These two documents, both signed by President Roosevelt, are on display as part of Making Their Mark: Stories Through Signatures at the National Archives in Washington, DC. Details: go.usa.gov/6VdQ The “Emergency Fund for the President” is money reserved for a President’s unanticipated needs. The emergency funds have been used under a variety of circumstances that affect national interests such as disasters, security threats, and national defense. As these two records illustrate, with the stroke of a pen, the President can bring welcome relief or implement policies that will drastically disrupt the lives of many. In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt used his $100 million “Emergency Fund for the President” to recover, mobilize, and protect the country as it moved from peace to war. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, shocked and outraged the nation. Congress declared war against Japan the following day. Roosevelt quickly deployed his emergency fund to aid Hawaii and help with its recovery after the attack. Several months later, on April 18, 1942, President Roosevelt’s signature allocated more funds to the Department of Agriculture so that the lands previously owned and occupied by enemy aliens would continue to be worked or protected. Image: Letter signed by FDR requesting that money from the “Emergency Fund for the President” be disbursed for recovery after Pearl Harbor, December 24, 194. National Archives, Records of the Bureau of Accounts (Treasury) Image: Letter signed by FDR requesting that money from the “Emergency Fund for the President” be disbursed for the operators taking care of land previously occupied by enemy aliens and others, April 18, 1942 National Archives, Records of the Bureau of Accounts (Treasury) #FDR #PearlHarbor #JapaneseInternment #WWII
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 13:35:02 +0000
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