My letter-to-the-editor about the greatness of FDR

My letter-to-the-editor at the Observer-Reporter was published today (Jan. 27).  It was about the greatness of President Franklin Roosevelt (FDR).  My motive of writing it is anticipating the coming movie (Hyde Park on Hudson), which may not portray him the way I think he was.     

The editor deleted a quote of FDR’s 1941 July 4^th radio talk (5 months before the Pearl Harbor), I used it to back up some of my points.

“the United States will never survive as a happy and fertile oasis surrounded by a cruel desert of dictatorship.”

The similarity between FDR and Lincoln

The other day Janice tested me a question about Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation (I passed the test) and yesterday I received from a friend a page of stamps commemorating the 150^th year of Emancipation Proclamation.  It came with a note saying “I saw these stamps and thought of you and Lincoln!”  How about that, I and Lincoln, in the same sentence; that is quite a compliment.  Thanks!

“It was New Year Day afternoon when the Secretary of State, Seward, and his son brought the draft for Lincoln to sign, Lincoln said, “I never, in my life, felt more certain that I was doing right, than I do in signing this paper.  But I have been receiving calls and shaking hands since nice o’clock this morning, till my arm is stiff and numb.  Now this signature is one that will be closely examined, and if they find my hand trembled they will say, ‘he had some compunctions.’ But, anyway, it is going to be done.”  (From Carl Sandburg’s Abraham Lincoln.)

If Lincoln had his way, he would demolish the slavery institution the day he took the Presidency.  If FDR had his way, America would enter the war at least one year and half before the Pearl Harbor attack and war would end earlier and less Americans would die.

How Lincoln handled the slavery issue and how FDR managed the public sentiment of isolationism and appeasement toward Hitler’s Nazi revealed their political skill and savvy.

My letter-to-the-editor of “Abe Lincoln was not an abolitionist” touches this topic,

http://doctorjytsai.blogspot.com/2011/03/lincoln-was-not-abolitionist-my-letter.html

I’ll write a post telling why FDR hated Charles Lindbergh and Joseph Kennedy (JFK’s father).

Hyde Park on Hudson (Series No. 6): an affectionate and caring, but not sexual relationship

The relationship between FDR and Daisy was an affectionate and caring one; I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I am afraid it may portray or suggest a sexual one, given the fact that it carries an R rating. If so, it doesn’t do justice to FDR and Daisy.

FDR did have an affair with Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd in 1916-1918 (That will be another post).  They began to see each other again after 1941, not often though, at times through the arrangement of Anna, FDR’s only daughter.  I may be of the opinion of Arthur Schlesinger (the same guy who interviewed Jacqueline Kennedy shortly after JFK’s assassination) who once said, “If Lucy Mercer in any way helped Franklin Roosevelt sustain the frightful burden of leadership in the Second World War, the nation has good reason to be grateful to her.” But I refuse to go along with those who say it was a ‘beautiful’ affair, as there is no such a thing.  A cheating heart is a cheating heart.

My opinion is formed from reading the books of Closest Companion (which is based on Daisy’s diaries and the 38 FDR’s letters written to her), FDR and Lucy: Lovers and Friends, and The Roosevelt Cousins and the FDR biographies written after 1991.

 

FDR went to the Little White House in Warm Springs (in George; FDR initially went there for the good therapeutic effect of the spring to his polio) during the 1944 Thanksgiving holiday.  The ever busy Eleanor didn’t go with him; she felt it is quite OK as Daisy Suckley and Laura “Polly” Delano, the two unmarried distant cousins were going with FDR.  And Eleanor knew they will provide all the care and company FDR needed.  Eleanor called these two cousins “the handmaidens”.

These two cousins and Lucy Mercer were with FDR on his last visit to the Warm Springs when he died on April 12, 1945.  FDR died as a happy man as the women he enjoyed company and affection were with him.

But, if you’re like Oscar Wilde, “Between men and women there is no friendship possible. There is passion, enmity, worship, love, but no friendship,” then I may have to try harder to convince you .

Hyde Park on Hudson (Series No. 5): The first date of FDR and Churchill at Newfoundland

One may not see the scenes (in the movie) of the “first date” of FDR and Churchill in Newfoundland in August 1941, nearly 4 months before the Pearl Harbor.  But, it should be in it for not only is it historically important, but also reveals Daisy is indeed a close confidante of FDR.

The U.S. was still a neutral, non-belligerent country at the time of this ‘date’.  FDR went to sea fishing (as far as the press was concerned) in S.S. Augusta, escorted by many destroyers.  He didn’t even tell his Secretary of State or even his wife, Eleanor, that he was going to meet with Churchill.  And yet he wrote a 3 ½ pages letter to Daisy, telling her all the details.

FDR’s letter written on S.S. Augusta (August 5, 1941),

“. . . Even at my ripe old age I feel a thrill in making a get-away — especially from the American press. . . We had a ‘dress rehearsal’ conference including Gen. [George] Marshall, Gen. [Henry] Arnold, Ad. [Harold] Stark, Ad. [Ernest] King.  All set for the Big Day tomorrow.  I wish you could see this scene.  By the way don’t ever given any times or places or names or numbers of ships! . . . “

“Sat. Aug 9 — The huge new H.M.S. Prince of Wales came up . . . Winston Churchill came on board the Augusta at 11, accompanied by . . . Churchill stayed on board & lunched with me alone.  He is a tremendously vital person & in many ways is an English Mayor [Fiorello] LaGuardia! [the short, chesty, voluble chief executive of New York City].  Don’t say I said so! I like him — & lunching alone broke the ice both ways.”

“Sun. August 10 — This A.M. at 10:30 I crossed to the deck of the destroyer, went alongside the Prince of Wales, was received with ‘honors’, . . . & then the service was held — 300 men from our ships had come over for it — A British & an American chaplain did the prayers, Capt Leach [of the Prince of Wales] read the lesson — and then we were all photographed — front, sides & rear!  Next I inspected the P. of W. in my chair, then sherry in the Ward Room & then a ‘beautiful’ lunch of about 40 — Toasts followed by two speeches.”

 It was said that during the service Churchill was weeping and took a handkerchief from his pocket when they were singing the hymn of “Onward, Christian Soldiers” (Onward, Christian Soldiers, marching as to war, / With the cross of Jesus going on before. . . .) The other hymns sung were “O God, Our Help in Ages Past,” and the Navy hymn “For Those in Peril on the Sea”.  

“Every word seemed to stir the heart,” Churchill wrote later, “and none who took part in it will forget the spectacle presented.  It was a great hour to live.”

Most of those singing and praying with Roosevelt and Churchill would have only 3 months to live.  When the First Sea Lord called Churchill notifying him that both the Prince of Wales and the Repulse have been sunk by the Japanese on their way to Singapore (shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack).  Churchill wrote, “I was thankful to be alone.  In all the war I never received a more direct shock.”

After the sinking of the Prince of Wales and the Repulse and the fall of Singapore, FDR wrote to Churchill (2/18/1942), “I want you to know that I think of you often and I know you will not hesitate to ask me if there is anything you think I can do. . . (the letter ended with) “Do let me hear from you.”

 When FDR and Churchill first met at S.S. Augusta, “At last we have gotten together,” said Roosevelt.

“We have,” Churchill replied as they shook hands.  It was FDR’s idea that they met this time.  If you know who were in the meeting you would appreciate the importance of this meeting.  Harry Hopkins and Lord William Beaverbrook [British minister of supply] were also there.

At the end of the meeting the Atlantic Charter was announced to the world.  Almost the whole world was kept in the dark until then, but not Daisy.

Hyde Park on Hudson (Series No. 4): The royal visit at Hyde Park

I am glad the June 1939 Royal visit to Hyde Park on the eve of the War is part of the movie.  It may be treated in a lighthearted way.  But, it was of tremendous significance politically and historically.   While visiting Canada in September 1938, FDR learned that George VI and Queen of England will visit Canada in the summer of 1939.  FDR seized this opportunity to invite the King and Queen to extend the visit to the States.

It is well known that Churchill was almost ‘alone’ for at least seven years warning the British government and public the menace and evil of the Nazi until the War came in September 1939.  FDR, facing a public sentiment of isolationism and appeasement and an unwilling-to-fight Congress, was walking on the thin ice.  He spared no effort in directing and preparing the Americans for the inevitable — thing only one with keen foresight can see.

On his 1941 July 4^th talk, FDR told the American people solemnly “that the United States will never survive as a happy and fertile oasis of liberty surrounded by a cruel desert of dictatorship.”

FDR planned the visit to ensure the King’s success in winning the admiration, sympathy and support of American people and in fostering the stronger Anglo-American tie and alliance.  I am hoping the movie goers get the idea.

Daisy also attended the ‘picnic’ at Hyde Park.  FDR’s mother was horrified that FDR served King and Queen hot dogs; Daisy wrote that “The King asked for the second one.”

 

FDR liked to drive his specially designed (by himself) car, using his arms/hands only.  “I was never so frightened in my life,” said Queen Elizabeth after riding with FDR to Top Cottage at Hyde Park.

FDR also took King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to George Washington's home, Mt. Vernon (see photo left); he did it again with Winston Churchill on 1942 New Year Day.

FDR was equally hospitable to the European royal family fleeing the Nazi.  We read in Daisy’s diary (5/11/1942), “Pres. is fond of Crown Prince Olaf & specially Martha whom he calls “Godchild.”  FDR adopted her three children as his godchildren. Whenever she was eager to reach her exiled husband, Crown Prince Olaf, in England, it was the President who personally put through the calls.

We read in Daisy’s diary (5/30/1942), “He is having a hectic month! He has to find summer places for Queen Wilhelmina and Princess Juliana [of the Netherlands] & Princess Martha, & this next week Peter of Yugoslavia & the King of Greece and the Duke of Windsor are all coming to Washington.”  FDR spent a great deal of time taking care of the personal problems of the royalty.

Hyde Park on Hudson (Series No. 3): The movie may have exploited “Our Hill” theme/scene

Based on Daisy’s diary, her relationship with FDR might reach a turning point one day in September 1935. That day FDR took Daisy for a long drive through the winding beautiful country road along Hudson River, stopping at the peak that Daisy had named Our Hill.

Nobody knows or will ever know what happened in the car parked on the hilltop that afternoon, but, I think, the movie takes advantage of it, making a scene that makes the movie an R rating (children under 17 require accompanying adult).  The exchanged letters and her diaries became more intimate.  FDR called it the beginning of “a voyage” 3 years later.

Daisy clipped a poem (Eros—god of love in Greek mythology) from the newspaper and pasted in her diary that day.

That same day FDR tried to persuade Daisy to take a train across the country to dedicate Boulder Dam (now Hoover Dam, nears Las Vegas).  Daisy reluctantly turned him down.  But, then she wrote FDR a letter, saying,

“Do you realize the amount of will-power that was necessary to refuse a certain invitation this past week? A slightly righteous feeling, I find, give no satisfaction whatever — only irritation! . . . After much deep thought, I have come to the very definite conclusion that OUR HILL is, quite without exception, the nicest Hill in Dutchess County! The only problem remaining is as to how it should be spelled.  Just plain OUR-HILL, or OURHILL, or Owahill, or even OW-WA-HILL!”

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).

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.