FDR'S WHITE DEMOCRATIC DONKEY FROM THE PRESIDENT'S OVAL OFFICE DESK - A RELIC OF SUPREME HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
This important Historical relic was presented to Toi Marya Bachelder (Pictured Waving below), who served FDR as one of his primary Secretaries from 1933 to 1945. Toi, a Polio Victim, first met the future President at Warm Springs, Georgia when she was only 14. Over the years FDR and Toi became trusted friends.
TOI BACHELDER WITH HER FRIEND AND BOSS - F.D.R.
Young Toi had been selected as one of the First 25 Test Patients at the newly designated Warm Springs Polio Foundation. All of the first 25 Children that were Polio Victims, mixed socially with the future President many times before he became President of the United States. FDR was particularly fond of Toi and she was the only one of 25 youthful Polio victims who was later invited to work alongside President Roosevelt, at The White House. These important Historical items were presented to Toi Marya Bachelder, who Served FDR as one of his primary Secretaries from 1933 to 1945. Shortly after the President's death on April 12, 1945, the First lady, Eleanor Roosevelt thoughtfully presented several important pieces of personal property of the President's to favored FDR personages. And there were few so favorably chosen.
FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT'S OVAL OFFICE DESK DEMOCRATIC DONKEY
In the early 1980's, Toi Bachelder invited her close friend, Raleigh DeGeer Amyx and his family to go with her, for what was to be her last visit to Warm Springs, Georgia. It was there that Ms. Bachelder introduced Mr. Amyx to several of those that had served The President while he was residing in Warm Springs at "The Little White House" - "FDR's Cottage". It was there that President Roosevelt spent many days passionately attempting to regain his health and vigor.
STRAIGHT FROM THE OVAL OFFICE DESK OF FDR - "HOI TOI" AS THE PRESIDENT WOULD SAY
Years later Toi Bachelder shared, with her friend Raleigh DeGeer Amyx, a number of personal Historical Relics that were owned and used by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. And that included the President's three "Ho Toi" figurines, as well as FDR's White Democratic Donkey, which the President often kept right in front of him on his cluttered Oval Office desk.
F.D.R.'S WHITE DONKEY ON RIGHT FRONT OF DESK WITH HEAD OF "HO-TOI" VISIBLE, DIRECTLY BEHIND DONKEY (BOTH ARE PICTURED ON FDR'S DESK ABOVE)
Toi Bachelder and Raleigh DeGeer Amyx were fast friends and often together for luncheons or visits between Toi's Washington D.C. home and Mr. and Mrs. Amyx's nearby Virginia home. These Rare pieces are presently, as they have been for over a quarter of a century, in The American Heritage Collection (a.k.a.) The Raleigh DeGeer Amyx Collection. In the near future all will be shared with an Institution or another collector of note.
RALEIGH DEGEER AMYX - WITH HIS DEAR FRIEND TOI BACHELDER - ON THE WAY TO F.D.R.'S WARM SPRINGS, GEORGIA - 1984
HISTORIAN & COLLECTOR - RALEIGH DEGEER AMYX 2010
For additional historical facts that may be of interest see: www.AmericanHeritage1.com
Raleigh DeGeer Amyx is an American historian and collector. His full biography can be read on his Wikipedia page.