President Roosevelt’s personally-owned and -worn navy blue silk crepe neck tie, lined with lilac silk, measuring 47″ long. A small white tag is sewn inside the collar area and embroidered in red with the president’s initials, “F. D. R.” Includes a detailed letter of provenance on White House letterhead from Mildred Prettyman, a White House worker and the widow of Arthur S. Prettyman, who had served as Roosevelt’s valet from 1939 until his death in 1945, and continued to work for President Truman in the capacity of valet until he left office, in 1953. In part: “It gives me pleasure to present to you one of the ties that was owned and used by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It was given to my husband, Arthur S. Prettyman, sometime during World War II, by the President. President Roosevelt had five different Valets during his long and distinguished political career…Being the Valet to President Roosevelt was grueling work. There was so little that President Roosevelt could do for himself physically that a Valet had to be like two people…My husband, Arthur Prettyman loved FDR. The President was always making a fuss over him…When FDR died on April 12, 1945, it was my husband and Dr. Bruenn that carried him to his bed in Warm Springs.” A compelling piece from Roosevelt’s wardrobe, bearing his initials, in a desirable patriotic color.
