A 2pp document boldly signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945), then in his role as Acting Secretary of the Navy, as "Franklin D Roosevelt" on the first page near the lower right. Issued from Washington, D.C. on April 19, 1919. The double-sided document is printed on "Navy Department / Washington" letterhead. Counter-signed on the second page by three naval officers including a Rear Admiral. Bearing several handwritten docket notes and an "Office of / Inspector of Machinery / Quincy, Mass." handstamp at the upper left. Hole-punched along the left edge and top. With expected wear including toning, isolated foxing, and scattered paperclip and staple marks, else good to very good. 7.875" x 10.375."

Franklin D. Roosevelt served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy between March 1913 and August 1920, under the leadership of U.S. Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels (1862-1948). Roosevelt occasionally authorized orders such as this one as Acting Secretary of the Navy.

The directive sent to Lieutenant Commander Lewis W. Comstock (1888-1975) instructed him to report "To Quincy, Mass….for duty in connection with the fitting out of the USS Belknap, and in command of that vessel when commissioned." Lewis W. Comstock, the officer so directed, signed verso, as did Charles M. Moore of the U.S. Naval Reserve Force, and George Washington McElroy, Rear Admiral of the U.S. Navy.

Lewis W. Comstock had graduated from the Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1911 and pursued graduate studies in engineering. The career naval officer had reported to the First Naval District in Boston on February 23, 1919. As per Roosevelt's instructions, Comstock supervised the outfitting of the U.S.S. Belknap (DD-251), a Clemson-class destroyer, and commanded her after she was commissioned on April 28, 1919. Comstock spent the rest of his career in the Philippines, Panama, and other naval bases, and during World War II, served in the Atlantic convoy; he retired from the service in 1943.

Roosevelt and Josephus Daniels shared similar reform-minded ideas about the Navy Department and they worked well together. Roosevelt assisted in reorganizing navy departments in order to extend administration to civilian employees; insisted on merit-based promotions; advocated for military preparedness and the navy's nascent aviation program; and excelled at conflict resolution and mediation. Historians agree that Roosevelt's tenure as Assistant Secretary of the Navy gave him invaluable leadership experience in advance of becoming Governor of New York and the 32nd U.S. President. Roosevelt was elected president an unprecedented four times, and led the United States through both the Great Depression and World War II between March 1933 and his death in April 1945.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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