We are camped near Hyde Park, NY, which is where the home and presidential library of our 32nd president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR), are located.
The house, Springwood, dates to 1800 and was purchased by Roosevelt’s father in 1866.
Both his father and FDR made many changes and the house today stands as it was when FDR died. He left it to the country. His family removed what they wanted, which wasn’t a lot since they all had other homes. Eleanor, Franklin’s wife, had had her own “hide-a-way” on the estate for many years, and that’s where she resided after Franklin’s death.
FDR was the president during most of the depression and World War 2. He is remembered for his “new deal” for the American people, which, along with other things, brought us Social Security. He also made jobs for people with the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). As we travel around this country, we are frequently reminded of the work of these groups, especially in state and national parks, where trails were blazed, and lodges and shelters built.
He was also the president who oversaw the development of the atom bomb.
He was our only president elected to 4 terms, but he only served a little over 12 years. He died only months after his 4th inauguration. Harry Truman was his 3rd vice president and the evidence now shows that Roosevelt expected to resign as soon as the war was over and that Truman would become president. Unfortunately, he died before he had brought Truman into the workings of the White House and Truman had a rough beginning.
FDR originally only planned on two terms and started building his presidential library in 1938. He had been disturbed to find that papers from most previous presidencies had not been kept. His second term would have been up in 1940 and he proposed to have his library ready. It was, and he used the office in it throughout his 3rd term, the only president to use his library during his term in office. It sits out of sight of the home, but close by.
In 1921, Franklin contracted polio and lived the rest of his life paralyzed from the waist down. Through great perseverance, he could stand with the help of leg braces and someone’s supporting arm. He even managed to “walk” a few steps, with support, by twisting his upper torso to move his legs in braces. At the time, physical disability was equated with mental disability and he knew if he wanted to continue his political career, he needed to appear to be “cured”. There are only 4 known photos of him in a wheel chair. Amazingly, the press supported this deception and never wrote about him being disabled. I have often wondered what difference it might have made for other disabled people if he had been open about his disability.
Eleanor and Franklin had a very unusual partnership. After she found out about an affair in 1918, she offered to divorce him. Both Franklin’s mother, who said she would disinherit him, and his political advisors, vetoed the idea. After that, there was no romantic relationship, but Eleanor continued to be one of his best political supporters and was often his eyes and ears in places he could not go. She was one of our most active First Ladies. On the grounds was this statue, which I quite like.
Another interesting art piece is one done by Winston Churchill’s granddaughter, Edwina Sandys. The figures were cut out of sections of the Berlin wall and the work is called Break Free. Near by are the busts of Winston and Franklin.
“The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough to those who have too little.” Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
As we were going through the museum, there were many items of interest. One was Eleanor Roosevelt’s suitcase. This was how she traveled. One suitcase, smaller than most of today’s carry-ons. It reminded us very much of Charley’s Grandma Clara’s suitcase, which he showed us recently.
If only we could all travel so lightly!
I also think I found the inspiration for Darth Vader. There were many world war posters and this one caught my eye.
Looks like Darth Vader to me!
Deb
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