Signed book: The Democratic Book: 1936. Gilt-stamped leather (including “L. E. Dixon,” the original owner), 11.5 x 14.5, 384 pages. Limited edition (limitation unspecified; this copy No. 1179), signed by Roosevelt on the limitation page beneath a color vignette of the White House. A lavishly produced promotional “year book” for the Democratic Party, the publication of The Democratic Book in the Spring of 1936 was assailed by Republicans as a violation of the Corrupt Practices Act which prohibits corporations from contributing to national campaigns. In July, the Democratic National Committee began soliciting ads for a new edition which would include the convention acceptance addresses of President Roosevelt and Vice President John N. Garner, the convention addresses of Senators Alben W. Barkley and Joseph T. Robinson, and the party platform. Full-page ads were available at $2,500, the same price as in the original edition. Former advertisements would be repeated without additional charge. In the August 20, 1936, radio broadcast of The William Hard Hour, sponsored by the Republican National Committee, Hard said that “top-class economic royalist outfits” such as General Electric, General Motors, and U. S. Steel were among the approximately 125 important corporations who had purchased advertising space in the book. He pointed out that “approximately half of the advertisers have had contracts with the government to furnish it with services or supplies and it may possibly be that they regarded their advertisements not as a political, but as a business proposition.” In October, the Democratic National Committee was offering the new edition at $5.00 a copy, mostly to businesses around the country, to benefit the New Deal campaign chest. Rubbing and wear to covers and spine (a few scratches to front cover), and several holes to first free end page, otherwise fine, clean condition. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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