Franklin D. Roosevelt Inaugural Medal

Paul Manship, Franklin D. Roosevelt Inaugural Medal, 1933, bronze, 3 in. (7.7 cm) diam., Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Paul Manship, 1966.47.132

Artwork Details

Title
Franklin D. Roosevelt Inaugural Medal
Artist
Date
1933
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
3 in. (7.7 cm) diam.
Credit Line
Bequest of Paul Manship
Mediums
Mediums Description
bronze
Classifications
Subjects
  • Occupation — political — president
  • Architecture — boat — ship
  • Allegory — place — America
  • Allegory — place — United States
  • Portrait male — Roosevelt, Franklin Delano — head
Object Number
1966.47.132
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1966.47.132

Artwork Description

Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected president of the United States in November 1932, the first of four terms. For this inaugural medal by Paul Manship, Roosevelt suggested the design for the reverse, which shows the USS Constitution ("Old Ironsides") surrounded by Longfellow's famous verse "Thou too sail on, O Ship of State, Sail on, O Union, strong and great." The collaborative relationship between Roosevelt and Manship dated to 1919, when Roosevelt was still assistant secretary of the Navy and Manship had advised him on a change to the design of the Navy's Medal of Honor.

Works by this artist (29 items)

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Herbert Bayer, "Every new opinion, at its starting, is precisely in a minority of one."--Thomas Carlyle, Heroes and Hero Worship, II, 1840, lecture in London, May 8. From the series Great Ideas of Western Man., 1961, metal, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America, 1984.124.25
“Every new opinion, at its starting, is precisely in a…
Artist
Date1961
metal
On view
Herbert Bayer, Fire Steals Too Much of an Important Resource, from the Early Series, 1942, gelatin silver print, gouache and paper on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America, 1984.124.15
Fire Steals Too Much of an Important Resource, from the…
Artist
Date1942
gelatin silver print, gouache and paper on paperboard
Not on view
Herbert Bayer, Destiny of an Old Directory, from the Early Series, 1939, gouache and gelatin silver print on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America, 1984.124.14
Destiny of an Old Directory, from the Early Series
Artist
Date1939
gouache and gelatin silver print on paperboard
Not on view
Herbert Bayer, We both consider the people as our children and love them with parental affection but you love them as infants whom you are afraid to trust withoutnurses and I as adults whom I freely leave to self-government.--Thomas Jefferson. From the series Great Ideas., 1957, gouache on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America, 1984.124.28
We both consider the people as our children and love them…
Artist
Date1957
gouache on paperboard
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

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John V. Snow, Sr., Perch, 1990, basswood, copper, lead, and glass, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1991.103.3
Perch
Artist
Date1990
basswood, copper, lead, and glass
On view
J. E. Evans, W. W. Robbins, Weather Vane/Model of a Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton, 1931, molded copper, bronze and glass, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase from the folk art collection of David L. Davies, 1992.2.1
Weather Vane/​Model of a Cadillac V‑16 Sport Phaeton
Artist
Date1931
molded copper, bronze and glass
Not on view
John V. Snow, Sr., Trout, 1990, oil on basswood, copper, and lead with glass, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1991.103.2
Trout
Artist
Date1990
oil on basswood, copper, and lead with glass
On view
Andrew Trombley, Bass Decoy, ca. 1940s, carved and painted wood, painted copper sheet, ferrous eye hook, lead weight, and glass eyes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Alastair B. Martin, 1999.67.20
Bass Decoy
Artist
Dateca. 1940s
carved and painted wood, painted copper sheet, ferrous eye hook, lead weight, and glass eyes
On view