1. Private Letters Written in Longhand or of Which No Copies Were Retained by F.D.R. in the Files Given toe the Library, or Otherwise Disposed of. A typical example of this type of letter is one written in longhand by F.D.R. to one of his children and still retained by such child or his transferee. In view of the foregoing discussion of the law governing private letters, there would seem to be little or no question but that the Estate retains the exclusive publication rights. This right, as previously pointed out, is a naked property right which does not depend on any other considerations such as literary value or the protection of the good name of the decedent, and irrespective of any asset or monetary value. The representatives of the Estate have the exclusive right to publish such letters or to grant or withhold the right of publication to others, either with or without consideration. They have the right to enjoin any unauthorized publication thereof. The only argument against the foregoing conclusion is that F.D.R. intended to and did dedicate to the public all rights to his letters, including the intangible property right attached to those letters of which he had no copies or other evidence of physical ownership. While it is true that F.D.R. voluntarily surrendered most of his right to privacy, and did dedicate himself to the public to a large degree, it seems improbable that anyone would seriously contend that he gave up every incident of his right to privacy and the privileges that go with it. In all of his public statements concerning his plan for the final disposal of his papers, President Roosevelt always spoke of the transfer to the Library of tangible papers in his possession. -10- |