Franklin D. Roosevelt

Withdrawal of the Nomination of Thomas R. Amlie for the Interstate Commerce Commission

April 17, 1939

My dear Mr. Amlie:

I have your letter requesting me to withdraw your nomination as a member of the Interstate Commerce Commission. I am doing so shortly.

I deeply regret that a certain type of opposition should deprive the Interstate Commerce Commission of one as able and as wholeheartedly devoted to the public service as you are.

You and I have often differed on important issues, but I can assure you nothing has occurred to alter my belief in your qualifications to serve as a minority member of the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Those who for political reasons have called you a Communist do not perhaps realize that such name-calling ill serves the democratic form of Government which this Nation as a whole wishes to continue.

A quarter of a century ago I, too, was called a Communist and a wild-eyed radical because I fought for factory inspection, for a fifty-four-hour-a-week bill for women and children in industry and similar measures. You are still young and I hope that you will continue to work for the improvement of social and economic legislation under our framework of Government.

Very sincerely yours,

Thomas R. Amlie, Esq.,
Washington, D.C.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, Withdrawal of the Nomination of Thomas R. Amlie for the Interstate Commerce Commission Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/209534

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