Details
ROOSEVELT, Franklin D. Autograph letter signed ("Franklin D. Roosevelt") as Governor of New York, to Jouett Shouse, Albany, NY, [July 1932]. 3 pages, 4to (10½ x 7 7/8 in.), State of New York Executive Chamber stationery, some very light marginal soiling.
A MONTH AFTER WINNING THE NOMINATION, ROOSEVELT APPEALS TO A FORMER RIVAL FOR SUPPORT
Roosevelt's bid for the presidential nomination in 1932 was not without opposition, and some members of his own party worked to impede his political rise. On 23 January 1932, Roosevelt authorized the Democratic Central Committee of North Dakota to enter his name in the preferential party primaries, thus formally announcing his candidacy. During the Spring primaries, a Democratic coalition aimed at blocking Roosevelt's nomination coalesced. Alfred E. Smith, Roosevelt's predecessor as Governor of New York, announced that he would be available for the nomination, and was assisted in his bid by Jouett Shouse, who urged local Democratic organizations not to instruct their delegates to the convention which candidate to vote for. Roosevelt's team, especially James Farley and Lewis Howe, worked vigorously to combat the Stop-Roosevelt coalition and was successful in securing Roosevelt the nomination at the June convention in Chicago. It was in Roosevelt's acceptance speech before the convention that he first pledged "a new deal."
In the wake of his Convention victory, Roosevelt writes to Shouse trying to unify the party for the coming campaign. His careful, measured tone reveals the fragility of many of the relationships within the Democratic party at this time: "I really do appreciate your good sportsmanship & also your real & fundamental devotion to the Democratic party through all these years. I hope you thoroughly know that I have at all times, privately & publicly praised you for all that you did to lay the necessary groundwork for the victories in 1930 & the coming victories this year--Without that work our party position would be less clear and the Republican propaganda would have been far more damaging. I am not one to hold any rancor towards the give & take of battle during the pre-nomination campaign--& as you know I was wholly ready to support & work for the nominees & the party if someone other than myself had been chosen--It is good to know that your attitude is the same--I know too that you can & will be of great help in many ways during the coming 3½ months of activity." Despite Roosevelt's efforts, Shouse continued to confront him. As president of the American Liberty League, which formed in 1934, Shouse opposed and attacked nearly every New Deal measure.
A MONTH AFTER WINNING THE NOMINATION, ROOSEVELT APPEALS TO A FORMER RIVAL FOR SUPPORT
Roosevelt's bid for the presidential nomination in 1932 was not without opposition, and some members of his own party worked to impede his political rise. On 23 January 1932, Roosevelt authorized the Democratic Central Committee of North Dakota to enter his name in the preferential party primaries, thus formally announcing his candidacy. During the Spring primaries, a Democratic coalition aimed at blocking Roosevelt's nomination coalesced. Alfred E. Smith, Roosevelt's predecessor as Governor of New York, announced that he would be available for the nomination, and was assisted in his bid by Jouett Shouse, who urged local Democratic organizations not to instruct their delegates to the convention which candidate to vote for. Roosevelt's team, especially James Farley and Lewis Howe, worked vigorously to combat the Stop-Roosevelt coalition and was successful in securing Roosevelt the nomination at the June convention in Chicago. It was in Roosevelt's acceptance speech before the convention that he first pledged "a new deal."
In the wake of his Convention victory, Roosevelt writes to Shouse trying to unify the party for the coming campaign. His careful, measured tone reveals the fragility of many of the relationships within the Democratic party at this time: "I really do appreciate your good sportsmanship & also your real & fundamental devotion to the Democratic party through all these years. I hope you thoroughly know that I have at all times, privately & publicly praised you for all that you did to lay the necessary groundwork for the victories in 1930 & the coming victories this year--Without that work our party position would be less clear and the Republican propaganda would have been far more damaging. I am not one to hold any rancor towards the give & take of battle during the pre-nomination campaign--& as you know I was wholly ready to support & work for the nominees & the party if someone other than myself had been chosen--It is good to know that your attitude is the same--I know too that you can & will be of great help in many ways during the coming 3½ months of activity." Despite Roosevelt's efforts, Shouse continued to confront him. As president of the American Liberty League, which formed in 1934, Shouse opposed and attacked nearly every New Deal measure.