Eleanor and Franklin
Page 129
and Franklin’s purchase of Warm Springs, 367–68
as Franklin’s stand-in, 344
Franklin’s victory, 443
Franklin the politician, she the agitator, 435
freed from Sara’s domination, 342–43
and friendship with Louis Howe, 316–18
friendship with Nancy Cook and Marion Dickerman, 345–46
and further work for league, 325
greatest problems with Anna, 372–74
growing political importance of, Franklin and, 356–57
hard on the children, 465
hates to be photographed, 426
her own work to do, 320
her speech seconding Smith renomination, 361
his career, not hers, 310
hoped for changes in relationship with Franklin, 421–22, 429, 430–31
and Houston Democratic convention, 392–93
Howe encourages her to enter politics, 344
Howe major comfort to, 364
Howes visit Hyde Park, alliance with Howe, 318–19
inauguration day, 446, 450–52
indifference toward food, 428–29
interest in politics of (Eagle News interviews), 310–11
on internationalism and world peace, 354–55
involvement with women’s division of Democratic party, 345
involvement with Women’s Trade Union League, 348, 349
is “listening post,” 447
joins League of Women Voters, 321–22
and the Joint Legislative Conference, 386
keeps Franklin politically alive, 391–92
leads to American Foundation and U.S. entry into World Court promotion, 354
League of Nations and World Court issues, 432–34
at league’s state convention, League of Nations issue, 325
learns to inspect state institutions, 414
as lecturer, 387
magazine articles of, 468
and Milgrim incident, 458
“most trying winter,” Howe helps her cope, 341
moves into Albany executive mansion, 400
and Mrs. Vanderlip’s reelection, 324
needs to hide her influence, 405
never comfortable in Big House, 379
and new bonus army, 460
new friends disapproved of by Sara, 378
“nice people” avoid parties of, 472
and 1930 gubernatorial campaign, 419–20
not “in love” with Franklin, resents subordination to, 430
N.Y. delegates pledged to Smith, 359–60
“ombudsman” duties of, 417–18
organizes women voters, 357–61
own style of life, 369
places James in Groton, joins campaign train, 315
plans European trip, 410, 411
pleads for unemployed, 432–33
political disagreements with Franklin, 431–35
political influence of, hard-hitting campaigner, 387
political views of contrasted with Franklin’s, 401–2
politics takes more of her time, 385
in politics to serve Franklin, 347
press conferences of, 452–56
and problems with James and Elliott, 370–71
and problems with Uncle Vallie, 426–27
and Prohibition, 432–33
and Prohibition issue, 390–91, 398
prospects of withdrawing from politics, 392
psychological factors involved in Franklin’s recovery, 338–39
and rapprochement with Anna, 342
refuses police and secret-service escorts, 461
relationship with Earl Miller, 425–27
relationship with Smith, 389–90
reluctant to become First Lady, 443–44
requests to handle Franklin’s mail, 448
returns home, 416
role of in 1922 Democratic state convention, 346
role of in 1932 campaign, 439–42
role of in Smith campaign, 390–99 passim
Sara informed of son’s illness, comes to Campobello, 335
Sara’s harassment of and discontent with, 363, 364, 374, 376–77
Sara’s interference, 339–40, 341, 342
schedule and duties of, 407
and selection-of-delegates fight, 358–59
she and Franklin a team, her power, 418, 435
shocked by homosexuality, 381
“society” no longer serious, 384
stumps in rural areas, 361–62
and success as a hostess, 471
on Sunrise at Campobello, 397
and Teapot Dome attack on cousin Teddy, 361–62
and Todhunter classes, views on education, 381–82, 383
and trip with Franklin prior to sailing, 411, 412
urges Franklin not to sell houseboat, 366
uses White House as springboard for greater helpfulness, 473
and Val-Kill cottage, 378–79
and Val-Kill Industries, 379–80, 401
views on the Depression, 441
visits Franklin on houseboat, 364, 365
volume of correspondence, 466–67, 473
and Washington slum conditions, 459
and White House lifestyle, 462–64, 465–67
and Wilson’s death and memorial service, 351
on women and politics, 385, 388
women strongly organized by 1927, 389
works with Howe, 407–8
writes “Ethics of Parents,” 375, 376
writes magazine articles, 388
writes “Why I Am a Democrat,” 347, 350
and WTUL 25th-anniversary party, 409–10
yearns for different relationship with husband, 368
ROOSEVELT, ELEANOR THE WHITE HOUSE YEARS:
accepts naval rearmament, 706
accused of encouraging lawlessness and violence, 481–82
adeptness in uses of government, 569–72
and Admiral Byrd and Sir George Paish’s suggestions for peace, 717
admires Walter White, 661
advice to Jane Ickes, 575
against Churchill on Sforza issue, 910–11
aids Bertha Brodsky, 491
and aid-to-Finland issue, 768, 770–71, 772
Anna moves to Seattle, 614–15
answers Youth Congress questions, 771–73
applauds Chamberlain’s stand on Poland, 736
argues against Oxford Pledge, 695
argues with Franklin concerning youth unemployment, 684
argues with Franklin on need vs. political reality, 698–99
Arkansas sharecroppers issue, 578–79
arranges question session with Franklin, 774
Arthurdale chastening experience, 521–24
Arthurdale Franklin’s idea, 495
and Arthurdale integration question, 648
Arthurdale project her “baby,” 499
and Arthurdale’s experimental school, 512, 514–15, 518, 519
ascetic, puritan nature of, 634
and atom-bomb development, 898–902
attempts to bring in private industry to Arthurdale, 502–3
attempts to clear up Communist domination issue, 774, 776
attempts to stave off Odell Waller’s execution, 853–55
attitude of New Deal officials toward, 574
attitude toward Betsy Roosevelt, 640–41
attitude toward Communists, 895
attitude toward divorce, 619
attitude toward Nye Committee and neutrality bill, 711
avoids advocacy of League of Nations, 710
as “back door” to Franklin, 588
becomes desegregationist, 674
being butt of ridicule difficult for, 631
on being wife of public official, 779–80
belief in Youth Congress vindicated, her advice to, 701–2
as best-dressed woman, 531
at Big House with Franklin, 608
at Buckingham Palace, 839
cabinet officers seek her patronage, 577–78
calls women to action, own set of national priorities, 477
calls youth to militancy, 482
and campaign and elections, 799–806
Catholic criticism of, 721–22, 723–24
charges of Communism, pay-envelope campaign, 565
Child Labor Amendment attacked, 747
and child-refugee issue, 732–34
children in the spotlight, 620–21
and Citizenship Institute demonstration, 765–66, 768–73
and civil defense, 811–14
close to Hopkins, 589
combines social duties with varied, useful life, 780
Communists criticize project, 507
Communists make headway in Jere, 510
and community-corporations plan, 515
compassion for all living things, 572
concept of Utopia, 478
concerned about unemployment problem, 590
concerned for unemployed youth, 679–80
concerned over conditions that breed revolution, 744–46
concerned over third term as First Lady, 807–8
concerned with postwar planning, full-employment issue, 894
confident Youth Congress leadership not Communist, 761–62, 764
conflict with Ickes over, 505–6, 507–8, 512–13
consults Baruch about costs of project, 509–10
and contact with Negro troops, 847, 848
contrasting reports indicate government action, 510
and controversy surrounding self, 560–62
and convention, 903, 904
and convention, her role in, 789–95
correspondence with Carola von
Schaeffer-Bernstein, 712, 720, 731, 741, 742–43
and Costigan-Wagner anti-lynching bill, 651–56
country and Congress become hostile to project, 518
criticism and defeat of factory project, 501–2
DAR convention speech of, 527–28
deals with Congress, 578–81
and death of Danny Roosevelt, 616–17
defends Frances Perkins in Bridges affair, 584
defends Franklin’s stand on Negro question, 855
defends government youth agencies, 701
defends Quakers, 713
defends sale of planes to France, 735–36
and defense and reform, conscription-and-tax-bills issue, 796–98
and demilitarization of, CCC, 700–701
and Detroit racial riot (1943), 856–57, 859
and Dies Committee hearing, 761–63, 764
and dinner with Churchill, 844
disappointed in Hopkins, 813
disapproval of loyalty oaths and Dies Committee, 754
disapproves of Franklin’s “playboy” side, 640
divided-White-House-loyalties issue, 635–36
does not interfere in children’s lives, 627–28
does not want to offend, but not cowed by bigots, 658–59
domestic White House duties of, 629
dreads invasion of Europe, 893
and Earl Miller, 608
and “Eleanor clubs,” 856
and Elliott’s divorce, 887
encourages romances among friends, 608
encourages them to have own opinions, 613–14
endorses Prohibiting Poverty, 482–83
entertains George VI and Elizabeth, 737, 738–40
and equal-opportunity plea, concentrates on education, 648–49
estrangement from Nancy Cook and Marion Dickerman, 600–604
eulogy in her honor, 557
European developments, third-term considerations and, 785, 787
European developments make her uncertain of her views, 728–31
family turns to in times of trouble, 616–17
fascist aggression shakes her views on war, 719–20
feelings about Hyde Park, 611
feels compromise with Hitler possible, 715
feels that cooperation with Communists impossible, 759
and feud with Oyster Bay clan, Alice Longworth and, 644
fights against discrimination, 673
fights for health legislation, 586–88
fights for refrigerators, 504
and financial difficulties of Arthurdale, her sense of responsibility, 517
foreign developments also push her toward left, 755
on Frances Perkins’ appointment, 488
and Frankfurter’s warning about relationship with pacifists, 713–14
Franklin asks for declaration of war, 824
Franklin a source of power, 569–72, 574
Franklin irritated by Youth Congress, 768–70
with Franklin on campaign train, 563–64
and Franklin’s acceptance speech, 557
and Franklin’s campaign strategy, role given women’s division, 553
Franklin’s condition worsens, he goes to Warm Springs, 916
and Franklin’s death and funeral, 919–23
and Franklin’s decision to run for third term, 779–80, 781–84, 787
and Franklin’s dependence on Anna, 891–92
and Franklin’s “great design” for peace, 717
and Franklin’s illness, 885, 889–91, 904, 906
and Franklin’s meetings with Mme. Chiang, 862
Franklin’s public relations, suffer, 548
and Franklin’s “quarantine speech,” 718–19
and Franklin’s recognition of Soviet Russia, 749–50
Franklin’s relationship with children, 621, 623, 625
Franklin’s support and, 812
and Franklin’s victory, 907–8
and Franklin’s views on Youth Congress demands, 767
and Franklin’s “war before reform” speech, 886
friends worry about involvement in Youth Congress, 764
on future-of-Germany issue, 905
goodness of a source of power, 572
and government-factory project, 500–501
Goya etchings given to, 723–24
in great demand, lecture-tours contract, 529
grieves for men going to war, says good-by to James and Elliott, 832
growing Communist movement, New Deal policies undermine, 745
grows under Franklin’s tutelage, 646
Hall’s death and, 819
has confidence in youth, fears older people, 833
has misgivings about agreements with Soviet Union, 915
at headquarters while Franklin on cruise, 558
helps Pearl Buck reach Franklin on white-supremacy issue, 851, 852
her stand good politics, 659, 668, 673
holds meetings at 65th St. house, 682
homesteaders casualties of the Depression, 515
Hopkins and, 636–39
horrified by Moscow trials and purges, 755–57
and how-Arthurdale-to-be-governed issue, 517
Howe and, 638
hurt by Franklin’s callousness, 645
Hyde Park her home, 600
impromptu defense of New Deal agencies, 591
increase in anti-Semitism, her views on Jewish question, 734–35
information on Soviet Russia, sources of, her reactions to, 751–54, 756–57
interested in rural life, 495
invites Al Smith to White House, 551
involvement in Workers Alliance, 757–58
and involvement with Communism (1930s), 744–45
involvement with WPA, 582, 589
and issue of posting of black GIs to England, 837
James and Elliott in uniform, 824
James fatalistic about entering war, 786
and James’ relationship with father, 623
jokes about extent of her travels, 615–16
keynotes no-foreign-war crusade, 717
and land reform, “greenbelt town” programs, 518
Latin American tour of, 887–88
and launching of Subsistence Homestead Program, 494–500
as lecturer, 529–33, 538
and Lucy Mercer’s visits while away, 893
lunch with Alice, 644
makes certain that new ideas looked into, 589–90
makes proposals for jobs, 781
and Marian Anderson concert, 664, 667–68
methods of dealing with bureaucracy, 573–74
as mistress of gaieties at Franklin’s birthday parties, 633
mistrusts Churchill’s idea for Anglo-American alliance, 882
the M. L. Wilsons visit White House, 496, 497–98
Mme. Chiang invited to meet Churchill, 866
and Mme. Chiang Kaishek’s visit, 859–61
as moralist, further views on the Depression, 479
the Morgenthaus and, 639
“mother . . . a very jealous person,” 640–41
and Nazi-Soviet nonaggression pact, 758–59, 760
Nazi-Soviet Pact, Danzig crisis, 741
Negro “backwardness” not pretext for unequal treatment, 663–64
Negroes-in-armed-forces issue, 669–72, 673
and Negroes-in-defense-industries issue, 674–77
and Negroes’ plight, attempts to bring to Franklin’s attention, 647–48
Negro press association urges black appointments, against discriminatory NRA and USN policies, 650
neutrality laws not amended, her pessimism, 740–41
New Dealers prejudiced, Ickes her ally, 659
New Deal linked to Communism, 746–49
New Deal opposition grows, 548–50
and New Deal programs and legislation, 480–81
1934 elections endorse New Deal programs, 508
and 1936 campaign, 546
and 1940 campaign, Negro vote in question, 672–73
and 1944 campaign, 903–7
nonconformist stand of, and involvement with American Youth Congress, 687–94, 697–98, 701
and “nonpolitical” tour with Franklin, 556
NYA and, 684–87, 698, 701
offers to go to Europe for Red Cross, 808
ombudsman talents belong to GIs, 834–37
organizes campaign, Farley’s report concerning, 559
other tickets considered, 783, 785
outraged over State Department reorganization, 909–10, 912
and party for black delinquent girls, 561–62
and patronage of Second World Youth Congress, 695–97
patronizes civic organizations, 585
Pearl Buck’s attitude toward, 863–64
Pearl Harbor and, 823–25
and “petticoat government” issue, 592–95
philosophy of living, 478
Poland invaded, her shifting views, 742–43
political considerations do not silence her, 668
Popular Front turnabout, 760
on possibility of a woman president, 489