PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 11/28/1938 - HFSID 36081

IN 1938, NORMAN THOMAS WRITES ROOSEVELT IN SUPPORT OF THE APPOINTMENT OF A NEW JERSEY APPEALS COURT JUDGE TO THE FEDERAL BENCH. FDR WRITES OF ANOTHER LESS QUALIFIED CANDIDATE SUPPORTED BY NEW JERSEY BUT THAT HE "IS LOOKING AROUND HOPING TO FIND SOMEONE WHO WILL NOT OWE HIS APPOINTMENT TO ANYBODY BUT ME!" IN 1939, FDR APPOINTS THOMAS' CANDIDATE!
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT. Typed Letter Sigend: "Franklin D. Roosevelt" as President, 1p, 7x8¾. The White House, Washington stationery but written from Warm Springs, Georgia, 1938 November 28. TO NORMAN THOMAS, Socialist Party nominee for President against Hoover in 1928, FDR in 1932, 1936, 1940 and 1944, and Truman in 1948. Headed "Private and Confidential". In full: "Dear Norman: I am glad to have your letter about the New Jersey judgship (sic). It is a bit of a dilemma. Mr. Walker is apparently an able and fair judge--and on the other hand, the man suggested by Southern New Jersey does not seem to measure up in his qualifications. I am looking around hoping to find someone who will not owe his appointment to anybody but me! But it is a difficult job. I hope to see you one of these days soon." On June 25, 1938, William Clark, Judge of the U. S. District Court, District of New Jersey, resigned, having been appointed Judge of the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit by President Roosevelt. THOMAS GLYNN WALKER (1899-1993), former Speaker of the New Jersey State Assembly, was, at the time of this letter, Judge of the Court of Errors and Appeals, Trenton, New Jersey (1937-1939). He received a recess appointment from President Roosevelt on December 20, 1939, to the seat vacated by Judge Clark. He was nominated on January 16, 1940, confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 5, 1940 and received his commission on March 13, 1940. Walker resigned on December 31, 1941, returning to the private sector. Soiled at edges. Paper clip impression at upper blank area. Overall, fine condition.