^Lot 122 Franklin D. Roosevelt

TLS, one page, 8 x 10.5, State of New York Executive Chamber letterhead, August 19, 1930. Short letter to New York attorney Frederick J. Stone thanking him for his letter and reading, in part: "As you probably read, I have taken the whole question of the Ewald case under advisement." In fine condition, with some scattered light toning and a few creases. The case to which Roosevelt referred was a major scandal in which New York magistrate, George F. Ewald was accused of paying $10,000 to Tammany politicians in exchange for his appointment in 1928. When the New York County grand jury failed to indict Ewald, Governor Roosevelt ordered the case to be taken out of the hands of local officials and ordered his Attorney General, Hamilton Ward, to take charge of the investigation. The scandal quickly escalated and a commission, headed by retired judge Samuel Seabury, was convened to investigate widespread corruption. In September 1932, under severe pressure from F.D.R., New York Mayor Jimmy Walker was forced to resign his office.