PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 06/10/1919 - HFSID 279331

FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT
Typed Letter signed as Assistant Navy Secretary, advising a father that he must go through normal channels to secure release of his son from navy duty
Typed Letter signed: "F D Roosevelt" as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1 page, 8x10½. Washington, D.C., 1919 June 10. On Navy Department letterhead to Nicholas Murphy, Sommerville [sic], Massachusetts. In full: "I have received your letter of May 22nd. 1919 regarding the desired release from active service of your son, Ralph Augustine James Murphy(1143446) Seaman second class, U.S.N.R.F., now serving on board the U.S.S. Manchuria, in order that he might continue his education. I appreciate the circumstances connected with the case of your son and trust that it will be found practicable to release him in the very near future. However, since he is a member of the Naval Reserve force his Commanding Officer would have full authority to act in this case and there is no action the Department would be required to take or could with propriety take looking to the release of your son. I have, however, given instructions to the Bureau of Navigation that this case be taken up with the Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Manchuria to ascertain just what action is practicable on the release of your son and when report is received you will be promptly advised. Very sincerely yours". Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945), the 32nd President of the United States and the only President elected three and then four times, was also the longest serving President (1933-1945). Appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy by President Wilson in 1913, he served in that office throughout World War I, resigning in 1920 when nominated for Vice President on the Democratic ticket with James Cox of Ohio. As Assistant Navy Secretary, he helped plan the wartime buildup of the Navy and the founding of the Navy Reserve (in which Seaman Murphy was serving, as noted above). His tenure in the Navy Department resulted in FDR's first meeting with Winston Churchill (1918), then serving as Britain's Minister of Munitions.File holes at upper margin. Fold creases not near signature. Paper loss at upper left fold crease. Paper separation at upper right fold crease. Fragile.