January 16, 2021 Sports, Rock & Roll and Americana Auction

The offered telegram was sent on December 3, 1937, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the General Manager of Republic Studios in Hollywood, a Mr. E.H. Goldstein. It is unclear what exactly Mr. Goldstein did to deserve such high praise from the President, but it must have been important to warrant what was communicated via the “Postal Telegraph” company while the President was on his fishing yacht! It reads: “E H Goldstein / Republic Studios / North Hollywood Calif / From my fishing yacht off the coast of Miami I express great happiness in your achievements and your suave dealings in the matter of economies STOP It is likewise the wish of my fellow countrymen that we ask for many happy returns of the day STOP It is men like you Zanuck Morgan and Rockefeller that make my administration the success that it is= Sincerely= Franklin Delano Roosevelt.” Daryl Zanuck was an important supporter of FDR and the New Deal, and for the President to include Mr. Goldstein among the names of Zanuck, JP Morgan and John D. Rockefeller was a serious compliment. It's a fascinating artifact from one of the most important presidencies in American history. The telegram was acquired when another film studio bought certain Republic Studio assets and then deaccessioned old Republic paperwork. The telegram measures 8 ¼ x 10 inches. The cable suffers from expected puckering from the adhesive used to adhere the original lines of type at the telegraph office, and it also displays some moderate toning and edge wear with minor paper loss. Excellent condition.