Press Conferences of Henry Morgenthau, Jr., 1933-1945 | Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

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Collection Overview

Title: Press Conferences of Henry Morgenthau, Jr., 1933-1945

Primary Creator: Henry Morgenthau, Jr.

Extent: 3.14 Cubic Feet

Arrangement: The press conference transcripts are arranged in a single, chronological series.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

During his tenure as Secretary of the Treasury, Morgenthau delivered hundreds of press conferences which were transcribed and then microfilmed. These press conferences cover subjects ranging from New Deal monetary policy and war loan drives to refugee issues and post-war planning. They total approximately 15,000 pages.

Collection Historical Note

Henry Morgenthau, Jr., was a Dutchess County neighbor and close friend to Franklin D. Roosevelt. Morgenthau, only son of New York City real estate mogul and diplomat, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., attended Cornell University, studying agriculture. Morgenthau's friendship with FDR began in 1915 when the two shared a common wish to increase rural representation in the New York State Democratic Party.

In 1928, Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Morgenthau Chairman of the New York State Agricultural Advisory Commission and State Conservation Commissioner. Later as President, FDR first appointed Morgenthau Chairman of the Federal Farm Bureau and Farm Credit Administration and then as Secretary of the Treasury, a post he would serve from January 1934 through July 1945. Morgenthau made significant and direct contributions to the New Deal and to the US efforts in World War II. He helped develop the Lend-Lease program of aid to Britain, led the homefront war bond effort, and acted as the driving force in creating the War Refugee Board that resulted in the rescuing of as many as 200,000 Jews from Nazi-occupied countries. He is also widely known for presenting the controversial "Morgenthau Plan" for an agrarian postwar Germany.

Administrative Information

Repository: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

Access Restrictions: None

Use Restrictions: The writings of Franklin D. Roosevelt within this collection are in the public domain. The official writings of United States government officials within this collection are in the public domain. All other materials are subject to the United States Copyright law, 17 U.S.C. 101, et seq.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Morgenthau Press Conference Index],
[Series 2: Morgenthau Press Conferences],
[All]

Series 1: Morgenthau Press Conference Index

Advisory Council of National Sales Managers-Civic Organizations: View Online
Civilian Defense, Office of-Financing, Government: View Online
Financing, Government (cont.)-Great Britain: View Online
Great Britain (cont.)-Mintage of Coins: View Online
Mitchell, Charles-Silver: View Online
Silver (cont.)-Tax: Legislation: View Online
Tax: Legislation (cont.)-Zinc: View Online

Series 2: Morgenthau Press Conferences

Volume 1, November 15, 1933-March 19, 1934: View Online
Volume 2, April 2, 1934-August 30, 1934: View Online
Volume 3, September 4, 1934-April 22, 1935: View Online
Volume 4, May 2, 1935-September 12, 1935: View Online
Volume 5, September 15, 1935-December 30, 1935: View Online
Volume 6, January 2, 1936-June 29, 1936: View Online
Volume 7: View Online
Volume 8, January 4, 1937-June 28, 1937: View Online
Volume 9, July 1, 1937-December 30, 1937: View Online
Volume 10, January 3, 1938-May 26, 1938: View Online
Volume 11, June 2, 1938-December 19, 1938: View Online
Volume 12, January 16, 1939-June 29, 1939: View Online
Volume 13, July 6, 1939-December 30, 1939: View Online
Volume 14, January 4, 1940-April 29, 1940: View Online
Volume 15, May 2, 1940-October 10, 1940: View Online
Volume 16, October 14, 1940-December 30, 1940: View Online
Volume 17, January 2, 1941-April 28, 1941: View Online
Volume 18, May 1, 1941-September 29, 1941: View Online
Volume 19, October 6, 1941-December 29, 1941: View Online
Volume 20, January 5, 1942-April 30, 1942: View Online
Volume 21, May 4, 1942-September 28, 1942: View Online
Volume 22, October 1, 1942-December 28, 1942: View Online
Volume 23, February 11, 1943-April 29, 1943: View Online
Volume 24, May 3, 1943-October 7, 1943: View Online
Volume 25, November 4, 1943-June 29, 1944: View Online
Volume 26, July 1, 1944-March 15, 1945: View Online
Volume 27, March 19, 1945-July 23, 1945: View Online

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Morgenthau Press Conference Index],
[Series 2: Morgenthau Press Conferences],
[All]