[ Barrie Pitt, military historian. ] Two Typed Drafts of a biographical account of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. One with autograph emendations.

Both items in good condition, on yellow paper. Apparently written as an entry in a work of reference, but no evidence of publication discovered. ONE: Later draft. 10pp., 4to. Single spaced. Begins: 'ROOSEVELT, FRANKLIN DELANO was born on January 30th 1882, the only son of James and Sara Delano Roosevelt. His parents were millionaires - but not multi-millionaires, so that although he was to be expensively educated and comfortably brought up, he was never subjected to the dynastic pressures which were often applied to the heirs of vast fortunes like those of the Morgans, the Vanderbilts or the Rockefellers.' Concludes: 'Dictatorship is only possible when the executive is superior to the legislature; democracy's guard is the inviolability of constitutional law. As Roosevelt himself said when he first assumed the highest office in his native land "The Presidency is pre-eminently a place of moral leadership". | It was in this spirit that he occupied it.' TWO: Earlier draft. 13pp., 4to. Double spaced. With autograph emendations in blue ink throughout, including the addition of the final line.