The Library of CongressExhibitionsChurchill Exhibition
Churchill and the Great Republic
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INTRODUCTION
TIMELINE
THEMES
  Forebears and Family
Warrior for Empire
Visits to America
American Presidents
The Communicator
The Politician
World War II
Cold Warrior
The Long Sunset
OBJECTS
President Franklin D. Roosevelt to Winston Churchill, January 20, 1941
President Roosevelt wrote this letter to Churchill in January 1941, quoting from the Longfellow poem "The Building of the Ship." It was then hand-delivered to the British Prime Minister by Wendell Wilkie, Roosevelt's Republican opponent in the 1940 Presidential election. Churchill, desperate for U.S. support, found the letter "an inspiration" and told Roosevelt that he would have it framed. The letter hung for a long time at Chartwell, Churchill's home, hence it has faded from the original green of White House stationery to brown.

Object Details:
Facsimile. Churchill Additional Papers, Churchill Archives Centre, Cambridge, U.K. (112)


Related Theme:
American Presidents
Image: President Franklin D. Roosevelt to Winston Churchill, January 20, 1941
Transcript:
January 20, 1941

Dear Churchill

Wendell Wilkie will give you this--He is truly helping to keep politics out over here.

I think this verse applies to you people as it does to us:

"Sail on, Oh Ship of State!

Sail on, Oh Union strong and great.

Humanity with all its fears

With all the hope of future years

Is hanging breathless on thy fate."

As ever yours

Franklin D. Roosevelt
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