IN THIS ISSUE Eleanor Roosevelt Artifacts Store Offers Replica Jewelry foef{wpvtNews and Notes from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum Fall 2009 With Support from the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers S FDR’s Library Addition Plans Historic Ice Yachts Return Eleanor Roosevelt at by Allida Black 125 Eleanor Roosevelt understood, more than he is secure, merely runs more risk from economy that thrives and comforts? How, in FROM THE most American leaders, the challenges the lightning. a time of rising unemployment and rampant America would confront at the end of the epidemics that transcend borders, can we twentieth century. The time has come for us to cast off our insure that Americans’ right to health is DIRECTOR fear like a wornout garment. It clouds respected? How, in times of unimaginable She grew increasingly concerned that the judgment. It paralyzes action. In honor of Eleanor Roosevelt’s 125th horror—where gasoline is poured into birthday, we are dedicating this entire issue American foreign policy would continue women’s vaginas and acid thrown in the to the amazing Mrs. Roosevelt. In October to be defi ned by what we “aren’t,” rather face of schoolgirls—can we insure that there was a special family gathering in than what we “are.” She warned America women’s rights are fi nally embraced as Hyde Park and we produced a new video that our education system needed to human rights? How, in the shadow of war that is playing continuously in the Wallace address politics and cultures we did not and torture, can we balance respect and Center. It will also be available for loan understand if the nation was to continue defense? through our Pare Lorentz Film Center www. to be a force for peace. She feared that parelorentzcenter.org. our health care system, if not expanded Many would say these problems are and made affordable, would exclude those unsolvable or that rights are separate from In the back of my mind as we were making who could not afford medical care and thus responsibilities or that America should these preparations, I pondered what precisely lead to a “society of have and have-nots.” focus on itself fi rst or that the market will I could contribute in this space that would She worried that Americans “had become sort these solutions out. Nothing would shed new light on Eleanor Roosevelt, a so intoxicated by our new methods of enrage Eleanor Roosevelt more. woman whose courage and leadership has communication that we have failed to look been so vividly drawn by so many for so closely at just what we are communicating This is a woman who dared to see what many years. —of failing to communicate.” She urged America could become and dedicated her her fellow citizens to remember that FDR Presidential Library life to keeping her country on track. And then something happened. Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt outside of St. James’ Church, Roosevelt’s granddaughter, Anna Eleanor freedom from fear cannot be divorced from Hyde Park, New York. April 6, 1952. freedom from want. How do we thank someone like that? How (Ellie) Roosevelt Seagraves, contacted me ER understood fear—and the dangers can we honor her courage and her love of bearing the sad news that ER’s devoted it posed—as few Americans had. Her justice? personal secretary, Maureen Corr, was in “For where there intensely personal relationship to the hospice. A few weeks later, on October 14, American people exposed her to the I propose that to celebrate ER’s 125th Maureen Corr passed away at age 92. She is no vision the underbelly of the Great Depression and birthday, we talk less and act more; that was a vital source of many fond recollections World War II in ways that few Americans we reach out to those who are different for those of us who have been privileged people perish.” experienced. After the White House, she from us and fi nd common ground; that to know her and she has been generous to the Library, donating many papers and lived and led in the shadow of the Holocaust throughout, we be bold, kind, shrewd, and mementoes of Eleanor Roosevelt. In 1962, as ER battled fatal illness, she and the atomic bomb. She survived determined; and that when we compromise, also sought to complete her fi nal call to assassination attempts as the virulence of we “compromise up.” action. In Tomorrow is Now, she dared us to American racism resurfaced and endured recognize the power we had as citizens and the economic repercussions of speaking I also ask you to stand beside those who to use our power carefully and boldly. “I out for justice in the era of McCarthyism. risk their lives for change, especially with would like to see,” she wrote, “our people When she dared debate the American Bar women around the world, who look to fi red by the vision of building a new and Association and urge the United States ER and to each other, to help build safe, peaceful world.” This could only happen to embrace the Universal Declaration of inclusive, and nourishing communities out if “we cast out fear and face the unknown Human Rights, the death threats and hate of the ruins of war, prejudice, and famine. with imagination and integrity, with mail escalated. Bounties were placed on her courage and a high heart.” head. Her critics, including FBI Director, J. “The time has come for Edgar Hoover called her a “communist.” us to cast off our Why? “For where there is no vision the people perish.” fear like a worn out garment. It clouds FDR Presidential Library ER urged Americans to be ready to “hazard the judgment. It Eleanor Roosevelt with Maureen Corr in all we have”—to “pledge our lives, our paralyzes action....” Trivandrum during a visit to India, March 5, 1952. sacred honor, and all our worldly goods”— But Ellie was not just letting me know the bad to fulfi ll the promise that democracy and I especially ask you, as the women of the news, she was also asking me, as we prepare human rights present. These two “enduring world gather in Geneva this International to remember Eleanor Roosevelt, to please values” possess the “overwhelming Human Rights Day to pay tribute to also remember “the duty and friendship roles power” essential for American security and Eleanor Roosevelt, to listen to their vital of two important people connected with prosperity. Repeatedly, she argued: voices. Respect their visions. Work with Grandmère. One is Malvina Thompson and them to develop sustainable grassroots the other Maureen Corr. People can’t We must fan the spark of conviction, programs to feed their neighbors, rebuild function (or don’t function as well) without which may again inspire the world as their homes, educate their communities, the devoted detail work provided by fi rst we did with our new idea of the dignity and stop the torture of rape and human assistants, especially ones who became and the worth of free men. But fi rst we traffi cking. Realize that change doesn’t such devoted friends of ER and of many in must learn to cast out fear. People who have to originate in America to work. And her family as well. .” Both Maureen and ‘view with alarm’ never build anything. that stunning courage and boldness exists “Tommy” are shown in action in our new “in places so small they don’t show up on video on Eleanor Roosevelt, which was FDR Presidential Library She recognized that new visions would Eleanor Roosevelt in Washington D.C., 1924. any map of the world.” premiered at the family gathering. I would evoke strong emotions and intense political like to ask all of you, our readers, to take a backlash and she wanted the nation to Yet, to an extent I fi nd daunting, she stayed ER would demand nothing less. “Staying moment and remember these two devoted understand that: the course, repeatedly telling all who would aloof,” she preached,“ is not a solution; it is “fi rst assistants” as well. listen that “we are all on trial to show what a cowardly evasion.” Change means the unknown. It means democracy means.” Maureen Corr being jolted out of a rut that has grown Allida Black is Research Professor of Maureen Corr was Mrs. Roosevelt’s personal comfortable and familiar from long As we celebrate Eleanor Roosevelt’s History and International Affairs at The secretary from 1953 until ER’s death in 1962. residence. It means, too many people 125th birthday, the charges against us and George Washington University; Project She was born in a small town southwest of cry, insecurity. the challenges we face are as intense as Director and Editor of The Eleanor Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1917. She was those ER faced when she negotiated the Roosevelt Papers; and a member of seriously ill as a child, and did not receive Nonsense! No one from the beginning of Universal Declaration of Human Rights. the Board of Directors of the Roosevelt much education as a result. Maureen moved time has ever had security. Anything Institute. She fi rst registered as a researcher is possible. After all, the man who How, in a climate of unforeseen economic at the Roosevelt Library in 1987. For more (continued on page 2) cowers under a tree in a storm, thinking downturn, can we help rebuild a global information visit www.gwu.edu/~erpapers. Eleanor Roosevelt Artifacts Offer Insight into Many Aspects of Her Life (continued from page 1) The Museum at the FDR Library houses hung in the family residence at the White and 1930s.