FDR Letters, Mementos Go to Auction

Thursday, February 15th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) â€” Bidders paid more than $1 million for items that once belonged to Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt as a two-day sale of their memorabilia got under way at Christie's auction house.

A silver-framed print of an oil portrait of the former president, inscribed to Eleanor Roosevelt by the artist, brought the highest bid Wednesday at $76,375.

A small card signed by Roosevelt and former English Prime Minister Winston Churchill before the United States entered World War II brought $64,625.

The card had been given to John A. Roosevelt, the youngest of the Roosevelts' six children, with a note that read: ``Dear John, Here is a memento of my meeting with Churchill. These cards are being circulated all over England. I got Winston to sign in one corner and I signed in the other. Much love, affectionately, Pa.''

Some 3,000 items are being sold from a collection held by John Roosevelt's widow. The auction was to continue Thursday.