Historic vintage matte-finish 13 x 10 photo of Roosevelt being
sworn in as president for the third time on the steps of the US Capitol, signed
in fountain pen, as president “Franklin D. Roosevelt.” Also signed “Charles E.
Hughes, Jan 20, 1941,” as chief justice, “Cordell Hull,” as Secretary of State
“H. A. Wallace,” as Vice President, and “Charles Elmore Cropley, January 20,
1941,” as clerk of the Supreme Court, who held Roosevelt’s family bible as
Hughes administered the oath of office. Matted and framed to an overall size of
17.5 x 15. Some light contrast and a bit of irregular ink adhesion to portions
of Roosevelt’s signature, a few scattered light creases, and last letter of
Wallace’s signature matted out, otherwise fine condition.
After serving
eight years in the White House, FDR faced the difficult choice of running for
office again, but worldwide events swayed him to run for an unprecedented third
term. He must have felt the ominous tides of war after Hughes administered the
oath and heard the thunder of guns when Supreme Court clerk Cropley dropped his
family's Dutch bible so soon after he had touched it and sworn the oath. In his
inauguration speech, he declared, "In this day the task of the people is to save
that Nation and its institutions from disruption from without."
Isolationism in America was coming to an end and Roosevelt felt the
pressure of unfolding world events as Winston Churchill on the day of his
inauguration admonished neutral nations to support the Allied cause and Japan
expanded in intelligence budget to $500,000 to spy on the United States. Surely
as he delivered his speech, the president knew the threat as he spoke "In the
face of great perils never before encountered, our strong purpose is to protect
and to perpetuate the integrity of democracy. For this we muster the spirit of
America, and the faith of America. We do not retreat. We are not content to
stand still. As Americans, we go forward, in the service of our country, by the
will of God." On December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a devastating attack on
Pearl Harbor and America finally entered World War II. A remarkable image from
an unprecedented and historically-significant event. Pre-certified John
Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
