FDR and Lucy: Lovers and Friends

By Resa Willis

Book Overview

The last face FDR saw before he died was that of Lucy Mercer Rutherford, his mistress of thirty-one years. Although Eleanor, his children, and the press knew about Lucy, the American public would not hear of her until 1966. FDR and Lucy is the first book to delve into this hidden side of FDR's life. Drawing on documents from the Roosevelt Presidential Library as well as visits to Lucy's homes, biographer Resa Willis explores how this life-long love affair changed the course of his marriage and the presidency. Roosevelt fell in love with Lucy in 1914 and for the next three decades she provided him comfort from the pressures of his job and the critical eyes of his mother and wife. Illuminating a critical era in American history, Willis explores why the press dared not report the affair. Willis also suggests that Eleanor's discovery of Lucy in 1918 marked the end of the Roosevelt's personal marriage and the beginning of their political marriage and Eleanor's groundbreaking activism. A true love story with historical impact, FDR and Lucy paints a compelling portrait of one of the most famous other women in American history, giving us a window into FDR's impassioned life and presidency.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0415980135
• ISBN13: 9780415980135
• Release Date: October 2004
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 214 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Eleanor's Sweet Revenge

Resa Willis tells the story of a time in American history as skillfully, objectively, personally, accurately and compassionately as humanely possible in 152 pages. How refreshing! You are privileged to hear about all the FDR doings and Eleanor Roosevelt doings along with all the important players. And, you come to learn how a great man so deeply loved by so many women could be fundamentally lonely. Some would call it Eleanor's sweet revenge.