The following letter was written by Franklin D. Roosevelt for the Seventieth Anniversary in 1948.

The observance of noteworthy anniversaries can play a valuable part in our thought and action. The year 1873, which saw the establishment of the Harvard CRIMSON, carries the mind back to the early days of Doctor Eliot's long and notable administration and brings it forward, decade by decade, through all the changes in the life of Harvard which seventy eventful years have witnessed.

As an old CRIMSON man I am sure that I will be pardoned a personal word--and I am sure, also, that I voice the sentiments of all that company of happy mean when I say that none of them would exchange his CRIMSON training for any other experience or association in college days.

An examination of the files of the CRIMSON would be interesting to the extent that such a study would reveal whether the paper had run with the herd or been in the forefront in the formulation of campus opinion. My message for the seventieth anniversary is that the CRIMSON always should lead in the expression of honest opinion. Very sincerely yours,   FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT '04