The Special Relationship: Churchill and Roosevelt

The phrase, Special Relationship has come to describe the “exceptionally close political, diplomatic, cultural, economic, military and historical relations between the United Kingdom and the United States.” The phrase first earned its political associations in 1946 when Winston S. Churchill, the former British Prime Minister, referred to Britain’s relationship with the United States during Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s presidency as “special.” Since then the phrase has been used to describe other relationships between British and American political figures such as Heath and Nixon, Thatcher and Reagan, and Blair and Clinton.

However, there is a lesser-known yet equally special Churchill-Roosevelt duo that established their personal and political relationship decades before their contemporaries were ever acquainted.

Winston Churchill, the American novelist and Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, first began their relationship around the turn of the twentieth century during a meeting of the Vermont Fish and Game League in September of 1901. Churchill had been invited to address the meeting and Roosevelt attended as the guest of honor.

By 1901 Churchill was already considered a best-selling novelist. He had published two historical novels prior to the release of The Crisis that launched him into literary infamy. The Crisis became the best-selling novel of 1901 and a fan favorite of Theodore Roosevelt. Even before the two men met on Isle La Motte on Lake Champlain, Roosevelt had reached out to Churchill in a note praising The Crisis. Churchill, who supported Roosevelt’s political platform and quietly rallied behind his presidential aspirations, was equally a fan of Roosevelt.

Perhaps it was their similar political beliefs, fondness for the outdoors or respect for one another’s craft that forged the early stages of their relationship. For whichever reason the best-selling novelist and the young politician developed a lasting friendship that survived both of their evolving careers and political ambitions long after their first meeting at Isle La Motte. Roosevelt went on to become President of the United States after McKinley’s death and secured a full term when he won the 1904 election. Churchill also entered the political world during the Progressive Era and served in the New Hampshire state legislature in 1903 and 1905 but was unsuccessful in his run for governor of New Hampshire.

In the papers of Winston Churchill we have several letters between Churchill and Roosevelt, discussing visits to the White House, congratulatory messages on literary success and new additions of family members as well as informing on political situations. In a letter dated September 20, 1906, Roosevelt writes to Churchill asking for “I want you to come alone to lunch with me or else give me a couple of hours when I can go over at length the whole political situation with you.”

If you would like to learn more about their Special Relationship you can request Robert W. Schneider biography of Churchill, Novelist of a Generation, by asking for Rare PS1298.S3. ML-16 will get you Churchill's papers.

Phoebe's Traveling Head

Phoebe, the cottage maid follows its eponymous title character through her daily routines. It could be any other children's book from 1811. But the second half of the title -- Exemplified in A SERIES OF RURAL FIGURES -- makes Phoebe unforgettable.

Each chapter of Phoebe comes with a "figure" that illustrates what Phoebe does in that chapter. Unlike today's paper dolls, only Phoebe's head is removable. After taking Phoebe's head from one figure, you can gently push it into a paper pocket in the next figure. She reads in her bower, goes to market to sell things (and gets extra money just because she's beautiful...), and makes lace.

She also sings some songs that were clearly written by an adult: "How pleasant my labor, to wander away, / The treasures of Nature to gain; to support a poor mother, to toil thro' the day, / And a poor little sister to maintain. / How sweet is the task, for the parent we love ..."

We wish we had some of the other titles advertised on the back: HUBERT, The COTTAGE BOY (the sequel to Phoebe); LUCINDA the ORPHAN, or the COSTUMES; The History of LITTLE ELLEN, Or the Naughty Girl Reclaimed; and especially Frank Feignwell's Attempts to Amuse his Friends (which you just know will go poorly for Frank).

Our copy of Phoebe was clearly well-loved over the past two hundred years -- her face is a bit smudged, and there are some doodles in the text. To play with Phoebe, ask for Rare Book PR3991.A1 P4 1812.

Pseudo Medicine?

At Rauner we have several large manuscript collections which focus on New Hampshire politicians, one of which is the papers of Charles W. Tobey. Tobey, a former governor and senator from New Hampshire, spent more than twenty years in Washington. During that time he was a member of many important committees that influenced the direction of the country, including the Senate Crime Investigating Committee, the Banking and Currency Committee and the Interstate Commerce Committee. However, it was a subject close to home that became the focus of some of his political pursuits in the late 1940s. His daughter Louisa was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1942, and a few years after that, his son Charles, Jr. was diagnosed with cancer, two diseases for which there were few effective treatments.

In response, Tobey did two things. He introduced a bill designed to amend the Public Health Service Act to include research for "the prevention and treatment of Multiple Sclerosis and Related Neurological Diseases," in 1949, and he turned to several doctors who promised help through unconventional treatments: Dr. Elias R. Leikind and Dr. Robert Lincoln.

Dr. Leikind received his medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School and practiced medicine in New York City. His medical thesis was that "there is an inflammatory process in the pelvis, male and female, that gives evidence of its diseased state not in an abnormal condition in itself but with various symptoms distantly removed in other parts of the body." Reactions from the established medical community were less than favorable. However, Louisa (Tobey) Dean and her husband Sterling were strong supporters, recommending Leikind to the many people contacting Louisa on a daily basis needing help. When Leikind was finally allowed to present his thesis in a paper in front of the Monroe County Medical Society in 1949, the Society concluded that Leikind's treatment was "without scientific proof or merit." Leikind relied heavily on anecdotal evidence from his patients and he lobbied relentlessly, to no avail, be be heard and accepted by the broader medical community.

Dr. Robert Lincoln, on the other hand, fared better than Leikind initially, and even had the support of the Surgeon General. Lincoln's research focused on bacteriophages, viruses that "parasitically attack and destroy specific bacteria." The first patients he treated where people who suffered from sinusitis but Lincoln soon discovered that his treatments were also successful for more serious illnesses, including cancer. Charles Tobey, Jr. had been diagnosed with "the second most vicious form of cancer known to man," and his doctors had given him one or two years to live. After Lincoln's treatment his cancer went into remission and Charles, Jr. and his father Senator Tobey became fervent supporters of Lincoln, trying often, unsuccessfully, to get the traditional medical community, including the American Cancer Society and the National Research Council, to support Lincoln.

If you want to look deeper into the fight between traditional medicine and experimental treatments, including testimonials from patients, ask for ML-3.

For the Love of Beauty

OUCH! This poor guy is benefiting from the latest in medical technology. Too bad he lived in the 16th century.  This early example of skin grafting, where the skin is peeled up from the arm and then grafted to the face, is from Gaspare Tagliacozzi's De curtorum chirurgia per insitionem (Venice: Apud Gasparem Bindonum, 1597), the first western book to describe the techniques of plastic surgery. The skin had to remain attached to the arm to facilitate blood flow until the graft took to the face. The straight-jacket like outfit immobilized the arm relative to the face. It couldn't have been comfortable.

Tagliacozzi was ahead of his time in many ways. He was a strong advocate for sanitation, and worked to minimize scars from grafts. His work pioneered plastic surgery in Europe.

You can see this book in our current exhibit, "The Doctor Will See You Now," on display in the Class of 1965 Galleries in Rauner through June 13. The exhibit was curated by students from Sienna Craig's First-Year writing seminar, "Values of Medicine." After the exhibit comes down, ask for Rare QM21.P528.

Green Key Like it's 1937!

Here at Dartmouth, Green Key has become synonymous with spring time fun. The weekend is full of live music and dancing. College kids take a break from their studies to enjoy the festivities. The past, however, reveals the slightly more formal origins of our modern Green Key.

This ticket from 1937 is a reminder of a very different kind of Green Key event. In 1929 the Green Key Society decided to host a Spring Prom to help fund raise for their group. The success led to an annual event. This Green Key Prom was a ticketed affair that only lasted a single night. Musical acts were added throughout the years. The event became a full weekend as more acts and events were added and frats held parties during the concurring weekend. This prom/house party weekend eventually evolved to what we on campus are familiar with today. While this ticket is a neat keepsake to help remember a different time, you can fortunately enjoy the festivities this weekend without needing a ticket of your own!

To learn more about Green Key Weekend, ask for the "Green Key" Vertical File. The ticket can be found in the "Dances, Ball, Cotillions" Vertical File.

Posted for Angela Noppenberger '17

The Glory of Morning Glories

Behind a muted cover, morning glories blossom. Kataoka Senfu's work Asagao zusetsu uses woodblock prints to present the diversity of the morning glory.

Japanese woodblock prints -- colorful and affordable -- have been popular in Japan since the seventeenth century. These prints were "discovered" by the West in the nineteenth century after Japan was strong-armed into European trade in 1853. Japanese prints were an inspiration for artists from Vincent Van Gogh to Edgar Degas.

Kataoka Senfu was active around 1902. Our copy was given to Special Collections in 1956 by H. G. Fitzpatrick in memory of Roger Conant Wilder, Jr., a member of the class of 1949 who passed away in 1953, and is an inheritor of the tradition of Western admiration for Japanese prints.

The first volume contains pages of stunning, vibrant woodblock prints, while the second volume consists of information about the plants and a few uncolored woodcuts. The second volume has been digitized by Princeton and is available via the Hathi Trust.

But Princeton doesn't have the first volume, and the binding of ours is super tight (resulting in these photographs, rather than our usual high quality scans), so you'll have to come to Rauner to see the flowers; ask for Rare Book SB404.8.K3 A7.

Nothing to Write

While looking for books to use for a class
We found a long poem about a vain Lass,
"Nothing to Wear," poor rich girl, a pity.
It rhymed, of course, and was oh so witty.

Then we found the sequel, a parody
Titled "Nothing to Do" by "a Lady"
About an idle young man whose life was a bore.
Both poems a hit, the public wanted more.

Next came a volume, so slender and neat
T'was a spoof on a spoof, "Nothing to Eat!"
One by one, this doggerel did appear
And all were written in just the same year!

So come see them, read them, and you will learn
That life is best lived with something to earn.

Nothing to Wear (New York: Rudd and Carleton, 1857), Val 816B974 T7
Nothing to Do (New York Wiley & Halsted, 1857), Rare PS2014.H16
Nothing to Eat (New York: Dick and Fitzgerald, 1857), Rare PS991.A1 N63 1857