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Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Desk Phone Used by Franklin Roosevelt in the Oval Office
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Copyright not held by FDR Library

Desk Phone Used by Franklin Roosevelt in the Oval Office

Artifact IDMO 2000.9
Object Type Telephone
Maker (Canadian, founded 1895)
Date20th century
Mediummetal (iron alloy), plastic, paint, paper; leather (suede), electronic parts
Dimensionsoverall H 5 3/8 in x W 9 1/4 in x D 5 in (13.7 cm x 23.5 cm x 12.7 cm )
Physical DescriptionA black-painted iron alloy and composite resin telephone. It is of a simplified design with no dials, just a round plastic-covered blank white paper disk in the center of the phone. There are two rubber coated wires: one connecting the phone to the handset, and the other ending in a white plastic four-prong plug. The underside of the phone is covered with brown suede. The manufacturer's mark is on both the phone and the handset.
Historical NoteThis phone was used by President Roosevelt at his Oval Office desk. The phone has no dialing apparatus since the White House switchboard placed the President’s outgoing calls. It is on display in the FDR’S OVAL OFFICE DESK exhibit in the Museum’s APRIL 12, 1945 gallery.
Additional Details
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesPersonal Possessions of the Roosevelt Family (National Archives Identifier 782689)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestricted
CopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
On view
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