Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Four Freedoms


In my working days, I always had piles of paper in neat stacks on my desk -- to remind me what I needed to do next -- but no mementos.  But President Franklin D. Roosevelt liked to have his 
favorite mementos on his desk while he worked.  It didn't seem to hurt FDR's productivity.

At this desk, he wrote his famous "Four Freedoms" speech for his 1941 State of the Union address. 
Freedom of Speech.  Freedom of Worship.  Freedom from Want.  Freedom from Fear.
Today many Americans know them best from Norman Rockwell's 
1943 covers for the Saturday Evening Post.


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22 comments:

  1. Stefan JanssonOctober 23, 2013 at 6:10 AM

    I have to read up on FDR.

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  2. KateOctober 23, 2013 at 7:00 AM

    FDR was revered in my childhood home. Rockwell was also admired. And, I still admire and revere the "Four Freedoms."

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  3. MersadOctober 23, 2013 at 7:35 AM

    Love the arrangements!

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  4. SharonOctober 23, 2013 at 10:18 AM

    I think you are right, the Rockwell prints are very familiar. That really is quite a lot of "things" cluttering that desk.

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  5. VirginiaOctober 23, 2013 at 10:52 AM

    I say we add Freedom from nuts with guns.

    And I' with you, too many knick knacks to get any work done!
    V

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  6. Sylvia KOctober 23, 2013 at 11:16 AM

    It was a very different time and he was great man.

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  7. John "By Stargoose And Hanglands"October 23, 2013 at 11:26 AM

    My desk is every bit as cluttered, but far less photogenic!

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  8. MalyssOctober 23, 2013 at 11:29 AM

    Rockwell is one of my favorite painters! I like all those things on the desk, each has surely an interesting story!

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  9. PerthDailyPhotoOctober 23, 2013 at 11:59 AM

    Sounds good on paper Jack, but not many of those freedoms apply these days!

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  10. LOLfromPasaOctober 23, 2013 at 12:19 PM

    An interesting piece, Jack. I love that shot of the desk.

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  11. VPOctober 23, 2013 at 12:20 PM

    It was clearly another era... Love the Rockwell's covers!

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  12. RedPatOctober 23, 2013 at 1:09 PM

    Too much stuff around on the desk for me, Jack!

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  13. LONDONLULUOctober 23, 2013 at 1:13 PM

    How times have and haven't changed! That is quite a desk arrangement - I wonder what FDR would make of state of things today (including the gov't shutdown!)?

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  14. LowellOctober 23, 2013 at 2:53 PM

    Very cool! I'd have a hard time working on such a desk but sometimes I have a hard time working on a clean surface. So...try it both ways.

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  15. cieldequimperOctober 23, 2013 at 3:43 PM

    Most of us can't have mementoes anymore even if we wanted to. Call it open space.

    I don't think I'd be distracted by such a wonderfully warm atmosphere!

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  16. William KendallOctober 23, 2013 at 7:37 PM

    I suspect FDR would have knocked some heads around for the shutdown...

    A little clutter on the desk is a good thing!

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  17. LynetteOctober 23, 2013 at 11:23 PM

    Jack, you photos from this visit to the library and home are very special. Thank you for sharing them with us!

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  18. RandyOctober 23, 2013 at 11:38 PM

    That's a little too cluttered for me.

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  19. AnonymousOctober 24, 2013 at 12:45 AM

    I love those four freedoms and I fear some are endangered in our country today... love the Rockwell posters...

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  20. Cezar and LéiaOctober 24, 2013 at 5:15 AM

    Beautiful words and I like a lot the photography on the wall!
    Léia

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  21. CaTOctober 25, 2013 at 5:24 AM

    i think he is dutch, or one of his ancestors..?

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  22. jennyfrecklesOctober 27, 2013 at 8:42 AM

    I saw those Rockwell paintings in Stockbridge - the large original oils are stunning.

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