OGDEN L. MILLS - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 03/30/1932 - HFSID 317297

OGDEN L. MILLS
As Secretary of the Treasury in the Hoover administration, he declines an invitation from Franklin Roosevelt's law partner, Basil O'Connor, "to contribute to a new activity."
Typed Letter signed: "Ogden L. Mills" as Secretary of the Treasury, 1 page, 6¼x8¼. Washington, 1932 March 30. On official letterhead to Basil O'Connor, Roosevelt & O'Connor, New York, N. Y. In full: "I have your letter of March 29th. The calls on me are so great just now that I cannot undertake to contribute to any new activity. I have all I can do in making my usual contributions to the organizations in which I have heretofore been interested. Trusting you will understand my position, believe me Sincerely yours". Ogden L. Mills (1884-1937) was a New York State Senator (1914-1917) and U. S. Representative from New York's 17th Congressional District (1921-1927) He ran for Governor of New York in 1926, losing to Al Smith. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Hoover administration, he succeeded Andrew Mellon as Secretary (1932-1933). He wrote two books criticizing President Roosevelt's New Deal. Mills was co-owner of the successful Wheatley Stables, which considered Seabiscuit too lazy for serious race competition and sold him to Charles Howard. When he wrote this letter, Mills was a key Cabinet Secretary to President Hoover, who was facing an uphill battle for re-election with New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt as his likely (although not yet certain) opponent. Presumably Basil O'Connor, FDR's close friend and law partner, was inviting Mills to participate in his charitable campaign against polio, and not in the Roosevelt Presidential campaign! Normal mailing folds. Light surface creases. Slightly soiled. Corners lightly worn. Ink stamp. Lightly toned. Otherwise, fine condition.