Unique archive from the papers of journalist Lowell Mellett, who served in FDR's administration as head of the Office of Government Reports, comprising a retained carbon copy of his enraged letter to Time Magazine editor Henry Luce (a noted enemy of FDR) enumerating falsehoods in an 'Election Extra' column, the reply from Luce, and three letters by President Roosevelt. The FDR letters:
TLS as president, signed "FDR," one page, 6.25 x 9.25, White House letterhead, December 31, 1940. Roosevelt's response to Mellett on the subject, in part: "Thank you for letting me see the copy of Henry Luce's reply of December 24th. It is a slippery reply. I said on Sunday night that you cannot make an agreement with an incendiary bomb. He misses the point when he tries to argue as to whether you like Time or not. You and I can admit that Time makes false reporting extremely attractive. Henry Luce evades and avoids when he even mentions rebutting or 'objections' to that particular story. George Washington did not rebut his father's objection to cutting down the cherry tree. George Washington had the courage to admit a sin. Henry Luce lacks that ability!" FDR crosses out "lies," writing "sin" in its place.
TLS as president, signed "FDR," one page, 5.25 x 8, White House letterhead, May 5, 1942. A memorandum for Lowell Mellett, in part: "That is a grand photograph of a glorious room in a magnificent and historic building which, in the generations to come, will preserve democracy for the people of the United States against the sordid attacks of a subversive press. I have but one final suggestion to complete the perfection of this Temple of that ancient god Mel-et, and that is that we acquire from Messrs. Ringling Brothers an historic supreme Calliope to be put on top of the Information sign in order that it may discourse sweet harmony capable of being heard in the Halls of Congress. I suggest also that a special loud speaker from said Calliope be inserted into the offices of the Washington Post.
TLS as president, signed "Franklin D. Roosevelt," one page, 8 x 10.5, White House letterhead, March 22, 1944. FDR writes to Mellett, thanking him for his service upon his resignation to join the Washington Star as a columnist. In part: "I'm very much impressed by what you tell me concerning the readiness of The Washington Star, and perhaps other newspapers, to publish points of view contrary to their own. In these times, when it is more than normally necessary to achieve the fullest understanding of vital public issues, no greater service could be performed by the publishers, in my opinion. I know that you don't pretend to offer the last word of wisdom on any subject, but I have found that your opinions, always honest, are worth listening to. If I find you in your new role disagreeing with me at times, I'll try to be as tolerant as you always have been when others have disagreed with you. As for the past six years, the gratitude is mine for the devoted service you have given, and I wish you all possible good luck in your new undertaking."
In overall fine condition, with some light stains to the 1942 letter.
Details of the accompanying letters below:
Carbon copy of a letter from Mellett to Henry R. Luce, four pages, 8 x 10.5, December 7, 1940. Mellett lashes out at the Time editor for inaccuracies in a recent column about election night at Hyde Park. In part: "I have some pretty strong feelings on the subject of responsibility of the press, feelings I entertained over a long period of years while engaged in newspaper work…Frankly, I do not believe your remarkable successful weekly Time is meeting its responsibility in one important way—the requirement that it be accurate, or at least, strive to be as accurate as possible…I read your Election Extra. The description of the scene election night at Hyde Park interested me particularly since I recognized that it was a false picture…I was offended by this story, as a newspaper man with a fetish for accuracy, as a supporter of the President…and, finally, as a citizen who believes it is terribly important that journalists shall not knowingly and willingly abuse the freedom of the press." He goes on to dissect, sentence by sentence, the first several paragraphs of the column, pointing out inaccuracies and falsehoods in most every one. He goes on to implore: "I believe Time is on a dangerous road, as is much of the American press. The responsibility of the press is something more than a phrase to be mouthed at annual self-defense and self-glorification meetings of editors and publishers. It is an actual thing. The press can affect in these days our whole destiny as a people. Some of us, and you are one, are working and fighting to preserve democracy. A democracy fed on fairy tales by an irresponsible press will not be competent to stand up against the forces now loose in the world."
TLS signed "Henry R. Luce," one page, 7.25 x 11, Time letterhead, December 24, 1940. Luce's response to Mellett's tirade, in part: "A considerable dossier in re Mellett vs Time has been on my desk these last ten days. And frankly I am at a loss to know what to do about it. Simply to rebut your objections to the one story seems to be beside the point since what really concerns you is the entire theory and practice of Time. Of course I would be delighted to argue the entire case going right down to fundamentals but that would require nothing less than a total apologia pro vita journalistici. You evidently don't like Time. Is it necessary that you should? Many people not only like it but consider it to be the major advance in journalism in our time."
This fascinating archive brings to light the often tenuous and combative relationship between the press and the presidency—one that has only been amplified in recent times, with the advent of cable television and the 24-hour news cycle.
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