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The author paints an image of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt so vivid and real that as
you listen to the story you feel you are reliving the exciting history of that time with
them. Far from putting the two on a pedestal, you get to know them warts and
all, and the main difference between the scandals of present-day Bill Clinton and Franklin
Roosevelt is the treatment by the press. Franklin had several mistresses who
lived with him in the mansion quite openly, although we are never sure how much Eleanor
was aware of. It's these unexpected scandalous little tidbits that keep us
listening intently.
During the Roosevelt's time in office, the White House was a boarding house full of all
sorts of odd ducks, including Churchill and his staff, FDR's secretary and confidant,
Missy LeHand, who was desperately in love with her boss, Eleanor's secretary Lorena
Hickok, Princess Marguerite, and numerous other hangers-on. The president's
right hand man, a sickly Harry Hopkins, had an apartment there; in fact we learn that FDR
was responsible for saving his life. After Hopkins married, his wife lived
there, also. The Roosevelt's only daughter, Anna, became her father's social
secretary after Eleanor's schedule kept her away from the White House for months at a
time. The many Roosevelt grandchildren stayed in the Mansion much of the
time. They often had 1,500 guests at one time.
We learn of Eleanor's struggle to stand up to her indomitable mother-in-law, Sara Delano,
who was convinced that Eleanor had stolen her baby boy, even though they were fifth
cousins. FDR was an active 39 year old when he was struck down by polio after a
sailing and yachting weekend and all the Roosevelt money could not change the fact that he
was left an invalid. He never wanted any sympathy. Most Americans
were not aware he was utterly dependent on his braces and wheel chair. Photographers never
photographed him in an unflattering situation.
FDR started his "fireside chats" in 1941 to prepare the public for the war he
knew was coming. Through the author's skill we learn how carefully those
broadcasts were presented, and how hard they worked to make them seem just like a friendly
chat from a neighbor. FDR successfully dealt with the depression when the
largest percentages of Americans were out of work, and he brought in the "New
Deal". He was on top of the "Bank Holiday" and prevented it from
becoming as bad as it might have been.
It is obvious that Eleanor was a woman far ahead of her time, yet she provided a
conscience and a stabilizing influence on her husband, though he rarely acknowledged her
talents. It certainly was NO ORDINARY TIME.
Although the author hints at a possible indiscretion by Eleanor, the story I found most
interesting was that of Franklin's longstanding love affair with the beautiful Lucy
Mercer, Eleanor's secretary. When Eleanor found a packet of love letters from
Lucy in her husband's suitcase, she apparently agreed to forgive him and stay with him on
two conditions: first, that FDR would NEVER see that woman again, and second, that Eleanor
not have to "do her duty" in the bedroom again. They both kept their
agreement for many years, but it was a shocker to me to learn that after Missy's stroke
left her an invalid, and Princess Marguerite returned to her husband, FDR's daughter Anna
complied with her father's request to put him in touch with the newly widowed Lucy Mercer
Rutherford.
The public was told that the afternoon the president died of a brain hemorrhage, he was at
a cottage in Warm Springs, Georgia, having his portrait painted by Elizabeth
Shoumatoff. He was 63 years old. The truth of the matter is that the
artist was a friend of Lucy Rutherford and FDR was spending the weekend with
her. It must have been very hard for Eleanor to learn this hard truth, and even
harder to forgive her daughter for arranging it.
An amazing story of strength and human weakness.
--- Reviewed by Carolyn B. Leonard
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