William D. Hassett Papers | Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

Title: William D. Hassett Papers

Primary Creator: William D. Hassett (1880-1965)

Extent: 13.0 Cubic Feet

Date Acquired: 06/02/1958

William D. Hassett was born in Northfield, Vermont, on August 28, 1880. He attended Clark University from 1902-04, then became a reporter for the Burlington Free Press.

In 1909, Hassett went to Washington, D.C., where he continued his newspaper career with the Washington Post and the Associated Press, and also served as Washington correspondent for the Cincinnati Enquirer and the New York Telegram. From 1921 to 1925, her served in London as correspondent for the Philadelphia Public Ledger and the Associated Press.

Hassett began his government career in 1933 with the National Recovery Administration. In 1935 he became an Assistant Secretary to the President. On February 19, 1944, President Roosevelt appointed him Secretary to the President. Hassett also served occasionally as White House press secretary and it was he who announced the President’s death in Warm Springs, Georgia. He was appointed Secretary to President Truman on April 16, 1945, and held this post until his retirement in 1952.

Hassett was a director of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial Foundation, a trustee of Norwich University (Vermont), and a member of the Board of Management of the Cosmos Club, Washington, D.C. He wrote several articles and books, the best known being Off the Record with FDR (New Brunswick, Rutgers University Press, 1958).

Mr. Hassett died on August 29, 1965, in Northfield Vermont.

Repository: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

Access Restrictions: Certain materials have been closed on the instructions of the donor.

Use Restrictions: The literary property rights in them have not been donated to the United States Government.

Acquisition Source: William D. Hassett

Acquisition Method: Mr. Hassett donated his papers to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library on June 2, 1958.

Related Materials: Materials relating to William Hassett will be found in PPF 5125 (William D. Hassett), OF 5485 (William D. Hassett) and the Oscar Cox Papers (William D. Hassett). There is also material at the Library of Congress and copies of material at the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri.