Between members of the roosevelt and kennedy families, in particular the alliance between Eleanor Roosevelt and jfk. The hello and welcome to another addition of at home with the roosevelts. Today we will talk about the relationship between two of the most important political families in American History during the 20th century, the roosevelts and kennedys. I am joined by the director of the jfk library. Thank you for joining me. This is one of the most interesting and complicated relationships, to families that are really dynasties in the way they impacted american political life. A component of this that a lot of people do not stand. Relationship between Franklin Roosevelt and Joseph Kennedy the relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and john f. Kennedy. We will start with the relationship between Franklin Roosevelt and joe kennedy. Joe kennedy may most of his money in a night 20s in the market. He was appointed as the head of the Security Exchange commission. Some said that was putting the oxen control of the henhouse. Really became a very close confidant of fdr. You want to talk about how he managed that posting in london right before the war . It is an interesting time. I almost want to go back a tiny bit before that. People are in the age where they are graduating from high school, whoever is the president in that moment, has a profound impact on them. Is the president as jfk comes of age. Much of his vision of what is the nation is informed by fdr. Clearly through his father and the courting of st. James he has direct connection to what service might would fight. The the german uboat sank , jfk is asked by thefather to look after surviving u. S. Passengers and their families during the transition. He gets a little bit of responsibility in that moment. It informs his notion of Public Service. Up to go to war. He is excepted into the navy. President ,r under a the only president to have been conscious of as undeveloped, cant help but in accurate what leadership is. John f. Kennedy was in england immediately prior to the war, he wrote a book about it. In addition to being in england and from there touring into different parts of europe, he observes the lead up to world war ii. Some of that was intentional and his research for his thesis at harvard. He ultimately turns that into a book, why england slept. He looks at what the buildup is of the cold war. And how you respond. Book,interestingly, that john kennedy gave a copy of it to Franklin Roosevelt. Jfk signed it and Franklin Roosevelt signed it. That is one of most precious boats. You may not know the story. It is one of my favorite anecdotes. In 1940, when kennedy came back from europe, he came to visit this library that was under construction at the time. Left a gift. Note that fdr wrote to jfk. It is a little bit hard to read. It appears to say thank you for the machine gun and goggles. Can you imagine john f. Kennedy dropping off a machine gun . What it said was marine gun. It was a spear gun for fishing. Goggles were swimming goggles. We have never been able to find what happened to the spear gun or the goggles. There were a lot of interactions throughout the years. The relationship between jfk and eleanor is also significant. The time right before the u. S. Gets into the war, Joseph Kennedy is the investor, he starts siding with germany. He is telling roosevelt and anyone who will listen that he does not think anglin will survive. There was a little bit of friction between him and his sons. A good bit of friction. Inside the kennedy family. To go against your father would have been a tough road. Paul Joseph Kennedy almost ran against fdr in 1940. It was not clear that fdr was going to run. Fdr had significant funds to campaign. Just longm in england enough to prevent them from running. It became quite nasty between the two of them. That aerved long enough lot of people started thinking of running against him. Paul very true. When war broke out, john f. Kennedy joined the navy. A lot of people recognize the exceptional circumstances of him joining the navy. He overcame a lot of physical disabilities. He was disqualified for naval service. He had a number of other maladies. Mosquitor joked about for the mosquito would die. He did want to join the navy. Even though he was initially rejected. He wanted his father to intervene on his behalf. He was initially assigned to a test job. He was given a command of pt boats. All of those operations very much and his sense of Public Service. Appreciationhis for democracy. Assault from a world that did not believe in the kind of freedom. Debates within his address toixon, his the nation at that point is, can america live half free and have slave . He referred to lincoln in that speech. It is an interesting take on the world. Grounded int it is his service in world war ii. Paul there was another incident during world war ii i think had enormous inflict influence on john f. Kennedy. That was the death of his little brother joseph. He was quite a hero. The familyg to dynamics of that time, his older brother was to be the one who went into politics. To play a supportive role. Unfortunately, in a bombing run in which the bombs went off , his father joseph turned to him. Much of his younger life he gets away with being friendly and wellliked. Not all that serious of a player. He saw the war develop. He became a much more serious person. When world war ii ends, fdr has died. The world changes. Phase ofinto a new this relationship between the kennedys and roosevelt. Now the primary relationship is between Eleanor Roosevelt, who is arguably the most powerful woman in america, certainly one of the most powerful women in the world. And a major influence on the democratic party. Their political career start to intersect. It really happens when kennedy becomes a senator. Elinor has very different political views. You can correct me if i am wrong on this. Schismart of the early revolved around senator mccarthy. With theelationship kennedys. He was in the hospital and unable to deliver that speech. There was a thought that he may not be as strong of a candidate. She engages in some public criticism of kennedy as maybe not be the right candidate. Kennedy wisely does not engage in a public battle with Eleanor Roosevelt. He would not win that battle. Asksivately writes her and her to consider the facts and be open to meeting with him. It is only an in person curiosityon that his and his willingness to learn and his patriotism come through. In a way she can support him. I can appreciate given what she knew at the time and her familiarity with Adlai Stevenson why it was difficult for her to wrap her mind around kennedy. Isl Bobby Kennedys role one of the council to the certainly tarnished her. She was strong on civil rights. I think she really held a grudge. I love her but she could hold a grudge. Fact thatresented the he had criticized fdr during the war. Think she never fully let go of that. Do think it is a wonderful moment in their relationship. To visit her home. When that convention, kennedy gets the democratic nomination, he knows he has to win her over. We have some of those photos in our library as well. She is a big supporter of Adlai Stevenson. A very capable candidate. She does not think he has a Strong Enough record to run on. That he isin person able to convince her. That is true who kennedy was throughout his life. There is so much evidence of once people met him, he was the one voted most likely to succeed. He won people over. He had a smile that was completely disarming and charming. There is no amount of correspondence that will convince her. It has to be done in person. Paul Eleanor Roosevelt had some objections to jack kennedy, but she hated richard nixon. That was an easy choice. One of my favorites letter she ever wrote was too jfk that day debatehe first televised between nixon and jfk. It is classic Eleanor Roosevelt. It is passiveaggressive, complements, criticism. The latter is, i was watching the debate last night with some friends and although i thought you did very well, i thought i would share some of their comments with you. The people she was watching the debate with was lloyd benson. Later he made the reference to knowing john kennedy. She said he came across as too confident. He wanted to include the audience more in his answers. It is a classic letter. She campaigned for him quite vigorously. She thought she needed to do for the democrats to win. She thought it was vitally important. Repeated runins with eisenhower and completely disagreed with his policies and thought it was a orton for a democrat to get in arid to resurrect some of the new deal policies that she had supported so strongly. Elected, thegets first thing he does is appoint Eleanor Roosevelt. It is fascinating. Butjust for that campaign president ial campaigns writ large. Kennedy is trying to frame himself is standing up for a new generation. Have new ideas, a new energy. He knows full well that if he does not whenever the establishment, he is going nowhere. He has to get eleanors support. He is trying to get out young voters. I think that is fascinating. He had a really good sense of history. Some new ideas and energy. One of the things he gets from fdr is the important of innovation and leadership. Fdr said he would go off on a retreat and not talk to anybody and come back with this lend lease idea. That turns the war. President kennedy said you had to think about the bigger picture. You have to build up that Political Capital first. He pays very close attention to those relationships. Earlier that morning, he called to express birthday wishes to fdrs first vice president. A real student of history and a person who really pays attention to relationships those those personal touches. A good,ion to being largescale, retail politician. Aose personal touches made huge difference throughout his career. Im sure eleanor had no affection for john f. Kennedy. Paul she was not a huge fan. Jfk puts her on a commission on the status of women. Understanding that at this idea of theme, this quality and including more women in the political establishment to stop some of the discrimination that was leveled against women. It is interesting he would appoint her in that role. It went to one of her passions. She had been for gender equality her adult life. It was a brilliant take and eleanor did a great job with it. He did not appoint as many women as we would expect to see today. Many called him to account for what is, what are you going to do to continue your Campaign Pledge on equal rights for women . Equal pay for women . Equal roles . Standards, he could have done more. But for those times i think he did some amazing things. Eleanor roosevelt dies in november 1962. Park. Mes back to hyde is a trueere sincerity at that moment. The passage of this great woman. I also think it is an honor that she had earned. Words thatfind accurately capture eleanor significance. She paves the way and influences so many people. He could not have fdr support at that time, he was long gone. But eleanor is able to bridge that gap. Paul we will and with the thought that both of these men gave their lives and duty to the country. In both cases, there depth death in office created a residence with the american people. Think there is something missing in todays politics. Both of these people truly believed in Public Service. They were raised with the sense that they had a duty and responsibility to serve the american people. They posted in extraordinary ways. Kennedyshn f. Inaugural address remains one of the best beaches of all time. Toi have to agree and i have say fdr and the events of his time as presidency shaped the nation, shaped that generation. In profound ways. Is only three years older than kennedy. Bush ist Herbert Walker only six years older than kennedy. World war ii shapes them and so many other kennedy sibling serve in the war either in the military or in civilian rules. Think president kennedy would have encouraged us, were he alive today, to always value Public Service and considerate and consider it in its many forms. As a way to make the world that around us. Paul that is a great place to end todays conversation. Thank you for joining us. You do a great job up there. I hope you have a great year. Always great to talk. I look forward to visiting hyde park again. 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