The Story of Two Presidents and One Dam Model

Today’s post is written by Cody White, Archivist at the National Archives at Denver The contractors were given seven years to do the impossible: dam up the mighty Colorado River in Black Canyon, southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. But it only took them five, when in 1936 the completed dam was formally turned over to … Continue reading The Story of Two Presidents and One Dam Model

Presidential Humor, 1944

On April 12, 1944, the U.S. legation in Jidda, Saudi Arabia, dispatched a despatch to the Department of State.  Enclosed was a sealed envelope containing a letter from King Ibn Saud to President Franklin D. Roosevelt.  The legation was not provided with a copy of the letter, so it could not provide a translation along … Continue reading Presidential Humor, 1944

FDR standing with sunglasses on, 2 men on either side of him, one is the ship captain in dress whites uniform

Keeping in Touch with a Traveling President, 1940

In today’s world, a President of the United States travelling anywhere in the World is constantly in touch with the White House and government agencies through sophisticated and secure means of communications.  The President is literally never out of touch.  This has not always been true. While Presidents have always left Washington, DC, to travel … Continue reading Keeping in Touch with a Traveling President, 1940

Responding to the Death of King George VI

King George VI King George VI of Great Britain died on February 6, 1952, at Sandringham House.  He had come to the throne in December 1936 upon the abdication of his brother Edward VII.  Edward gave up the throne in order to marry the American divorcee Wallis Simpson.  George, as the second son, had not … Continue reading Responding to the Death of King George VI

Love Among the Ruins (Apologies to Robert Browning et. al.)

In July 1943, World War II raged around the world.  In Europe, the combined U.S./British bombing campaign against Germany proceeded.  In Nazi-occupied areas, mass murder continued.  On July 5, on the Eastern Front, the huge and pivotal battle of Kursk began.  In the Mediterranean, U.S. and British forces were about to invade Sicily on July … Continue reading Love Among the Ruins (Apologies to Robert Browning et. al.)

Atlantic Crossing: The Christmas Visit

Today's post was written by David Langbart, archivist in Textual Reference at the National Archives at College Park, MD.  The PBS miniseries Atlantic Crossing tells a story of a princess stealing the heart of the president of the United States in a made-for-television drama about the World War II relationship of President Franklin D. Roosevelt … Continue reading Atlantic Crossing: The Christmas Visit

Foreign Reaction to Reforming the Supreme Court, 1937

Today's post was written by David Langbart, archivist in Textual Reference at the National Archives at College Park. Franklin D. Roosevelt began his second term in office on January 20, 1937, the first President inaugurated on that day and month.  In February, reflecting his frustration with the Supreme Court's numerous negative decisions on New Deal … Continue reading Foreign Reaction to Reforming the Supreme Court, 1937

FDR and Diplomatic Security, 1935

Today's post was written by David Langbart, archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. The October 1935 issue of The Atlantic Monthly included an article entitled "Worse Than Arnold" by Burton J. Hendrick.   That article was a preview from Hendrick's book The Lees of Virginia.  Hendrick, a graduate of … Continue reading FDR and Diplomatic Security, 1935

Presidential Holiday Greetings, 1933

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. {This is a revision of an earlier post.} In late October 1933, as the end of the first year of his Presidency drew near, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent the following note to Secretary … Continue reading Presidential Holiday Greetings, 1933

Propaganda, Politics, and the Personification of FDR: The Uncle Sam Poster Controversy

This is the third and final post in a three-part series on the Uncle Sam poster for the Security of War Information campaign. Today’s post is written by Daniel Dancis, an Archivist in the Textual Processing Branch at the National Archives in College Park, MD. In October 1943, Representative Harold Knutson (R-MN) charged the U.S. … Continue reading Propaganda, Politics, and the Personification of FDR: The Uncle Sam Poster Controversy