. These will be personal, political and governmental. Though in defeat I would not officially [be] connected with government, I still would take a keen interest in governmental policies as they develop and have a hand, with the closest cooperation of the leaders of my party, in advising my party so that it would contribute as far as possible to the general welfare." 

 

Like many of F.D.R.'s campaign pronouncements during the 1932, the policy provisions outlined here were intentionally vague. Instead, he offers a broad outline on his intended manner of governance, one which would include short term relief to stem the credit crisis and comprehensive planning for the future to ensure that a catastrophe like the Great Depression would not repeat itself: [quoted with manuscript corrections in bold]: "My duty, no matter what happens, is to take the long view – and this view considers that while and because emergency relief measures are definitely may be succeeding in the vital work of sustaining life, we must now be continuously concerned with the quality of this life. itself… My conduct, in or out of office, is going to be governed by the facts. The truth must be told about current economic situations – a policy not pursued in immediate past history. Blame must unhesitatingly be taken where it has been incurred. Evils must be publicly recognized in order to assure their correction, and a guarantee against repetition. Principles must no longer be sacrificed for votes. This policy leads to the immediate and practical discouragement of ruinous speculation and over-production."

 

Roosevelt was one of the best political communicators of the twentieth century, who could boil down complex economic and political issues, as clearly demonstrated in this typescript. In one passage, Roosevelt asserts that: "Our economic problems are simplified, rather than complicated, by their human interdependence – and the fact that economic laws are definitely man made. That first great group of our people trying to live upon the wages of industry and that second great group trying to live by agriculture are both interdependent with a third group (largely composed of the first two) - the small investors and depositors whose money actually forms the national credit structure." F.D.R. was also an optimist, perhaps one of his greatest qualities: "I consider the present situation hopeful. It is more than likely that a new national administration will be able to lead in detailed action along the lines I have indicated. In addition, there are already a great number of our people, prepared by their conviction, to follow. I shall ceaselessly endeavor to bring government to a more intimate relationship and understanding of the human functions and human problems so essential to serving the basic purpose for which our government was originally created. I look forward with confidence…" 

 

The typescript also provides great insight into Roosevelt's writing habits, continually honing his words to drive home his points. For example, he altered this unwieldy sentence from: "My specific plans have been expressed in this campaign. If I am elected they will be further expressedin an inaugural - and thereafter in acts. But at this herein, moment I am not primarily considering issues." He then crossed out half of the sentence so it read: "My specific plans have been expressed in this campaign. If I am elected they will be further expressed in action." F.D.R. edited other portions of the typescript in a similar vein, always simplifying his sentences and phrases to drive home his point. 

 

Early in the typescript, F.D.R. reveals the most likely reason this speech was never published or delivered during the 1932 campaign: "One of the unwritten rules of national as well as local politics has been never to utter that word 'defeat' while there is the slightest chance of victory. It is also part of the creed of a good soldier. I have been defeated for the Vice-Presidency, in 1920, and I know how it feels. I know that it can happen. But as I write this I feel confident of the victory of a unified Democracy and that, as leader of it, I shall be President."

 

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.

 

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses who proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with signature required, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice, unless you inform us otherwise, immediately upon your receipt of invoice***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third Party Shipping Option: If a third party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third party Please copy and paste this following link into your browser: http://universityarchives.com/UserFiles/ShippingInfo.pdf. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third party shippers.


After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item.


Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

January 16, 2020 10:30 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000