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Franklin D. Roosevelt

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Non-fiction

Project 1917 is a series of events that took place a hundred years ago as described by those involved. It is composed only of diaries, letters, memoirs, newspapers and other documents

Franklin D. Roosevelt Elliott Roosevelt

Washington, D.C., United States

09.09.17

Dearest Babs,

A very busy day, consisting of steady golf, 36 holes, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with an hour out for sandwich and rest. The usual crowd of my contemporaries, Mcllhenny, Legare, Mc-Cawley, Hollis, and we dined quietly at a very dry Metropolitan Club and now home at nine. Yesterday the usual work and dinner at home.

Monday. Nothing exciting today. I lunched with Mr. and Mrs. Homer at the Shoreham and am just back from dinner with eight of the British Embassy "boys" out at Woodley in the old Grover Cleveland house near the Cathedral. It is frightfully cold. I only hope it will get warmer for your trip tomorrow.

Yours has come telling of the safe arrival of the tickets and I hope all will go well on the trip and that Huckins will meet you all right.

Tuesday. Still very cold but the papers say warmer. I dine with Hohler tonight—Springy is back, and I think Senator Lodge is to be the fourth.

No news, except that apparently Daniels has chucked the Comforts Committee entirely and is trying to organize a rival set under the Red Cross and to be directed by Mrs. Stotesbury. The end is not yet as the League (or at least the Comforts Com.) is I think going to fight back.

You are entirely disconnected and Lucy Mercer and Mrs. Munn are closing up the loose ends.

Give a great deal of love to Hall, Margaret and the babies and kiss Anna for me. I hope she is loving her first grown up visiting party.

Your devoted

F

, and others

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Washington, D.C., United States

20.08.17

Dearest Babs,

I had a very occupied Sunday, starting off for golf at 9 with Mcllhenny, Legare, and McCawley, quick lunch at Chevy Chase, then in to town and off in car at 2:30 to the Horsey's place near Harper's Ferry. Lucy Mercer went and the Graysons and we got there at 5:30, walked over the farm—a very rich one and run by the two sisters—had supper with them and several neighbors, left at nine and got home at midnight! The day was magnificent, but the road more dusty and even more crowded than when we went to Gettysburg.

By the way, they handed in a record amount of sweaters and other wooleys on Saturday and all wanted to know how' the Daniels-Thompson row would affect the work. I told them to sit tight, keep on knitting and not rock the boat!

I hope to see Northcliffe on Wednesday and will then wire you what day I arrive!

Loads of love and kisses.

Your devoted

F

I enclose the cheques for taxes, please endorse them over to the collectors.

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Franklin D. Roosevelt Elliott Roosevelt

Woodley Lane, Washington, United States

17.08.17

Dearest Babs,

Just a line before I go in to dine at the Ohls', damn nuisance as it's lovely out here this evening.

All well and a very busy day.

The more I think over the talk with the President the on, but then it will take lots more of the Churchill type of attack. I lunched with Willert and there is nothing more to do till Northcliffe comes down next Wednesday.

Kiss the chicks and loads of love.

Your devoted

F

, and others

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Washington, D.C., United States

26.07.17

Dearest Babs,

Yesterday I wrote you all about our trip but posted the letter in our corner box which was marked "Paint" and it occurs to me too late that perhaps the postman will hesitate to open it.

Last night I dined at the Barnetts', a large garden party of about 40 in honor of the Daniels! But as it poured we had the party without the garden and I had a very dull time sitting between Mrs. Townsend and Mrs. McCawley and chatting afterwards with Mrs. James!

It is a real scorcher today, the hottest yet.

I dine with Mrs. Lippincott and am just back from lunch with Winston Churchill. He saw the President yesterday and apparently had a pretty satisfactory talk.

Kiss the chicks. I do miss you so very much, but I am getting busier and busier and fear my hoped-for dash to Campo next week for two days will not materialize. Nor can I get to H.P. for Sunday, as I found my absence last Sunday has put me too far back.

Your devoted

F

, and others

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Washington, D.C., United States

25.07.17

Dearest Babs,

Since I got back on Monday morning I have been so rushed and so gay that I haven't sat down to think quietly for one second. Auntie Bye arrived at 4 p.m. and I spent an hour with her, returning to Department and then home here to dine with her. There was much to discuss and we had a delightful evening.

Yesterday I came home and lunched with her in the midst of plumbers, paperers, etc., and did the same thing today.

Last night she dined with Senator Lodge and tonight goes to Alice and leaves early tomorrow morning. Last night I dined at the Montgomery Country Club with the Billy Elkins' and tonight I go to the Barnetts' at the Marine Barracks!

The trip on the Sylph was a joy and a real rest, though I got in a most satisfactory visit to the fleet. Such a funny party, but it worked out wonderfully! The Charlie Munns, the Cary Graysons, Lucy Mercer and Nigel Law, and they all got on splendidly. We swam about four times and Sunday afternoon went up the James to Richmond. We stopped at Lower and Upper Brandon, Westover and Shirley and went all over them, getting drenched to the skin by several severe thunder storms. Those old houses are really wonderful but not comfy!

I found much food for thought in the fleet-—things not right and due to old lady officers and lack of decision in Department. We inspected the fleet in a destroyer and lunched with Admiral Tommy Rodgers on the Arkansas.

Today I have been before the House Committee all day trying to get 147 millions!

It has been pretty hot and today a tremendous rain—3 inches and a leak in the sewing room extending to F Jr.'s room and the dining room ceilings!

I am very well and do my exercises with regularity!

Your devoted

F

, and others

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Washington, D.C., United States

23.07.17

Dearest Babs,

Just back from Richmond and the Sylph—-we had a bully trip and I was particularly [glad] to see the fleet and have a chance to talks things over firsthand with the officers. I will write you later about it all.

Auntie Bye arrives this p.m. and I will go to meet her.

Devotedly

FDR

, and others

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Washington, D.C., United States

19.07.17

Dearest Babs,

It is still cool here and all goes on quietly. Today I lunched on my desk and am to dine at the Club.

Yours from Boston and Campo has just come and I am overjoyed that all goes well at the place and that the journey was not very bad. By the way, I meant to tell you that if by any perfectly wild chance a German submarine should come into the bay and start to shell Eastport or the Pool, I want you to grab the children and beat it into the woods. Don't stay to see what is going on. I am not joking about this, for while it is 500 to 1 against the possibility, still there is just that one chance that the Bosch will do the fool and unexpected thing.

All well. Kiss the chicks.

Your devoted

F

, and others

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Washington, D.C., United States

18.07.17

All I can say is that your latest newspaper campaign is a corker and I am proud to be the husband of the Originator, Discoverer and Inventor of the New Household Economy for Millionaires! Please have a photo taken showing the family, the ten cooperating servants, the scraps saved from the table and the hand book. I will have it published in the Sunday Times.

Honestly you have leaped into public fame, all Washington is talking of the Roosevelt plan and I begin to get telegrams of congratulation and requests for further details from Pittsburgh, New Orleans, San Francisco and other neighboring cities.

Uncle Fred says "It's fine, but Gee how mad Eleanor will be!"

All quiet and cold all gone. Dined with Adolph last night, also Mrs. Lane, Houston and Harding.

It rained today slightly but we did our exercises. I lunched on desk and dine quietly at home. I will write Sister tomorrow and have written Mama!

Your devoted

F

, and others

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Washington, D.C., United States

17.07.17

Dearest Babs,

It seems years since you left and I miss you horribly and hate the thought of the empty house. Last night I thought I heard a burglar and sat at the head of the stairs with the gun for half an hour, but it turned out to be the cat.

My cold is about gone. Today I lunched with Robert Neeser and go to Adolph's to meet the Sec'y of the Interior and Mrs. Lane at dinner!

We exercised this a.m. at 7:30 and though very hot it has since got cooler. The usual thunderstorm came up last night and another is now brewing.

Write me all about the Half Moon and the house and place. The chief thing I worry about is fire, and you must see that the extinguishers are filled, that the fireplaces in the rooms are pointed up and that no large fire is left when you go to bed.

I wonder how the chicks like Campo this year?

Evidently you told Mama I had a cold. I have had a telegram and letter!

Love and kisses to you all.

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Franklin D. Roosevelt

Washington, D.C., United States

16.07.17

Dearest Babs,

I had a vile day after you left, stayed at home, coughed, dozed, tried to read and work and failed even to play Miss Millikin! But today I am practically all right and have been here at office as usual, except for lunch with the Blanpre's and am going to dine with Warren and Irene alone. I really can't stand that house all alone without you, and you were a goosy girl to think or even pretend to think that I don't want you here all the summer, because you know I do! But honestly you ought to have six weeks straight at Campo, just as I ought to, only you can and I can't! I know what a whole summer here does to people's nerves and at the end of this summer I will be like a bear with a sore head until I get a change or some cold weather—in fact as you know I am unreasonable and touchy now—but I shall try to improve.

It has been hot and wet all day and now at 6 p.m. the usual thunderstorm.

I do hope all will go well with you in Boston and that the Touraine man will meet you and fix up the tickets and checks. I am too sorry about it and will kick myself forever.

Kiss the chicks for me all round and many many for you.

Your devoted

F

I opened this from Bob as it was addressed to me!

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Franklin D. Roosevelt

Chautauqua, NY, United States

07.07.17

The submarine has not been controlled.

… Ships are being sunk faster than they can be built.

… The United States is not safe for your children if Germany wins the war .

… Go home determined to sacrifice and serve - not satisfied to give your bit but give your all. See more

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Franklin D. Roosevelt

Washington, D.C., United States

15.06.17

Roosevelt’s speech before the graduating class of Eastern High School

Through its entrance in the war the United States will go down in history as a more united people than ever before. This country was consecrated to the help of mankind.

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Franklin D. Roosevelt

Port Deposit, Maryland, United States

11.06.17

Stick to your schoolboy ideals as their guide through life and consider national service a privilege and not a duty.

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Franklin D. Roosevelt

Washington, D.C., United States

09.05.17

Roosevelt at the Navy League Reception to the naval members of the British War Commission

I have been asked to greet Admiral de Chair. We have all been doing our fair share of talking since our colleagues came over here.

I am sorry, in a way, to be spoken of as representing the "Navy Department ". I hate to think of the Navy Department as anything that is separate from the Navy itself.

May I say in this gathering of greetings, this gathering of fair words – this gathering of promises of what we are going to do – that we have got to do. What of the days that have gone by – the weeks that have gone by - and we are gradually getting to months that have gone by with mighty little done.

Admiral de Chair, Admiral … and other members of the English and French Commission, have not said so outright, but I fell quite sure that if I were in their place I would feel like reporting home to my government that I had received fair words, and again fair words, and I would feel quite sure that my government – if it were the right kind of a government – would cable back to me and say “What about the number of ships that have sailed?”, “What about the number of men that have left America for the other side, after a month’s participation in the war?” England and France know that we have got the men. England and France know that we have got a fairly good-sized number – for the United States – in the Army. We have got a division, maybe a couple of divisions of regular trained troops. We have got pretty nearly a division of Marines. I think as long as we are all connected more or less with the Navy here to-night – or connected with the Army – that we must take stock of the little bit we are doing.

It is all right to extend the greetings – a greeting that is just as hearty, I believe, in every city of this county, whether it be Washington, Philadelphia, New York or Boston – or cities like Chicago or St. Louis, - and Milwaukee!

There is no question about our being in this war to stick – to see it through to that end that is bound to come, but there is a question still we must face, and that is the question of what we have done in the days that are passed and what we are going to do to-morrow – Thursday – a definite day. What is going to be accomplished between now and Sunday.

Let us say, not what we are going to do next September or next spring – and may I say to the Admiral as I have said quite openly to other members of both the British and French Commission, that it is their duty to put before the American people,- not once, not as a request, - a polite suggestion – but again and again, what they need, what we can give TODAY and not to-morrow.

It is time that the officers of the service – of both services – appreciate more fully the exigencies of the moment. It is time that the Administration, that members of the Senate and House of Representatives, - women and men – appreciate more fully that our task is now and not to-morrow. It is time that they insist on action at once. Action that will give something definite – definite ships, definite men – on a definite day. And, my friend, we Americans, in whatever walk of life we happen to belong, should demand of our representatives that definite action be taken. The quicker this is done the quicker will it help the common Cause to come to some definite end.

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Franklin D. Roosevelt House Naval Affairs Committee

02.05.17

When an emergency arose that required the purchase of vessels suitable for mine-sweeping. … Owners of most of the tugs and fishing-boats suitable for this work absolutely refused to consider either lease or purchase; others asked outrageous prices, … more than the cost of the vessel.

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