FDR PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY (HYDE PARK , NY
We headed inside the Presidential
Library and Museum building, and once again we were told no flash photography.
This was self-guided, and the brochure showed us the various sections
from the early life of FDR, to portions dealing with each of his terms. A far section of the building (which has
limited access) contained the books, paintings, and various papers during Roosevelt ’s life. Those would require special
circumstances to be viewed, as that’s usually done by scholars.
Looking at the family history of
FDR, I knew that Teddy Roosevelt was a cousin, but I didn’t have the specific
nature of how close until I read the information here. Eleanor Roosevelt (whose maiden name was
actually Roosevelt ) was of Teddy’s family
line, so she essentially married a cousin. It was noted that Teddy
actually commented about Eleanor “keeping the family name.”
Some of the more interesting things
I learned about were the assassination attempt in February 1933 when FDR was
the President-elect, and the alleged affair he had with his secretary (Lucy
Mercer). It doesn’t sound like there was anything truly physical which
happened, but the allegation of impropriety would’ve been enough to damage his
career, so FDR cut off contact with her. After that, he and Eleanor
pretty much just “kept up appearances” (much the way Bill and Hilary were doing
in the 90's). That also explains the separate bedrooms too.
One interest thing is that late in
FDR’s life (some months before his death) he did reconnect with Lucy, much to
Eleanor’s dislike. Lucy was married and had her own life, and I’m sure it
was more him needing someone to talk to understood him personally, than trying
to “recapture old times.”
The exhibits of the first and
second terms talk about the economic crisis of the Depression, and Prohibition
(both of which FDR inherited from his predecessors). In one picture which
showed the marches to repeat the 18th Amendment Mum commented that
her father was probably there. There were also numerous artifacts of
campaign pins, mugs, and such.
Entering the area of the third
term, the political cartoons of FDR’s face on the Sphinx was humorous.
The press was making comments about him venturing into territory no previous
Chief Executive had done, but it wasn’t to the level of the mud-raking we see
today.
And then we get to the WWII era
(which is my personal favorite). While other displays were replaying the
Fireside Chats which you could listen to, I liked seeing the actual footage of
the “Day that will live in infamy” speech. Seventy years later it’s still
powerful and moving. There were maps of the Axis aggression, and even a
piece of the USS Arizona.
The museum also was not apologetic
about FDR’s decision to support the Japanese internment camps. That’s an
example of extreme over-reaction against an easily-identified group. Even
those blemishes need to be remembered, so the lessons learned won’t be
forgotten.
One real interesting tidbit was the
state visit by England ’s
King George VI in 1939 to discuss the growing concern about Hitler in Europe . Certainly
there was a real rapport which was formed by the two men, and the Royal Family
got to enjoy simple American pleasures like a hot dog picnic at Hyde Park . What
made it interesting was before that, no reigning British monarch had ever
visited America . Tuck that fact away for your next Trivial
Pursuit game.
The war years did more to pull the
country out of the Depression than any economic stimulus package FDR’s
administration could’ve come up with. The displays showed some about America ’s
involvement in the war, but more dealt with the home-front and how FDR kept the
country together and focused on the objective. Some of the wartime
propaganda posters were hanging about, and these were more of the tamer ones
I’ve seen. Looking at these with the Political Correctness of the 21st
Century gives a different message than that of a nation at war who believed
they’re very way of life was in danger.
The museum then led into the period
of FDR’s death, and the change of leadership that came with it. There was
some information about the conclusion of the war, but it focused more on FDR’s
burial and how the country adapted after that.
Following
that section was an area dedicated to Eleanor Roosevelt’s life after that. There were many displays about the work with
charities and various organizations up until her death. One thing which
was interesting was the display of the contents of Eleanor’s purse. This
wasn’t things like her hair brush, lipstick, and the usual female debris, but
the various cards within her wallet. Eleanor was issued a Concealed
Handgun License by the State of New
York in 1957, but I’m sure has rubbed a number of
newer Democrats the wrong way.
The last section we went through
was the vault containing personal books, papers, and paintings, as well as the
1936 Ford Phaeton which FDR drove when he was at Hyde Park .
We could look through the windows at each of the sections, and see some
of the contents. The area with the painting had them hanging on sliding
panels so they could be easily accessed. I wonder if these items got
rotated with what was in the Mansion periodically.
We returned to the main Visitor’s
Center where we started the tour, and noted the section where materials
requested from the library would be brought out for those who wanted to access
them. Near there is a sculpture of FDR and Eleanor who just await you to
sit next to them for a photo opportunity.
Near here are places dedicated to the life of Eleanor, and
further up the road was the Vanderbilt
Mansion
For more information on the places visited or mentioned:
FDR Presidential Library and
Museum: http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/
Teddy Roosevelt: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Roosevelt
Lucy Mercer: http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1908008_1908007_1907977,00.html
FDR’s Face on the Sphinx: http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2001/summer/roosevelt-and-his-library-3.html
Fireside Chats: http://www.history.com/topics/fireside-chats
“Day That Will Live in Infamy”
Speech: http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5166/
and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VqQAf74fsE
Japanese Internment Camps: http://www.ushistory.org/us/51e.asp
Vanderbilt Mansion
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