Franklin Delano Roosevelt is considered one of the most influential presidents in our nation’s history. He ran for an unprecedented four terms and served as president for twelve years from 1933 until his death in 1945. Roosevelt was the creator of the New Deal in the 1930’s which was designed to combat the ravages of the Great Depression. He led the U. S. into World War II after Japan’s attack on American troops on December 7, 1941 in Pearl Harbor, a day Roosevelt said would “live in infamy”. There is still much being written about Roosevelt and his impact on our nation’s history.
A woman named Lucy Mercer was an influential part of Roosevelt’s life and is the subject of a book simply called Lucy, written by Ellen Feldman. Lucy is a work of “faction”, a fictionalized account of events which actually occurred.
Lucy Mercer was hired as a personal secretary by Eleanor Roosevelt, Franklin’s wife, in 1914. Lucy spent several days a week at the Roosevelt home and became acquainted with the entire family. Lucy and Franklin gradually became aware of their feelings for each other and began a secret relationship. Lucy liked and respected Eleanor Roosevelt but apparently could not stop her increasingly strong attraction towards Franklin.
Eleanor Roosevelt eventually found out about her husband’s affair with Lucy and the situation proceeded to an impasse. If Franklin divorced his wife and married Lucy Mercer his likelihood of becoming president would be greatly diminished.
Many years passed. Lucy married a much older man with six children and had a daughter. She lived a genteel county life. However her feelings for Roosevelt never diminished and they later re-established their relationship until his death in 1945.
Lucy is interesting reading for anyone interested in history since the first half of the twentieth century is discussed in a readable style. Feldman states that although Lucy is considered a work of fiction, it is based accurately upon actual historical events. It is somewhat controversial to read about a former president’s extramarital affair but interesting to consider how historical events may have been very different if Lucy’s relationship with Franklin Roosevelt had ended differently.
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Highland County District Library
Highland County, OH