Perhaps the greatest friend our hobby ever had was Franklin Delano Roosevelt, known in certain circles as "The Stamp Collecting President." "I owe my life to my hobbies, especially stamp collecting," he once said, referring to his belief that the hobby was vital in helping him overcome dark days after he was aflicted with polio in his thirties.
After his death, Roosevelt's marvelous and wide ranging collections, inlcuding proofs and varieties of both U.S. and worldwide philatelic items, were sold by auction house H.R. Harmer, Inc. Today, one still often finds items for sale with the backstamp "From The Franklin D. Roosevelt Collection/Authenticated By H.R. Harmer, Inc, N.Y."
Even on the last day of his life, April 12, 1945, he performed a philatelic duty by approving the "Toward United Nations" commemorative, one of many he actively helped design and approve during his time as president. A hobby that he had picked up at a tender age, stamp collecting saw him through his life. In turn, he gave back by being instrumental in its growth into the world's most popular hobby.
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