Much love,
E.R.
Lorena was in the Midwest trying to strengthen the grassroots network of Democratic women there.
February 25th [1940]
Commodore Perry Hotel
Toledo, Ohio
My dear:
Spent the entire morning on busses, getting from Columbus to Lima, a distance of about 90 miles. The man I had to see, the Democratic leader up in that neck of the woods, invited me up to his house for dinner. Not a very good dinner, and he talked politics at me right straight through dinner and for a couple of hours afterwards. I felt so sorry for his wife and children. They must have been awfully bored! When I see what some women have to put up with, I certainly can bear my spinsterhood with equanimity.
Much love.
H
To help ease Lorena’s financial worries, the first lady began having her dresses altered to fit Hick.
March 8th [1940]
Hotel Harrison
Indianapolis
My dear:
I’d love the dress, dear, if that’s what you had in mind for my birthday. I’d much rather have something like that—that you thought of—than a check.
I didn’t write last night because I was too tired. I put in a twelve-hour day—solid, with no break—yesterday, on about five hours’ sleep.
Today was a twelve-hour day, too! But I get so interested during the day that I don’t even realize that I’m getting tired until I get back to my room at night. The mornings are tough. But once up and out, I forget all about being tired.
Darling, I’m sorry, but it’s all Third Term! Labor people—even those in the [Paul] McNutt4 organization here—tell me privately they would much rather have the president run! Nobody says with any real conviction that McNutt could carry even his own state! In Ohio I found not a single person who would give us a chance of carrying the state unless the president runs and they said it wouldn’t be a walk-away even for him!
Much love.
H
My measurements: Bust 43
waist 40
hips 44
Just before Eleanor wrote the following letter, the United States had learned that Hitler’s armies were simultaneously invading Holland, Luxembourg, Belgium, and France.
[May 11, 1940]
THE WHITE HOUSE
Washington
Hick dearest, The world gets worse & I’ve about decided short of an army we must do what we can for the Allies. I’m trying to think of something worthwhile I could do for the Red Cross. Talked to F. to-day & see Mr. [Norman] Davis to-morrow.5
You will see me at breakfast on Tuesday.
Bless you dear, it will be good to see you,
E.R.
The Republicans had chosen liberal businessman Wendell Willkie as their presidential nominee.
[June 30, 1940]
THE WHITE HOUSE
Washington
Dearest, The papers are discouraging to me since F. told me he really felt Wilkie [sic]6 was a crook or words to that effect. I have a hunch he’s going to win, what is yours? The lull in European news makes me dread the storm.
I hope you all have a good time in Chicago.7 With the state of the world as it is[,] campaigns seem unimportant.
Mine was another day spent wondering what men do in their businesses, they are so slow on committees!
Much love,
E.R.
In the “My Day” that appeared the day before Lorena wrote this letter, Eleanor criticized Wendell Willkie’s platform as vague. “Sometimes I wonder if we shall ever grow up in our politics and say definite things which mean something,” she wrote, “or whether we shall always go on using generalities to which everyone can subscribe, and which mean very little.”
July 2nd [1940]
Democratic National Committee
My dear:
No, I don’t think Willkie is a crook, but I don’t care for the crowd that is backing him. And he is too darned plausible—too simple, etc. I think the man is devilishly clever, and that he will beat any Democrat except the president—and very likely the president. We are all having a hard time over at the office, trying not to get a defeatist attitude. I don’t know whether Willkie is a fascist or not, but I certainly do suspect the crowd behind him. The man is the white hope of the Tories, and, unfortunately, by his charm and his smooth talk, he may win over a lot of women, young people, and even liberals. He may be “der Fuhrer” we’ve all been expecting!
Oh, you had a good column yesterday about Willkie!
A “respectable” Huey Long—that’s the way he impresses me!
H
Many delegates to the Democratic convention balked at FDR’s choice of liberal Secretary of Agriculture Henry Wallace for vice president, preferring a conservative. Tradition dictated that the president not appear at the convention until after the ticket had been decided, so when the delegates threatened revolt, FDR loyalists turned to Eleanor to restore order to the party. She flew to Chicago and waited at the back of the stage with Lorena until the presiding officer called her to the microphone. The delegates had been loud and raucous, but when they recognized the first lady, they fell silent. She spoke of the grave responsibility of every citizen at this critical point in history. “This is no ordinary time, no time for weighing anything except what we can best do for the country as a whole.” When she finished, the organist played “God Bless America”—and the crowd cheered. The delegates then nominated FDR’s choice for his running mate.
[July 20, 1940]
Val-Kill Cottage
Dearest, It was so good to see you & I am glad you were satisfied with my job in Chicago. The “few words”8 must have come over the air well from what people tell me.
I’ve been like a pea on a hot shovel in recent days. I spoke last night at a meeting of foreign born citizens & to-day at the United Jewish Appeal & both meetings were strangely moving.
So much love,
E.R.
August 8th [1940]
Democratic National Committee
My dear:
The open season on Anna Eleanor Roosevelt is here. “Look” magazine and the Associated Press have both been after me today, wanting to know your plans, whether you are going to be active in the campaign, etc. AP in the person of an old newspaper pal of my Minneapolis Tribune days who phoned from New York, and Ruby Black, who is to write the story for “Look,” came in and had a drink with me late this afternoon. Ruby’s story is to be about the part, behind-the-scenes or otherwise, you are taking in the campaign. I could have given her one or two juicy bits, but refrained. Lord, I hope they don’t start pestering me for inside dope on you this Summer! Oh, well—if they do, I’ll just be polite and tell ’em nothing.
Congratulations on losing six pounds!
Good night and much love.
H
[August 11, 1940]
Val-Kill Cottage
Dearest,
I’m sorry you are being bothered [by reporters] but I shall be doing little [in the campaign] & the one reason I’m glad to be going down to [Democratic National Committee] headquarters is that I will be seeing you!
I had 800 ladies to tea to-day. It was awful but I think successful!
I have a deep discouragement about the world these days & would like to run away from having to face it. If I feel that way[,] what must other less [economically] secure people feel?
Much love dear,
E.R.
This letter contains Lorena’s first mention of Marion Harron. It is unclear exactly when or where Lorena met Marion.
August 21st [1940]
Democratic National Committee
Darling:
The other day, when we were talking about next weekend, I clean forgot that I had invited Dorothy Cruger9 to the country. Would you give me a rain check? I’m having company over Labor Day, but could go to HP [Hyde Park] the weekend of September 10th or 17th or sometime in October. I realize these may all be impossible for you, and I’m s
orry about next weekend. Marion will be here to go down to the country with me the weekends of September 24th and October 1st. She will be hearing cases in NYC that week.
Got settled today in the room I’m to have during the campaign. It’s on the nineteenth floor of the Beekman Tower,10 with a nice breeze and a lovely view of the East River.
I’m terribly sorry about the weekend and hope you will forgive my stupidity.
Good night, dear, and much love.
H
[September 6, 1940]
Val-Kill Cottage
Hick dearest, I’ve just been notified that on Sunday we have all the exiled Austrians for lunch.11 I find royalty heavy & boring!
What you need is a maid to take care of you. If you can get one at $15 a week I’d like to give her to you as my Xmas present to move from city to country with you & take care of you. I think you’d find yourself less tired.12
I’ll be down [to New York City] on Monday but only for a brief time in the morning. I hope you have a good week end but I’d rather have you here when royalty is gone & F. is not up!
A world of love,
E.R.
In her job, Lorena spoke frequently with ordinary people and was convinced—and worried—that the Democrats would lose the upcoming election. Eleanor, as this letter indicates, was less concerned.
[October 22, 1940]
20 East 11 Street
New York City
Hick dearest, Don’t worry about Nov. 5th dear, you have done your best for the things you believed in. If the Republicans win[,] it will mean that the majority wanted Wilkie [sic]. We are democrats & believe in the will of the people, don’t we?
[Westbrook] Pegler was poisonous to-night.13 I’ll be glad for the kids[’] sake when the campaign is over! If F.D.R. wins I’ll be glad for him & for the country & if he loses I’ll be glad for myself & the kids!
Much love to you dear,
E.R.
On Election Day, FDR won 55 percent of the popular vote—the smallest margin of victory in a presidential election since 1916. Because Lorena had been hired to help the Democrats win, her job ended the day after the election.
November 7th [1940]
10 Mitchell Place
New York City
My dear:
And how do you feel, now that it’s over? I hope you don’t mind too much. I thought about you a lot the other night, as it became clear that we were winning, and hoped you were not too low in your mind.
I told Charlie [Michelson]14 that, of course, I’d like to stay on the payroll and land that job as director of the [Democratic National Committee] women’s division, but that I didn’t want to stay on if, by doing so, I crowded out some of the little people who also need their jobs and didn’t have the connections I had. I told him that, if I stayed with the committee, it should be on my record—and not simply because of pressure from you or anybody else. And that is the way I feel about it—badly as I do want to stay.
So, I’m off to the country tomorrow morning, and there I shall stay until I hear from Charlie.
I hope, dear, that you won’t mind these next four years too much. And I think you must know how grateful I have been and am for this job I’ve had with the committee. And I owe that to you.
Much love.
H
[November 8, 1940]
20 East 11 Street
New York City
Hick dearest, No, I don’t look forward to the next four years for I will probably be too old for a new job at the end & I dread getting accustomed to 4 more years of easy living but perhaps I can keep from being too dependant [sic] on it. Anyway what is the use of worrying about tomorrow let alone 4 years from now!
A world of love dear,
E.R.
November 11th [1940]
The Little House
Moriches, Long Island
My dear:
I’m glad you are taking these next four years so philosophically. What do you mean by “easy life”? I don’t know anyone in the world who works harder than you do! And I don’t believe you’ll ever be too old for a job, either. If you were going to get old, you’d be showing signs of it by now. I don’t see any. As a matter of fact, I’d never have believed it possible for a woman to develop after 50 as you have in the last six years. My God, you’ve learned to do, surpassingly well, two of the most difficult things in the world—to write and to speak. I’d not worry about a “life of ease” or getting old if I were you.
When I couldn’t sleep the other night, I read Ruby Black’s book through.15 The first part, of course, is just re-hash of your autobiography, and you did that better yourself. But the chapters on your career in the White House are excellent, I think—much better than I could do. My trouble, I suspect, has always been that I’ve been so much more interested in the person than in the personage. I resented the personage and fought for years an anguished and losing fight against the development of the person into the personage. I still prefer the person, but I admire and respect the personage with all my heart!
H
[November 15, 1940]
Stevens Hotel
Chicago
Hick dearest, Hope the [Thanksgiving] turkey will be good & I’ll be thinking of you. I’ll be at the Big House in Hyde Park.
I wrote Eddie Flynn16 & have written again to Molly Dewson17 about the job. She worries as to whether you will have patience to answer endless letters constructively & help endless “little” women to move up one step at [a] time in [the] organization. Also meet the endless visitors & stand constant entertaining & hounding me to entertain those I should. I am writing her that I too think it will be hard for you at first but I can work with you & that seems to be important in their minds for some unknown reason.
Much love dearest,
E.R.
November 18th [1940]
The Little House
Moriches, Long Island
My dear:
I honestly don’t think you and Molly [Dewson] have any real cause for worry about my getting bored or impatient with the ladies. What neither of you seems to realize is just how desperate my plight is—and how little I can afford to be choosy! I am 47 years old, my dear, and have reached an age where it is very, very difficult for a woman to get a job.
I have got to have a job, my dear—or else! Now if I had any idea of where to look—or what I could do—in private industry, that would be one thing. But I haven’t. And any job I could get in private industry that would pay me anything like an adequate income would undoubtedly bore me more than the ladies would. At least on that job I’d be in a field that interests me.
I am exceedingly anxious, if possible, to keep the house out here. It’s the only thing that deeply matters to me any more. It’s the difference between getting some joy out of life and just merely working to keep on existing.
It is most generous of you to offer to guarantee the dentist bill for a Christmas present, but I can’t let you do this. It will be a whopper, my dear—at least $300, possibly $400 or $500. One nice feature is that this will probably be the last big one I’ll ever have. But, entirely apart from not wanting to take advantage of you, I just can’t see any sense at all in investing any more money in this old carcass unless I am fairly certain of being able to support it!
Much love, dear, and thanks for your letters.
H
December 10th [1940]
THE WHITE HOUSE
Washington
Hick dear, I’ve written to Jim [Farley] & ought to get some answer before long. I still hope in the future to get a job where you & Tommy & I could work to-gether but it must be something where age won’t put us out!
Much, much love dear,
E.R.
December 27th [1940]
10 Mitchell Place
New York City
Darling:
You are so cute and funny! I arrived here today to find the big box of fruit from Florida and a lovely basket of candied fruit from California, wit
h one of your Christmas cards enclosed. Madame—am I never to stop receiving Christmas presents from you? Oh, damn it—what have I ever done to deserve a friend like you! Well, any way, I thank you—for a very great deal of pleasure.
Thanks again, you dear, for all the sweet things you think of and do. And I love you more than I love anyone else in the world except Prinz—who, by the way, discovered your present to him on the window seat in the library Sunday. I wouldn’t let him have it until Christmas, but he kept sneaking in there every chance he got the next two days and sniffing it, and, when he was in there with me, he’d lie on the floor and look at it long minutes at a time! You should have seen him open it!
Much love—
H
After six months of being unemployed, Lorena was finally hired by the Democratic National Committee. Gladys Tillett from North Carolina would be director of the Women’s Division and make most of the public appearances; Lorena would be executive secretary—at a salary of $5,000 a year, less than at either of her two previous jobs—and concentrate on behind-the-scenes activities, such as organizing a Democratic women’s conference in Minnesota.
June 3rd [1941]
Hotel Lowry
St. Paul, Minnesota
My dear:
Well—I’m here. Being the first arrival from Washington, I was greeted by a barrage of personal publicity, plus photographers, which I loathed. But the conference needs every bit of publicity it can get, and I’ll be the only one they have to write about until Ed Flynn arrives tomorrow. Mrs. Tillett gets in Thursday. I’m even going on the radio tomorrow, for the first time in my life. Have to. We are offered the time free, with no one to fill it. Please offer silent prayers that my teeth don’t click! One Minneapolis paper wanted to write a story with the lead: “Hick came home today—” I begged them not to do it!
Goodbye for now and much love.
H
[August 4, 1941]
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