The Roosevelts (relationship + accomplishments)

I've done a great deal of reading on Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. (In fact I read her autobiography simultaneously with his - great fun to see their individual interpretations of the same events.) But, I've also read more objective accounts.

Here's what I know:

Their relationship--

He was very much in love with her when they met and aggressively pursued her.

They were cousins but only by marriage (and it was common then).

She had never been considered much of a beauty and he was very handsome. Because she didn't think his interest in her was romantic, she was more vocal than she would have been normally during their courtship. I'm paraphrasing, of course, but she describes how they would have heated debates about politics and various social issues. She, thinking they were simply friends, cut him down to size quite often with her quick mind.

However, after they were married. She changed. She began playing the role of dutiful wife (encourage my his mother who lived with them). (Again, I'm paraphrasing her own accounts here.)

He was often away while she stayed at home raising the children and she was less open and frank with him.

He did affairs during this time. He did want to divorce. His mother did forbid it.

They were separated for many many years while he was in Warm Springs and Louie was a close confidant of both.

Louie did help Eleanor overcome her shyness and build a political reputation of her own.

After she regained her confidence and he regained his through efforts at Warm Springs, they did become incredibly close. (Yes, he did continue to have a mistress as well. This was common then.)

But, Franklin and Eleanor were very much in love and very much a team.


Accomplishments--

In his book, he does acknowledge that he suspected an attack on America was eminent. He also did acknowledge that it would take such an attack to truly sway people to the necessity of war. It was these comments that became (republican) folklore that he had specific knowledge of Pearl Harbor of which he had none.

He did help this country out of a recession. Yes. The war played a role. But, long before we entered the war, FDR opened factories for us to build ships and planes for the Brits. America supplied the majority of these boats, planes and weapons. As a former Navy man, he knew what was needed and did not delay this action until we'd entered the war.

He also (long before our entry into the war) began the government works programs creating jobs in the building of bridges, skyscrapers, roads and more. These programs gave people jobs and were directly responsible for the upturn away from the depression.

Eleanor made amazing strides in eliminating child labor, improving working conditions like those that led to the horrible NY Triangle Fire where 148 women perished by either jumping out of windows or burning alive because the owners of the factory where they sewed LOCKED them in during their 12 hour shifts. When a fire broke out, they died horribly. Eleanor made such practices (both 12 hour shifts and locking workers in) illegal.

She also played a major role in not only women's rights but in the civil rights of blacks as well and was a major supporter of the Tuskegee Airmen program which is a movie you should all see as well.

Bottom line - these are two of American histories greatest people. Were they flawed? Sure. Who isn't? But, that does not diminish the personal and professional courage they undertook.

Our country today stands on their shoulders.



MY BLOG: http://www.speakmediablog.com/

My YOUTUBE: http://ca.youtube.com/SpeakMediaBlog

MY IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1358368/