Hyde Park on Hudson (Series No. 2): Why was the relationship hidden so well?

The relationship (not a conventional affair) between FDR and Margaret (Daisy) Suckley [FDR called her Margaret, not Daisy, though] went on for at least 12 years.  We do not know when it began, but her diary, revealing the intimate relationship, began in 1933.

 Like FDR, Suckley came from the American ‘aristocratic’ family on Hudson River/Valley, although her family fortune collapsed along with the Great Depression.  When FDR went to his mother’s home at Hyde Park to recuperate/rehabilitate from his polio in early 1920s.  The ever busy Eleanor Roosevelt left behind at Washington, D.C.  FDR’s mother invited many young people from the neighbor (FDR and Suckley were neighbors) and many distant cousins to visit and cheer FDR.  Margaret Suckley was among the ones invited.  We know little between early 1920s and 1933.

Their being cousins, distant though they might be, and Margaret Suckley was the first archivist of FDR Library (the very first one for any Presidential Library) made her being around FDR every so often expected or unsuspected, as she was one of the ‘family’ and the ‘office staff’.

We read an FDR’s letter to her (3/6/1935),

“Why is it that our River and our countryside seem so to be a part of us? Perhaps it’s the “common” Beekman ancestry!” (William Beekman was a Hudson River pioneer).

Daisy (I’ll call Margaret Suckley ‘Daisy’ as that seems to be how she was called in the movie) also wrote in her letter to FDR (6/12/1935),

“What fun it was yesterday — I loved it, and you’re so nice to give up an afternoon to being so kind to a Beekman cousin!”

We read in her diary (6/11/35 — the day before the letter),

“A perfect afternoon driving with FDR on back roads, . . . At the gate when I arrived, the trooper told me the Pres. was going out at any moment —, “Yes,” I said, “I am going out with him!” A sheepish grin, an apology, & I sailed up to the house.”

(This photo was taken on 12/20/1941—two weeks after Pearl Harbor—on her fiftieth birthday.  Daisy was sitting on a lion skin—a gift to FDR from Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. Photo credit: Closest Companion)

Daisy was a salaried care taker of her rich aunt.  She became unemployed when her aunt died and FDR came to the rescue by appointing her archivist of FDR President Library.  This was a brilliant move on the part of FDR.  I can only imagine his motive.  We read a letter of Suckley writing to FDR (11/7/1941—a month before the Pearl Harbor),

“Dear Franklin —

. . . What ‘headaches’ you are having — I wish I could help — you know I do, with thoughts, and understanding —

I do so love my job — every minute of it.

                                                             Affec —

                                                                   YM

In one letter FDR wrote “MM” and Margaret asked in her letter, “What does “M.M.” mean? Honestly, I haven’t had an idea!”  FDR said it was “My Margaret”, so Suckley began to sign YM (Your Margaret).

A book for oral history

After listening/reading Jacqueline Kennedy’s Historic conversations on life with John F. Kennedy (interview with Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.), I began to take an interest in oral history.  This is a big turn around for one enjoys reading Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion than watching the film version of My Fair Lady.  Then again I realize oral history is not the same as book on tape.  I still dislike listening to a book on tape.

I apparently didn’t make it a secret, as I received a book in the mail today: Listening in the secret White House recordings of John F. Kennedy that comes with a CD.

This book comes at a good time as I recently added JFK to the list of my reading Presidents.  This is the way I write my Thank You note.

Hyde Park on Hudson trivializes FDR

After writing a series of movie critics for the movie Lincoln, I may be busy again defending FDR as Hyde Park on Hudson is coming to the theater to us and may be to you, too.

The movie was based on the diaries of Margaret (Daisy) Suckley who was the 6^th cousin, once removed of FDR.  She was actually closer (4^th cousin) to Eleanor Roosevelt.  The diaries, along with 38 hand written letters FDR wrote her, were discovered in a suitcase under her bed when she died at aged of 100 in 1991.

Based on Geoffrey Ward’s “Closest Companion: The Unknown Story of the Intimate Friendship between Franklin Roosevelt and Margaret Suckley” or FDR biography written after 1991, Suckley was indeed a very close and intimate friend, a confidante of FDR.  The movie has an R rating, leading me to suspect that it may add color and action to increase the box office sale.

It is difficult to define the relationship between FDR and Margaret Suckley, but it is certainly not an affair in the conventional sense.  FDR did have one affair with Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd around 1916-1918 when he was the assistant secretary of Navy.  But, this is apparently not the focus of the movie.

Both Lucy and Margaret were with FDR the moment when he died of cerebral hemorrhage (4/12/1945).  Lucy had to leave in a hurry before Eleanor (Mrs. Roosevelt) came and yet Margaret stayed to comfort Eleanor and gave her a report.

I am often critical of the extramarital affair of a powerful politician, I even wrote a letter to the editor in John Edwards’ case.  This is not the issue of the sanctity of marriage, but an immoral and powerful politician is a dangerous thing.

Let me paraphrase Leo Tolstoy's opening line in his Anna Karenina that all happy marriages are alike; each unhappy marriage is unhappy in its own way.  I am only critical when the cheating heart is also immoral.

FDR is a giant in history; a visionary man with great foresight.  The movie doesn’t touch the greatest courtship of last century—the ‘love affair’ between FDR and Churchill—that saved the democracy and civilization from evil Nazi. 

I’ll write a series of posts to detail the relationship between FDR and Margaret Suckley and that of FDR and Lucy Rutherfurd.  To read a man one has to know him intimately by knowing his soul and heart.

The unveiling ceremony of my grandfather’s statue on December 20, 1964

This photo was posted by my cousin at Facebook.  It was taken on December 20, 1964 for the occasion of unveiling the statue of my maternal grandfather, who was the founder of Kao-Ming Abbey (高明寺).  I somehow missed this great event.  I later wrote a post of “The story of my grandfather” in this blog.

http://doctorjytsai.blogspot.com/2011/04/story-of-my-grandfather.html

此曾在
先祖父陳添貴居士銅像，48年前的今日，於故鄉嘉義縣朴子鎮(現已改為“市”)高明寺舉行揭幕典禮，此乃家族的一大盛事，大家均盛裝赴會，並合影留念。隨著光陰流轉，父執輩均已次第凋零。睹物思人，不勝唏噓。 — with 陳美華, 陳春妍, 陳芳妍, 陳美珍, 陳瑞珠, 吳惠娟, 陳兒香, 陳郁惠, 陳豐美, 吳明毅, 陳煜焜, 吳弘毅, 陳沾洽, 陳德洽, 陳英明, 張學仁, 蔡哲仁, 吳清毅, 陳英毅 and 張學義

(The following is my comment at a FB post.)

48 年前我應該還在台灣, 但是相片裡也找不到我, 錯過了這麼大的家族盛事, 真是遺憾. 幸好上次 (March 2009) 回台時有跟外祖父銅像合照. 後來寫了一篇 "The story of my grandfather"; it ends with “I may be writing this post with pride and delight, and yet my heart is heavy and sad, reminiscing things and people so dear to me, far away, long ago, nevermore!”.  Yes,  睹物思人，不勝唏噓。

All the Presidents’ books: Jefferson and his revolutionary garden at Monticello

Knowing I am a history buff and read the Presidents, an office staff gave me John Meacham’s Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power yesterday.  I said we plan to visit Jefferson’s Monticello when the summer comes, mainly to see his garden.  Then two Amazon packages arrived today; one of them was A Rich Spot of Earth:  Thomas Jefferson’s Revolutionary Garden at Monticello.  It was from one of my daughters.

I begin to feel that there must have some sort of ‘conspiracy’ among my office staffs and my daughters, telling me to put down the can-not-put-down William Manchester and Paul Reid’s The Last Lion (the third volume of Manchester’s Churchill biography)—I have read 200 some pages, only 900 pages to go—and to leave Lincoln alone.  Several office staffs also gave me Barnes & Noble gift cards, saying they can tell what kind of books I’ll buy.  Geez, either my reading interest is too narrow or I am getting too predictable.

I only recently picked up JFK, who will have to compete with Jefferson for my time. Besides I may have to begin to defend FDR once I see Hyde Park on Hudson—the movie that is coming soon to the theater near us.

Lincoln: Movie critic series No. 13, Lincoln and Seward: from political rivalry to trustful friends

One sees William Seward (Secretary of States) again and again in the movie and that is the way it should be as that was what happened.

Seward would have been the President in 1861 had Lincoln not been in the Republican ticket. Obama’s choosing of Hillary Clinton as the Secretary of State was his first act of emulating Lincoln. Lincoln and Seward evolved from fierce political rivals to mutually respected and trustful friends in the four years fighting a savage war together.

Lincoln spent 2 weeks of his last 3 weeks of life visiting General Grant at City Point, Virginia (Mary went along), and upon his return in the early evening of April 9, 1865, Lincoln hurried to visit Seward at his home for Seward was injured badly in a horse carriage accident 4 days earlier. Carl Sandburg described a touching scene of this visit.  Adding this scene in the movie would let movie goers understand the great friendship between the two great men.  Five days later Lincoln went to the Ford Theater for the last time.

When William Seward paid $7.2 million for the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867 (two years after Lincoln was assassinated); he was then ridiculed calling “Seward’s icebox” or “Seward’s folly”.  According to Carl Sandburg, Lincoln apparently knew we’re going to have Alaska.

There is a new biography of William Seward.

Lincoln: Movie critic series No. 12, the movie didn’t do justice to Kate Chase

In the beginning of the movie one sees briefly a beautiful young lady (Katy Chase, daughter of Salmon Chase, who was Lincoln’s Treasury Secretary) talking to her father.  Spielberg should have more scenes for this ‘great beauty’, the “queen of Washington”, the formidable rival of Mary Lincoln as the ‘First Lady’.  Kate was already The First Lady of Ohio when her widower father was the governor.

Kate Chase

The photo is Kate Chase in life; her scene in movie is so brief that I couldn’t find her picture from the movie.  The movie does not do her justice.

By all accounts Kate Chase was the major attraction, the talk of the town in Washington. Her elegant wardrobe, like Mary’s, came from New York.

“She had something imperial in the pose of the head, and all her movements possessed an exquisite natural charm.  No wonder that she came to be admired as a great beauty and broke many hearts.” “Tall and willowy, Kate was celebrated far and wide as one of the most captivating women of her age.”

Wife of Daniel Chester French (the sculptor of the majestic Lincoln statue at the Lincoln Memorial) noted Kate, “with a beauty and a regal carriage which we called ‘queenly’.”

Kate was not just a woman with a pretty face.  She was well versed in politics and was familiar with the military affair.

While Mary Lincoln was mourning for Willie (her son died in Lincolns’ second year at the White House), Kate practically was the First Lady of the Washington social scene.

On Lincoln’s first state diner Mary told Kate, “I shall be glad to see you any time, Miss Chase,” Kate replied, “Mrs. Lincoln I shall be glad to have you call on me at any time.”

To follow the history faithfully, there should have a scene depicting the rivalry between the Mary and Kate.  It is unfortunate that Spielberg failed to ‘exploit’ this rivalry in Washington High Society during the Civil War.

Lincoln: Movie critic series No. 11, Lincoln’s penchant of telling stories

Edwin Stanton

There are two scenes in the movie depicting Lincoln’s penchant of telling the stories even in the middle of serious business meeting.  The first scene shows how Edwin Stanton (Secretary of War) was impatient about this “bad” habit of Lincoln; the second one shows Stanton stomped out of the room screaming he cannot bear listening to another story while Lincoln leisurely continued telling his story (he was telling a story about Charles Francis Adams—Lincoln’s Minister [Ambassador now] to Britain—who is the grandson of John Adams and son of John Quincy Adams.)

These scenes are faithful in following the history, telling one of the characteristics that made Lincoln Lincoln.

A few years ago I made a post on Edwin Stanton, our fellow Pittsburgher, who uttered “Now he belongs to the ages” the moment when Lincoln died.  He was standing at the head of Lincoln’s bed in the movie.  It was said that he actually said “Now he belongs to the angels”, later Stanton changed the “angels” to “ages”.

http://doctorjytsai.blogspot.com/search?q=stanton

Katy’s report of Pittsburgh Conference (pittcon) at World Journal (世界日報)

Katy’s dispatch to the World Journal (世界日報) reporting the holiday celebration of The Pittsburgh Conference (pittcon) was published yesterday (December 12).

You may read it online,

http://www.worldjournal.com/view/wjnjpanews/21100186/article-PittCon%E5%8D%9A%E8%A6%BD%E6%9C%83-%E6%98%8E%E5%B9%B43%E6%9C%88%E8%B2%BB%E5%9F%8E%E8%88%89%E8%A1%8C?instance=nj2

Pittcon is the world’s largest annual premier conference and exposition among chemists on laboratory science.  It was established 64 years ago.  It attracts more than 17,000 attendees from industry, academia and government from 90 countries worldwide.  Next Conference/Exhibition will be at Pennsylvania Convention Center at Philadelphia in March 2013.

Pittcon President Ronald, Professors Fu-Mei & Fu-Tyan Lin

The Pittcon members come from Society for Analytic Chemists of Pittsburgh and Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh; only the experienced veterans with leadership ability and service spirit are privileged to join. Taiwanese American Association (TAA) members, Professors Fu-Tyan (林富田) and Fu-Mei (富美) Lin and S.Y. Tzeng (曾士英) are Pittcon members.

Dr. & Mrs. S.Y. Tzeng

The Pittcon holiday celebration was held at the world-class elegant Carnegie Music Hall Grand Foyer. on December 8, 2012.  The dinner music was provided by Pittsburgh Crystal Strings and soprano Dr. Colleen  Gray, who is an associate professor of music at Slippery Rock University.  Her singing of Panis Angelicus filled the entire “Grand Music Foyer”; truly heavenly beautiful music.

 

The following is Katy’s report,

PittCon 博覽會 明年3月費城舉行

【賓州匹茲堡訊】

December 12, 2012 06:00 AM 

匹茲堡分析化學和光譜應用會議暨博覽會 (The Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy， 簡稱 PittCon)， 將於2013年3月17至21日首次在賓州費城的賓州會展中心 (Pennsylvania Convention Center) 舉行， 屆時將提供世界最新的技術和實驗室科學儀器、 新的技術方案與化學短期課程，以及提供機會利用網絡會議與世界各地科學家交流創新意念 等。

PittCon 主席巴吉爾(Ronald G. Bargiel)日前邀請化學界義工教授到匹茲堡卡內基音樂廳(Carnegie Music Hall Grand Foyer ) 參加 PittCon 博覽會籌畫活動。

PittCon 由匹茲堡光譜學學會 (Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh)與匹茲堡分析化學家學會（Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh） 聯合主辦， 是全美最大規模的化學和光譜儀器博覽會展銷活動，世界90國約1萬7000家化學、光譜公司參展。

匹茲堡許多退休或在職化學教授每年均參加活動，包括匹茲堡華裔林富美、林富田、曾士英等，也都每年參加。

PittCon年會暨博覽會每年輪流在不同城市舉辦，明年3月則首次在費城的賓州會展中心舉行。費城有很多在化學實驗室工作的華裔，如果想提前報名參加該博覽會，可享折扣，期間也有免費參觀與試聽機會，詳情可上網www.pittcon.org。（張瓊月)

 

Lincoln: Movie critic series No. 10, Lincoln’s voice and oral history

It was said that Daniel Day-Lewis strides to talk like Lincoln did.  Based on the accounts n Lincoln’s day, his voice was “reedy, high and a little twangy”.  Gregory Peck (one of my most respected and admired actors—a pharmacist by training) played Lincoln in the TV miniseries, The Blue and the Gray in early 1980s.  Peck’s grand and deep voice would be quite different from that of Day-Lewis.

Can you imagine that we have the recordings of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Second Inauguration, or Springfield Farewell Address?  My heart would be heavy when I hear he said “I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever I may return. . .”)

“You have sat too long for any good you have been doing lately ... Depart, I say; and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!”

The above is what Oliver Cromwell uttered in the House of Commons in Dissolution of Long Parliament in 1653. It would be thrilled if this speech was recorded.  Leo Amery quoted this, also in the same House, trying to force Chamberlain to step down as the Prime Minister in 1940.  A very powerful speech.

I began to appreciate the importance of oral history after reading and listening Jacqueline Kennedy’s historic conversations on life with John F. Kennedy, interviews with Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.  The recording was done a few months after JFK’s assassination.  It was released and published last year.  Listening to what she said, nearly 50 years later, makes one feel history comes alive.  Oral history is more powerful and convincing, no concern that one may be misquoted.

Writing about Lincoln, I invariably come to JFK.

Lincoln: Movie critic series No. 9, Capitol Dome

The Capitol one sees in the movie is not U.S. Capitol, instead it is the Virginia State Capitol that Spielberg dressed it up to make it the U.S. Capitol in Lincoln’s day.

U.S. Capitol in movie

The dome was not finished yet when Lincoln took the oath on March 4, 1861 to deliver his First Inaugural Address.  Lincoln insisted continuing the construction of the Capitol Dome during the war, saying, “If people see the Capitol going on, it is a sign we intend the Union shall go on.”

U.S. Capitol in 1865

 

Lincoln: Movie critic series No. 8, surrender of Robert Lee reflects great American character

In the power struggle at the end of the Middle Age of England (up to 1485) one lost the battle lost the head; this is still true in certain areas in modern time.

Grant & Lee's signatures at McLean house

Robert Lee’s surrender to Grant marked the end of the Civil War. The following is how Carl Sandburg wrote about it.

“Lee tall and erect, Grant short and stoop-shouldered.  Lee in a clean and dazzling military outfit [as seen in the movie], Grant in a rough-worn and dusty blouse telling his high rank only by the three stars on the shoulders, Grant apologizing to Lee that he had come direct from the field and hadn’t time to change his uniform.”

They then talked about their meeting each other in Mexican War, then about the weather. (Lee was 16 years Grant’s senior).  Grant was reluctant to mention why they met and felt relieved when Lee said “I suppose, General Grant, that the object of our present meeting is fully understood.  I asked to see you to ascertain upon what terms you would receive the surrender of my army.”

Grant showed so much respect/deference to Lee that one officer whispered to another, “Who’s surrendering here, any how?”

Dignified & majestic Robert Lee

In the movie we see Robert Lee, majestic in his impeccable military uniform, riding an equally majestic horse, in front of the McLean House.  Grant and some officers, standing on the front porch, were somber as Grant forbade any signs of rejoicing or cheer.  Grant took off his hat first, followed by his officers, Lee then tipped his hat off while leaving.  This is how Americans are great even when they’re fighting among themselves.

Hats off for Grant's officers

The movie is very faithful depicting this episode.  It is too bad that there were no news reporters embedded in Grant’s army, thus no photo of this historical moment for the posterity.  Ironically we did have so-called biography author ‘embedded’ in General Petraeus’ army in Afghanistan.