Lot 545

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Description:

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
(1882 - 1945) Thirty-second President of the United States who instituted the "New Deal" programs and who led the United States through most of World War II. Fine association T.L.S. as President on White House letterhead, 1p. 4to., Washington, Nov. 6, 1937. Roosevelt writes to Oscar Benavides, President of Peru on the back of the bloody Chaco War. In part: "...I appreciate Your Excellency's thoughtful communication of September 28, 1937, which you transmitted to me by Dr. Harry Block, Chairman of the Delegation of the United States to the recent Inter-American Technical Aviation Conference, and am indeed gratified by the kind sentiments expressed concerning this Government and the visit of the U.S.S. RANGER. I have received reports of the gracious hospitality accorded by Your Excellency's Government and the people of Peru to the Delegation and the officers and crew of the vessels which visited Peru in paying tribute the famous Peruvian aviator, Jorge Chavez...". In addition to significant changes in the political landscape of South America, the Chaco War fought between Bolivia and Paraguay also ushered in new legislation about Presidential authority during foreign power through the unusual road of a lawsuit over the aircraft manufacturer Curtiss-Wright's sale of arms while under embargo. In May 1934, Roosevelt called for an embargo against arms to be shipped either to Bolivia or Paraguay. Curtiss-Wright continued to sell planes to the embittered countries, however, disguised as commercial aircraft. The company was sued by the Attorney General to force them to comply with the embargo, and Curtiss-Wright countered with the claim that the embargo was illegal because Congress, as the regulator of interstate commerce, had unconstitutionally delegated its powers to the executive branch, in violation of the separation of powers doctrine. The case was eventually brought before the Supreme Court, who voted that Roosevelt had in fact acted within his rights. The Permanent American Aeronautical Commission was created at the 1937 conference referred to in this letter, which was aimed an enforcing international aviation laws. Jorge Chavez Dartnell (1887-1910) was a competition aviator who broke records in his Bleriot monoplane, and is best remembered for his attempt to cross the French Alps, resulting in his early death. Boldly signed, mounting traces to verso of second blank page, very good.

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January 31, 2013 11:00 AM EST
Stamford, CT, US

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