ROOSEVELT, Franklin D.

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Photograph inscribed to his personal secretary Grace Tully, further inscribed by Cardinal Mundelein. Inscribed by Roosevelt to Grace Tully, "To Grace from FDR". The photograph shows Roosevelt talking cheerfully with Cardinal George Mundelein, Archbishop of Chicago from 1915 until his death. Mundelein has additionally inscribed the photograph "To Miss Grace Tully with best Christmas wishes and my blessing for herself and those close to her. George Cardinal Mundelein".Grace Tully along with Marguerite LeHand was Roosevelt's principal secretary during his years as president. The use of female secretaries broke with tradition, with all prior presidential secretaries men. But LeHand's connection with FDR went back to 1920, before his polio attack, and she was a consistent and loyal companion through the gruelling early years of his recovery. Tully's tenure dated from his 1928 campaign for governor of New York. When he won the presidency in 1932, Roosevelt had no hesitation about bringing these two loyal, trusted and discreet assistants - both Irish Catholics from humble, working-class origins - into his inner circle at the White House.Mundelein was a major supporter of Roosevelt within the Catholic hierarchy, a constituency Roosevelt took pains to cultivate. "Mundelein's pro-Roosevelt speeches and activities certified for Catholic voters that Roosevelt was a safe, noncommunist political leader. In return for Mundelein's support, Roosevelt had put the unofficial American seal of ap

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