At 5 a.m. on Jan. 6, 1937, Luther Gulick was already hard at work, writing a message on governmental reorganization that President Roosevelt would deliver to Congress six days later.

(Like, no pressure, right?)

How do we know? Because the files have a copy of Gulick’s frequently revised “confidential” draft, with his handwritten note: “1st draft of President’s message by LG/Jan 6 -5-9 AM.”

It was the culmination of a momentous effort throughout 1936 by Gulick, Louis Brownlow and Charles Merriam –the President’s Committee on Administrative Management, known as the Brownlow Committee –to simplify the chaotic dis-organization of the federal bureaucracy, as FDR struggled to lift the nation out of the Great Depression and prepare for the growing threat posed by the fascist dictatorships overseas.

So here’s the point: take a look at Gulick’s draft above. See how he struggled with the right language to put in FDR’s mouth (or pen). “…trough of the depression…” etc.

Now take a look at the message, as Roosevelt sent it to Congress Jan. 12, 1937 (and reproduced by The New York Times).

Sound familiar?

The reorganization bill of 1937 failed. The Republicans denounced it as a power grab and defeated it.

Sound familiar?

But Roosevelt persevered and won passage of a watered down bill two years later. What the bill lacked, he made up for by administrative edit. And then he gratefully presented a ceremonial signing pen to Gulick, who preserved it in his safe.

The note — and pen — turned up in the collection.