On September 20th 1935, the day after Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the appropriation to construct Talking Book machines as a WPA project, AFB President M. C. Migel sent a telegram (displayed on this page) to the Librarian of Congress Herbert Putnam. In it, he heartily thanked him for his support for a project that would be run by the American Foundation for the Blind, on behalf of the Library of Congress.

...Have just received word that the President has signed executive order to Secretary of Treasury transferring funds to the Library of Congress for construction of Talking Book Machines. You are greatly responsible for this wonderful boon to the blind of the country and we are all grateful to you ...