Empty Without You
Page 23
Val-Kill Cottage
Dearest Hick, I’m so glad you want a new suit for Xmas. I’ll bring [fabric] samples when I come in on the 20th. I’ll be at the White House for breakfast that day.
What worries me however is your ankles swelling, that is bad & would mean a visit to the doctor at once if you had any sense. Will you please go at once & I will gladly pay.
I found Mama in bed with high blood pressure. I think she just missed having a stroke & I fear it means I must be a bit more considerate of her, instead of running away. You know that won’t be to my liking!
Much love dear,
E.R.
Sara Delano Roosevelt had died the morning that Eleanor wrote this letter.
[September 7, 1941]
Val-Kill Cottage
Hick dearest, I am so weary I cannot write. I was up most of last night, 1 1/2 hours was the time I spent in bed & I’ve been seeing relatives all day.
Mama’s death was peaceful but putting Hall in the hospital last night was a job & keeping him there is worse.18 I’ve got to be at the hospital at 9:30 a.m. & try to use moral suasion.
Devotedly,
E.R.
Hall Roosevelt died on September 25, with his sister at his bedside; he was fifty-one. When Lorena wrote this letter, she was in Kansas meeting with Democratic women there.
October 8th [1941]
Dearest:
I was sorry to hear that you were so weary and “indifferent inside.” I wonder, though, if fatigue may not have had something to do with your mood. I think Hall’s illness and death undoubtedly took more out of you than you realize or would ever admit, even to yourself. And remember—even when you’re feeling that way, you do a better job at whatever you’re doing than most people do. I meant what I said in the wire I sent you today—I grow prouder of you each year. I know no other woman who could learn to do so many things after 50 and to do them so well as you, Love. You are so better than you realize, my dear.
A happy birthday, dear, and you are still the person I love more than anyone else in the world.
H
On the Sunday before Eleanor wrote this letter, Japanese aircraft attacked the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, propelling America into the war. All four Roosevelt boys quickly donned uniforms—Elliott in the Air Force, James in the Marines, Franklin Jr. and John in the Navy. Immediately after the attack, Eleanor flew to the West Coast to help bolster the civilian morale there.
[December 11, 1941]
Hick dearest, How much has happened since I bid you goodbye!
We had an anxious trip out, fearing the West Coast was being bombed & we had a blackout in Los Angeles last night coming thro’ from San Diego. It has been very strenuous but I hope useful & I have learned a great deal.
It seems like a completely changed world.
Devotedly,
E.R.
Eleanor and Lorena spent the evening of December 22 together for their annual pre-Christmas gift exchange. Lorena had vacated her New York apartment and now considered the Little House her primary residence. She stayed at the White House when her job took her to Washington and rented a room in the Beekman Tower when she was in New York.
December 23rd [1941]
Beekman Tower
My dear:
Had the final fitting on my suit this morning, and it is a beauty. I think you are going to be very much pleased with it. Ordered my red fox furs out of storage, to be sent to Washington to wear with my new suit. Had lunch with Marion Harron, who was in New York for cases and came bringing me a big box of jam and stuff, although we had agreed not to give each other presents.
Many thanks for last night, dear, and a happy Christmas.
H
When Eleanor wrote this letter, Prime Minister Winston Churchill was meeting with FDR to develop war policy and strategy. In the course of their talks, the two leaders committed themselves to focus on defeating Germany first—an unpopular stand for Roosevelt to take after the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
December 26th [1941]
THE WHITE HOUSE
Washington
Hick darling, I hope you had a happy [Christmas] day & will enjoy to the full the day in the country.
The day went off well here from an official point of view. I’ve talked much with the P.M. He is a forceful personality but the stress on what the English speaking people can do in the future worries me a little. I don’t trust any of us with too much power & I want the other nations in too!
I’m dying to see your suit & the fox furs!
E.R.
The meeting between the president and prime minister that Eleanor refers to in this letter resulted in American forces striking the Japanese at Midway Island, the farthest outpost of the Hawaiian chain. Catching the enemy off guard, the Americans destroyed four Japanese carriers, one heavy cruiser, three battleships, and 372 aircraft; 3,500 Japanese sailors were killed. The Battle of Midway was a turning point in the war.
[June 1942]
THE WHITE HOUSE
Washington
Hick dearest, You are moved into my room just for Wed. night because the King of Greece [George II] & his Chamberlain are using the Lincoln rooms & my sitting room over night.
Last night the P.M.19 dined at the Embassy so the [Henry and Elinor] Morgenthaus dined with us & it was fun.
To-day Elliott & Ruth talked with me a long time over breakfast & I realized again how much each of my children feel I failed them.
Much love,
E.R.
Eleanor was now renting a seven-room apartment in the Washington Square section of New York City.
July 6th [1942]
The Little House
Moriches, Long Island
Dearest:
Your Saturday letter came this morning, and I was very pleased to get it.
I didn’t try to stay at your apartment because I didn’t think I ought to ask you to let me take a stranger there.20 But it was nice of you to think of it. You are so sweet.
I certainly was amazed at the news about Harry Hopkins.21 Gosh, I shouldn’t think he’d be any bargain as a husband. He looks as though he might die any minute!22 And how awful to take his poor bride to live at the White House. They won’t have any life of their own at all, will they? It may have been the president’s idea, but I’ll bet Harry didn’t fight it much. Kitty-kitty!23 And what a Hell of a thing for me to be saying.
Much love, dear, and thanks for your letter.
H
Lorena and Marion’s favorite activity while at the Little House—they were spending their summer vacation together there—was working in the garden. Digging in the soil helped Lorena forget her medical and financial worries, while giving the serious-minded Marion a break from the highly detailed tax codes that she dealt with each day.
July 7th [1942]
The Little House
Moriches, Long Island
My dear:
Your Sunday letter came today, and I cannot see why you think you’ve been a failure with your children. You were much better than an average mother, albeit, perhaps, a bit too strict, and they are nice children and a credit to you.
Tomorrow I am going to buy the curtain material with the check you gave me for my birthday.
The house is cool and quiet tonight. Marion has gone to bed.
Good night, dear!
H
Lorena disliked living in Washington and avoided staying in the city any more than her work demanded. But when Marion’s mother left town on a trip and Lorena had the chance to spend three weeks alone with Marion in the Harron home, she gladly accepted the invitation.
August 10th [1942]
My dear:
Just a note while waiting for Marion to stop by for me to go and do our marketing and then go on out to her house and cook our dinner. It’s such fun staying out there with her in Chevy Chase.24 She has the sweetest little house, most attractively furnished, two cats, and a funny little colored maid who can’t cook but who is a m
arvelous cleaner! Her mother will be away until about September 1st, so I’ll be out there a good deal of the time. And it does seem good not to be traveling for a few weeks!
I must run.
Goodbye for now and my love.
H
In response to Eleanor’s repeated requests to help with the war effort, FDR sent the first lady on an inspection tour of conditions in England after the German bombing.
[October 23, 1942]
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
London
Hick dearest, This [stationery] is to impress you! Tommy & I have a nice sitting room with a page to take us hither & yon!
We had to stay over in Ireland but they sent a special plane this a.m. & we landed in Bristol. Everything is wonderfully cleaned up but it is easy to see the havoc bombs have brought. The Queen25 showed me her own destroyed rooms here & all windows are out! It is a curious place but the people give you a sense of unity. I’m anxious to get out among them.
There is some protection but there is a sense of tension.
To-morrow a.m. I have a press conference, then the King & Queen take me to the blitzed east end.
I’ll be glad when Buckingham Palace lies behind me & I can get to work!
Much love dear,
E.R.
The press gave extensive coverage to Eleanor’s trip to England, including front-page photos and stories in both the Washington Post and New York Times.
October 26th [1942]
Democratic National Committee
My dear:
I’m simply delighted with the press you are getting. Nice stories! I ran into [Treasury Secretary] Henry [Morgenthau] on the train coming down from New York today, and he, too was so pleased! I judge that you are doing a good job, dear. The kind of job you can do better than anyone else I know—and I’m awfully happy about it and so proud of you. The Washington News story today has a lovely bit in it, which I’ll clip and enclose.26
Much love to you and Tommy, and I’m so glad things seem to be going so well.
H
November 1st [1942]
[Washington]
Darling:
I am thrilled about you—and worried.
Worried over the increased activity of the German bombers over England. Apparently they visited Canterbury right after you were there. No use telling you to be careful—they are probably taking as good care of you as they can, or as you will let them. Anyway it’s all on the knees of the Gods. But I can’t help worrying.
I’m thrilled because of the job you are doing. More than anyone else in the world, you are holding the British and us together right now. And in your own straightforward, honest way. Oh, I’m so proud of you! Your press over here is wonderful.
Good night, much love, and I’ll say a little prayer for your safety—
H
November 5th [1942]
[London]
Dearest Hick, I wish too you could [quit work and] live in the country if you really want to do that but I think you would soon be very weary of doing no work outside a narrow circle.
To-day has been a quiet day in which my only official engagement was a lunch with the [British] Cabinet wives & they are as dull as ours!
Cambridge [University] yesterday was interesting & my first introduction into industrial billeting. The beautiful Colleges seem on the whole to be little hurt [by the bombing].
Our most vivid impression I think is what a blackout of an entire city really means.
You get a curious feeling over here that nothing but people count.
A world of love dear,
E.R.
Upon Eleanor’s return from England, she arranged a nationwide hookup on NBC radio to express her “deep sense of pride and satisfaction” in both the American and British soldiers she had seen.
November 20th [1942]
The Little House
Moriches, Long Island
Dearest:
I just listened to your speech and I think it was swell—exactly what I had hoped you would do. You certainly managed to put over a lot of good stuff about the British, but subtly. You put that point over about not complaining in letters to boys in the service superbly.27 So—congratulations, dear!
I arrived out here late this afternoon and brought Marion Harron, who has been hearing cases in New York, with me. We’ve had a couple of walks—the second one in the moonlight—a very good dinner, have washed the dishes, and listened to your speech.
It was a swell speech, Madame!
Much love—
H
Marion’s letters, which Lorena preserved along with her own and ER’s, clearly show that Marion had, by the end of 1942, fallen in love with Lorena, although the lack of letters from Lorena make it unclear if she reciprocated those feelings.
December 23rd [1942]
The Little House
Moriches, Long Island
My dear:
A box of very lovely handkerchiefs arrived from you this afternoon—for which, many thanks. The turkey is here, too.
I go down to Washington Sunday afternoon to spend most of the week between Christmas and New Year’s with Marion.
Good night, dear. Thanks for everything, and my love always—
H
Lorena was traveling on Democratic National Committee business in the West.
March 20th [1943]
Hilton Hotel
Albuquerque, New Mexico
My dear:
I should say that the Democratic party out here is definitely not in good shape. OPA has done a great deal of harm.28 And the resentment, among the leaders, seems to be directed against the president. We begin to encounter definite anti-Fourth Term sentiment.
I’m getting very clothes-conscious! I’m having three of the dresses you gave me fixed so I can wear them—a very good looking black one with accordion pleated panels (remember it?), a black evening gown, and that gorgeous white and gold evening gown. They are all going to be very good looking. You’ll be surprised to learn that I can wear the white and gold dress without alteration—except for shortening!29
I must go. Much love, dear—
H
July 3rd [1943]
Democratic National Committee
My dear:
Well, the thing I’ve dreaded for a long time has finally happened. Dear old Prinz died Wednesday afternoon. The vet wrote that his hind legs gave out entirely, and that he became paralyzed. I don’t know whether he put him out or not. I think I’d rather not know. I had instructed him to do it if the time ever came when he thought Prinz was suffering, but asked him to wait, if possible, until I could get there. I thought I might be able to reassure him a little, as I used to do when they gave him injections to prevent distemper and rabies. Probably he was so far gone, though, if they did give him a hypodermic, that he didn’t realize it. Annie [Ross]30 had them wrap him in my old raincoat and bury him down in the West lot—a place he loved above all others, because we used to start our walks there. Well, he was a good dog, and he lived a long and honorable life. When so many women are suffering so much greater losses these days, I probably have no right to mourn over the death of a dog. But you can’t lose an old, loyal, and very dear friend like Prinz without feeling lonely and a bit desolate. I think I shall miss him all the rest of my life.
And my love to you, always.
H
In the fall of 1943, FDR sent Eleanor to the South Pacific to boost the spirits of American troops stationed there. It was to be such a grueling trip—26,000 miles—that the first lady decided not to travel with her faithful secretary Tommy Thompson. While Eleanor was on the other side of the globe, Lorena and Marion were growing closer. Marion visited Lorena so often while she was living at the White House that the guards at the gate recognized the judge’s car and waved her through without checking her identification.
Auckland [New Zealand]
September 1st [1943]
Hick dearest, Well, the trip is nearly half over. The people
here are kind & they like F.D.R. & our Marines have won all their hearts. So they are very nice to me. I make so many speeches daily that I shall soon be talked out.
These boys break your heart, they’re so young & so tired. Malaria is almost as bad as bullets. They are hardly out of [the] hospital before they are at the Red Cross Clubs & dances & they laugh at everything. I take my hat off to this young generation & I hope we don’t let them down. I’ve talked to every kind of group, from hospital patients, high ranking officers & the people of New Zealand.
Much love dearest,
E.R.
September 12th [1943]
[Australia]
Hick dearest, The terrain in which these boys fight is unfamiliar & unbelievably difficult. I do camps, hospitals, Red Cross services day & evening & see men who have either been into New Guinea & come out with a shadow on their faces but a grim hatred of the Japs or new men going in to something they know nothing about & are ill prepared for. I’ve only done 2 radio talks, one in New Zealand & one in Australia. There have been several short “few words” daily to very varied audiences. I begin to think this job has been a good one as far as these countries are concerned[,] but for our own F. should have insisted that I go to Guadalcanal or not sent me.31
My love to you dear. I think of you & your love for travel & wonder if you would have enjoyed this trip.
Devotedly,
E.R.
Eleanor returned to the United States the day that Lorena wrote this letter. In the column that Lorena mentions, Eleanor praised the bravery of American soldiers. “I have seen many a boy hospitalized because he went back for a buddy who was wounded,” she wrote. “When you try to tell them of your admiration for their courage, they seem embarrassed.”
September 24th [1943]
[The White House]
Oh, darling—I’m glad you’re home!
My phone at the office rang about 2 o’clock—our time—yesterday afternoon, and it was Tommy.