Rutherfurd, and the other remarkable women in his life. The least disputed of roosevelts supposed affairs was with lucy mercer, his wifes social secretary when he was assistant secretary of the navy in 1916. Roosevelt was born on january 30, 1882, in hyde park, a town in the hudson valley in new. Persico, the author of several works of history and biography, has, with franklin and lucy. Persico contends in his new book, franklin and lucy, it is impossible to understand the 32nd president without examining one aspect of. Persico suggests that the affair between franklin roosevelt and lucy mercer, which was supposed to have ended in 1918, resumed even sooner than most scholars believed, and that it may never have ended at all. Franklin delano roosevelt, recently elected to an unprecedented fourth term as president, was at his warm springs, georgia, retreat, sitting for a painting. Much has been written in the past few weeks about the newly discovered correspondence between franklin delano roosevelt and lucy mercer rutherfurd, the woman for whom he almost left his wife eleanor and therefore came close to derailing twentieth century history. Rutherfurd and the other remarkable women in his life, author joseph e. Sep 27, 2016 eleanor roosevelt had a yearslong affair with lorena hick hickok, who was assigned to cover the first lady for the associated press when franklin delano roosevelt took office in 1933. History fdr and lucy mercer rutherfurd georgiainfo.
Then along came history detective christine totten. His father had been married previously and was already 54 years old with a 28 yearold son by then. He understands that lucy mercer helped fdr awaken his capacity for love and compassion, and thus helped him become the man to whom the nation will be eternally in debt. The murder of franklin delano roosevelt criminal element. Even though lucy mercer provides the emotional core of the book, there is not enough material to warrant a biography resa willis fdr and lucy.
Nov 25, 2012 of all fdrs indiscretions, the one with his wifes social secretary, lucy mercer, is the least disputed. A letter arranging one last secret rendezvous casts new light on the starcrossed love of franklin roosevelt and lucy rutherfurd. Eleanor was frequently away from washington and it was in these years that roosevelt met. He greatly expanded the powers of the federal government through a series of programs and reforms known as the new deal. Fdrs menagerie of alleged mistresses the american presidents.
Lucy mercer was a social secretary for eleanor roosevelt during the years roosevelt served as assistant secretary to the navy. Roosevelt and mercer in 1918, when the presidency was just a distant ambition for her husband. Franklin delano roosevelt and the childrens hour, his. Rowleys crackling new biography of the roosevelt marriage called, simply, franklin and. In a sense, roosevelts paralysis probably strengthened his bond with eleanor, but their relationship was one of mutual respect and dependence rather than personal intimacy. Persico, the author of a previous book on fdr and world war ii espionage ro osevelt s secret war, is able to highlight their close friendship with the help of letters from fdr found in 2005 by rutherfurds grandchildren. It centers on lucy mercer, but includes a number of others who played crucial roles in his life. Roosevelt sets out to make a name for himself in albany, much as theodore roosevelt had done 29 years. Roosevelt had a long standing affair with lucy mercer rutherfurd. No end of the affair franklin roosevelt lucy mercer. Franklin and lucy might as the author says in his introduction, its pretty much impossible to separate fdr from the women in his life and their effect on him, including his mother, the formidable sara delano roosevelt, and lucy mercer rutherfurd, whose affair with fdr was to have a dramatic and longlasting effect on his marriage to eleanor.
Pbs, the roosevelts, directed by noted documentary film maker ken burns, with an accompanying companion pictorial book by geoffrey perrett. The only president elected to the office four times, he led the u. Persicos biography of franklin roosevelt focuses on lucy mercer but doesnt stop there. The fact that he wasnt spoiled surely played a role, but there were other influences that showed him what life was like on the other side of the proverbial tracks. Franklin was forced to give up lucy mercer, but his interest in her continued from a distance for the rest of his life. It is a significant detail for persico, given the questions he seeks to answer in his new book, franklin and lucy. Lucy page mercer rutherfurd april 26, 1891 july 31, 1948 was an american woman who. The major three were his mother, sara delano roosevelt, his wife, anna eleanor roosevelt, and the love of his life, lucy mercer rutherfurd. While fdrs official circle was predominantly male, it was his relationships with women particularly with lucy mercer rutherfurd that most vividly bring to light the human being beneath this towering statesman. Oct 19, 2015 franklin delano roosevelt was arguably the greatest figure of the twentieth century. This book answers many of the questions about fdrs affair with lucy. Englewood author says fdrs other woman scandal was. With his election to the new york state senate in 1910, franklin d. Synopsis franklin delano roosevelt was arguably the greatest figure of the twentieth century.
Eleanor roosevelt was the greatest obstacle i faced when i started the research for lucy, a novel about the love affair that altered and almost derailed twentiethcentury history. Persico obtained from lucy mercer s granddaughters a bound copy of a lecture roosevelt gave at milton academy in may 1926, on the flyleaf of which is an. January 30, 1882 april 12, 1945, often referred to by his initials fdr, was an american politician who served as the 32nd president of the united states from 1933 until his death in 1945. Fdrs infidelity is shown to have helped create the energy in eleanor to become one of the most influential women in history. Lucy mercer was born into a family which had money and subsequently lost it in the panic of 1893. Roosevelt died while on holiday in georgia, it was lucy, not eleanor, who was at his side. While fdrs official circle was predominantly male, it was his relationships with womenparticularly with lucy mercer rutherfurdthat most vividly bring to light the human being beneath this towering statesman. Persico suggests that the affair between franklin roosevelt and lucy mercer later rutherfurd, which was supposed to have ended in 1918, resumed even sooner than most scholars believed indeed, that it may never have ended at all. Fdr genealogy president franklin delano roosevelt family. Praise for franklin and lucy persico is judicious in his treatment of these sensitive matters. A freespirited young woman, she was working in a dress shop in 1914 when eleanor roosevelt hired her to work as her social secretary.
Franklin roosevelt, the nations longest serving president and, perhaps its most successful commanderinchief, died 83 days into his fourth term at the age of 63. This book deals with the women in fdrs life who shaped and influenced his character. No end of the affair franklin roosevelt lucy mercer the. Has there been written a book about the affair between lucy mercer.
It began in 1916 when he was assistant secretary of the navy and carried on for two. Eleanor roosevelt had a yearslong affair with lorena hick hickok, who was assigned to cover the first lady for the associated press when franklin delano roosevelt took office in 1933. In a sense, roosevelt s paralysis probably strengthened his bond with eleanor, but their relationship was one of mutual respect and dependence rather than personal intimacy. Franklin roosevelt learned of the marriage by overhearing news of it at a party. If fdr had not fallen in love with lucy mercer, er might never have become a force for peace and social justice. Rutherfurd and the other remarkable women in his life, which comes out next week. He reminded the artist that she only had 15 more minutes to work, then complained of a sudden, blinding. Fdrs mother sara with her son and daughterinlaw eleanor. How first lady eleanor roosevelt fell in love with woman.
He understands that lucy mercer helped fdr awaken his capacity for love and compassion, and thus helped him become the man to whom the nation will. Hired as a secretary by eleanor roosevelt, mercer ended up having an affair with roosevelts husband. Persico contends in his new book, franklin and lucy, it is impossible to understand the 32nd president without examining one aspect of the private man. Jan 01, 2008 franklin and lucy might as the author says in his introduction, its pretty much impossible to separate fdr from the women in his life and their effect on him, including his mother, the formidable sara delano roosevelt, and lucy mercer rutherfurd, whose affair with fdr was to have a dramatic and longlasting effect on his marriage to eleanor. Fdr and lucy mercer rutherfurd it is no secret that franklin d. A member of the democratic party, he won a record four presidential elections and became a central figure in world events during the. No end of the affair franklin roosevelt lucy mercer the new. Rutherford, and the other remarkable women in his life, and he responded to questions from the audience. Rutherfurd and the other remarkable women in his life, which comes out next week, joseph e.
Fearing for his political life, franklin convinced eleanor to stay. Franklin delano roosevelt was arguably the greatest figure of the 20th century. Meachams new sourcesincluding unpublished letters of fdr s great secret love, lucy mercer rutherfurd, the papers of pamela churchill harriman, and interviews with the few surviving people who were in fdr and churchills joint companyshed fresh light on the characters of both men as he engagingly chronicles the hours in which they. Available on kindle ebook and can be read on any device with the free kindle app. Franklins affair with lucy never became public, although she and fdr began seeing each other again in 1941. Roosevelts family history includes the fact that he was the only president to be elected to more than two terms. Apr 18, 2008 yet, as bestselling historian joseph e. But for all practical purposes, lucy mercer didnt exist until 1914, when as a 23yearold she entered the roosevelt orbit. Eleanor discovered love letters between franklin d. Youll find lots of books about franklin delano roosevelt and lucy mercer rutherfurd. Apr 12, 2018 franklin roosevelt, the nations longest serving president and, perhaps its most successful commanderinchief, died 83 days into his fourth term at the age of 63. It is no coincidence that rutherfurd was with roosevelt the day he died in warm springs. In april 1945, the end of world war ii was finally in sight.
His father had been married previously and was already 54 years old with a. Roosevelt, 32nd president of the united states 193345. New suggestions that fdrs affair with doting lucy mercer never ended. The letters and other evidence, including phone logs, show that loving contact. Franklin delano roosevelt was arguably the greatest figure of the twentieth century. One of todays premier biographers has written a modern, comprehensive, indeed ultimate book on the epic life of franklin delano roosevelt. I had to know more about fdr and the woman in his life, particularly his love affair and enduring relationship with lucy mercer rutherfurd. The least disputed of roosevelt s supposed affairs was with lucy mercer, his wifes social secretary when he was assistant secretary of the navy in 1916.
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