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.
22 comments:
I have to read up on FDR.
FDR was revered in my childhood home. Rockwell was also admired. And, I still admire and revere the "Four Freedoms."
Love the arrangements!
I think you are right, the Rockwell prints are very familiar. That really is quite a lot of "things" cluttering that desk.
I say we add Freedom from nuts with guns.
And I' with you, too many knick knacks to get any work done!
V
It was a very different time and he was great man.
My desk is every bit as cluttered, but far less photogenic!
Rockwell is one of my favorite painters! I like all those things on the desk, each has surely an interesting story!
Sounds good on paper Jack, but not many of those freedoms apply these days!
An interesting piece, Jack. I love that shot of the desk.
It was clearly another era... Love the Rockwell's covers!
Too much stuff around on the desk for me, Jack!
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!)?
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.
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!
I suspect FDR would have knocked some heads around for the shutdown...
A little clutter on the desk is a good thing!
Jack, you photos from this visit to the library and home are very special. Thank you for sharing them with us!
That's a little too cluttered for me.
I love those four freedoms and I fear some are endangered in our country today... love the Rockwell posters...
Beautiful words and I like a lot the photography on the wall!
Léia
i think he is dutch, or one of his ancestors..?
I saw those Rockwell paintings in Stockbridge - the large original oils are stunning.
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