FDR at Temple, 2/22/36

written by Gerry Wilkinson

Do you know that when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt spoke at the Founder's Day ceremonies at Temple's Mitten Hall on February 22, 1936, his life was threatened?

There was a telephone tip that two men were planning to "bomb" the President (FDR). The call went to the Philadelphia Police Department. A Sgt. Jefferies took the call at 9 a.m. on the day of Roosevelt's appearance. The caller told police that he was speaking from a pay phone in a cigar store on the northwest corner of Broad and Columbia. That's the property now occupied by Zavelle's Book Store.

The male caller mentioned that he had been in the store when two men of foreign "appearance" entered and made a purchase.

"I followed them outside and they got into an open car which bore a New York license," the man said. "On the seat of the car," he continued, I saw what looked to me like a hand grenade."

Police officers Mullin and Haney went to the store, but could not find the suspects. But then, why would they? The "eyewitness" said they drove away. They also could not find the tipster. Workers in the store said that business was really good and that they were unable to recall the appearance of anyone who had used the pay phone.

No such bomb was ever found nor any attempt made on the President's life.