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Dr. Pope encloses a manuscript for the attention of Representative Greenway. He is concerned that the manuscript was not read by the full Mount Rushmore inscription contest committee. He questions the fairness of the committee’s final choice of text.
1935-04-22
Text of a speech delivered by Gutzon Borglum on the occasion of the unveiling of the figure of Thomas Jefferson on Mount Rushmore. Borglum notes the historical significance of the impending completion of Mount Rushmore and invokes the architectural accomplishments of antiquity to underscore the success of Mount Rushmore.
1936-08-30
A problem has emerged with the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission as explained in the enclosed letter to President Roosevelt. Gutzon Borglum realizes it may be impossible for Representative Greenway to attend the commission meeting but he would like her to be there.
1935-11-07
Father’s Day cartoon shows President Franklin D. Roosevelt dreaming that he has received his dearest wishes. Chief Justice Harlan Fiske Stone, holding a sheaf of Supreme Court decisions, says, “Won’t he be tickled to death with these?” Rival labor leaders William Green and Philip Murray embrace. Federal Petroleum Coordinator Harold L. Ickes holds a sign reading, “Chief, we’ve got oil and gas to burn!” Office of Production Management Chief William S. Knudsen holds an armful of planes, saying, “Oh, boy! Is Adolf anxious.” Senate Majority Leader Alben William Barkley and Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn hold “Votes to Do What We Please.” Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson holds a sack labeled “Greatest Army Ever Assembled,” while Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox holds ships labeled “The Navy Theodore Roosevelt Dreamed About.” As the threat of war in Europe loomed, Roosevelt struggled to mount a massive national defense production effort despite adverse court decisions, labor unrest, an unruly Congress, and failure to reach production targets.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1941-06-15
President Franklin Roosevelt and Vice President Henry Wallace stand outside the fence at the “Democratic Corral,” watching a donkey that appears to be fiercely pawing the ground. A sign reads “Bulletin. Democrats Face Threat of Third Party Movement.” The president says, “What in the world is the matter with that donkey?” Wallace responds, “I’m not sure but I’ve heard rumors that he’s getting a Bull Moose complex.” The Bull Moose Party was the nickname for Theodore Roosevelt’s Progressive Party, which split off from the Republican Party in 1912. In the 1942 congressional elections, the Democrats lost a number of seats to the Republicans, although they retained control of the Congress. In the wake of this defeat, there were some calls to establish a new party, but they came to nothing.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1942-12-13
Franklin Delano Roosevelt looks at an image of Theodore Roosevelt in a mirror above his desk. A speech bubble over FDR’s head reads, “He got away with the Panama Canal!” A document labeled “St. Lawrence Waterway Treaty” sits on FDR’s desk.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1934-01-14
Franklin Delano Roosevelt hands a childlike figure depicting Representative John J. O’Connor to the surprised figure of Theodore (“Ted”) Roosevelt, who wears a hat saying “Col. Roosevelt.” O’Connor holds a paper with “G.O.P Nomination 16th NY Dist.” written on it. On the desk in front of FDR are several pages with writing on them, saying “George Purge,” “Tydings Purge,” “Smith Purge,” and “O’Connor Purge.” The first three of these have “X”s drawn on them crossing them out, but the topmost page with O’Connor’s name on it has “O.K.” written on it. This cartoon depicts an incident in a series of “purges” where FDR tried to replace members of the Democratic party who were hostile to him. While other attempts to purge these representatives had failed (as denoted by the crossed out names on the desk), O’Connor lost the Democratic nomination in the sixteenth congressional district of New York, but won the Republican nomination for that same seat. The cartoon therefore depicts the Democratic FDR handing O’Connor over to his surprised cousin Ted Roosevelt, who was a staunch Republican.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1938-09-22
Theodore Roosevelt tells Captain Sims he will ask Henry Reuterdahl for help with Sims’ letter. Roosevelt asks Sims to review a portion of an enclosed speech given by Franklin D. Roosevelt and explain the declaration made in it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-05-10
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Anna Roosevelt Cowles after her recent visit. He believes Franklin Delano Roosevelt should go into politics and should not be concerned with whether Theodore Roosevelt delivers any speeches in his county. Roosevelt plans to visit his sister and her husband in the spring and wants to go where he can hear the bob-o-links sing, because there are no such birds in his neighborhood. His work and correspondence is more than he can handle; Roosevelt makes the point that he is still faces the same demands as he did when he was President, but without any method of protecting himself.
1910-08-10
Edward Reeve Merritt forwards a check for $350 which he received from Franklin Delano Roosevelt for the “sufferers in South Africa” and asks that the State Department use the money where it will be of “best advantage.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-06-02