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J. William T. "Bill" Youngs, Eleanor Roosevelt: A Personal and Public Life, Chapter Six
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"Lucy Mercer Letters" courtesy of the NYTimes
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The bottom dropped out of my own particular world, and I faced myself, my surroundings, my world, honestly for the first time.
- Eleanor Roosevelt, Letter to Joseph Lash
- Eleanor Roosevelt, Letter to Joseph Lash
Chapter 6: Grief
"Franklin Roosevelt's Mistress, Lucy Mercer" courtesy of the the Wiki Commons
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SummaryAgainst the backdrop of World War One, Eleanor Roosevelt's life begins to unravel. She discovers her husband had been unfaithful over a long period of time. Her relationship with him dissolves, and Polio takes his legs from him.
Eleanor takes solace by becoming more active in politics. She finds that by helping others, she is able to once again allow love into her life. |
Author reads from the Text
One day as Franklin slept, Eleanor came across a packet of letters addressed to him in a familiar hand. They were from Lucy Mercer, Eleanor's friend and personal secretary. During the past few years Lucy had become almost a member of the family, sitting casually on the floor beside Eleanor sorting out invitations, helping her plan her schedule. She often ate with the Roosevelts and sometimes was Franklin's dinner companion when Eleanor was away. Lucy was bright and vivacious, a perfect counterpart to Eleanor. ...
Eleanor began to look furtively through Lucy's letters, perhaps hoping they were simply the formal notes of a family friend. But the words before her eyes were not formal: Lucy was writing to someone she loved, and who, evidently, loved her in return. Eleanor was stunned. Franklin had loved her and promised to always love her. Then he had done this: he the father of their children. How could he make love to Lucy, to her own secretary? How could he betray his wife?
Eleanor began to look furtively through Lucy's letters, perhaps hoping they were simply the formal notes of a family friend. But the words before her eyes were not formal: Lucy was writing to someone she loved, and who, evidently, loved her in return. Eleanor was stunned. Franklin had loved her and promised to always love her. Then he had done this: he the father of their children. How could he make love to Lucy, to her own secretary? How could he betray his wife?