Little Maids in a Row: Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd
Where I discuss women that I find fascinating but hardly make it to the history books.
Iβve never hidden how much of a history nerd I am. Give me a good documentary or a good book and I will be totally happy. So of course that means that this entire week I was totally consumed with the new Ken Burns documentary The Roosevelts: An Intimate History.
Β If watching a 14 hour documentary seems daunting to you, donβt be afraid. Itβs really engaging, plus all the episodes are up on PBS.
I think I watched and re-watched every single episode. To say that Ken Burns is skilled is a major understatement. Burns knows his craft and he utilizes all his considerable skill to make this fourteen hour long documentary series incredibly engaging. Plus, how can you fail when you have people like Doris Kearns Goodwin, Geoffrey C. Ward and George Will to do your historical analysis? And Burns also was brilliant inΒ casting voice actors with Peter Cayote (narrator), Paul Giamatti (as Theodore Roosevelt), Meryl Streep (as Eleanor Roosevelt) and Edward Herrmann (as Franklin D. Roosevelt).
Β Itβs really brilliant casting to have Edward Herrmann as Franklin Delano Roosevelt. And no, itβs not because he was Richard Gilmore. Although I think I have seen Richard Gilmore in a suit just like this.
Edward Herrmann had played FDR before in the brilliant television movie Eleanor and Franklin (1976) and itβs sequel.
Β It is sometimes called Eleanor and Franklin: The Early Years because it is followed up by the 1977 Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years. Edward Herrmann is FDR in both television movies.
The lives of presidents Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt are incredibly inspiring and truly remarkable. Both men overcame incredible personal hardships and devastating lows in their public careers. And of course there is Eleanore.
I have admit that I am incredibly partial to Eleanor Roosevelt. I will praise her all day and fight anyone who doesnβt think she is one of the greatest leaders ever.
Β Even John Fitzgerald Kennedy was a fan! When Kennedy was running for president, he went out of his way to get the support of Eleanor and after their meeting, he was totally smitten by her.
What is really remarkable in this documentary series is that we see not only the prominent Roosevelts: Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor but we see the women who helped shape them, influence them, criticized them and supported them.
Β The death of his first wife, Alice Roosevelt was devastating to Theodore Roosevelt. She died at the same time his mother died. The loss nearly destroyed Teddy Roosevelt.
Β Edith Roosevelt, the second wife of Teddy Roosevelt. She was incredibly important to Teddy growing up. They were the best of friends and later was the love of his life.
Β Alice Roosevelt, the daughter of Teddy Roosevelt was nicknamed βPrincess Aliceβ by the foreign press. She was an incredible character and a thorn to the side of both Teddy and her cousins Franklin and Eleanor.
Β Anna Hall Roosevelt was considered a beauty of her time. However, in my personal opinion she was an awful mother. She lamented over her daughter Eleanorβs βlack of beautyβ and nicknamed her βGrannyβ.
Β Sara Delano Roosevelt was a major figure in her sonβs life. She was his most ardent supporter and the most important woman is his life for a long time.
And while I maintain that Eleanor Roosevelt is still incredible, I have to admit that I was incredibly intrigued by a different woman. A woman that I had originally written off and dismissed. And perhaps even said a few mean words about.
Letβs take a look at this weeks Little Maid, Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd. I know, Iβm pretty shocked too.
I admit that I am still torn on the subject of Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd. While I still admire and respect Eleanor Roosevelt a part of me canβt help but feel a bit sad for Lucy Mercer. And also a bit angry at Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Itβs all mixed up in my head. But at the same time the story is so deeply tragic and all parties involved behave in a way that I canβt help but weep for everyone involved in the situation.
Lucy Mercer was born on April 26, 1891. While the Mercer family was well-respected and prominent in Maryland, the family had lost its wealth in the Panic of 1893. Carroll Mercer, her father was actually a member of Theodore Rooseveltβs Rough Riders but the loss of the family fortune eventually led him to alcoholism. His wife and Lucyβs mother Minnie Mercer was forced to raise Lucy and her sister Violetta alone.
While the young Lucy was well educated in private schools growing up, she had to find a job that would help support her family. Lucy found work as a shop girl. It wasnβt exactly a glamorous position, especially for a girl whoβs family line can be traced to the founding of the United States but it was a job that paid as was respectable enough.
Β Lucy Mercer was said to be a great beauty. She was tall, had brown hair and blue eyes. She was also said to be full of laughter, fun and extremely friendly and outgoing.
Then everything changed. Franklin Delano Roosevelt has been named as assistant secretary of the Navy (a position that his cousin Theodore once held as well!). This was an important and prestigious position which meant a whole new host of duties for his wife Eleanor. However, Eleanor was simply overwhelmed the demands of Washington D.C. society and she was also newly pregnant. Eleanor turned to her family for help and support. In 1913, Eleanorβs aunt, Anna Roosevelt Cowles suggested Lucy Mercer as a social secretary. Lucy Mercer was hired in 1914.
Β Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt hamming it. I love that heβs the one holding the knitting.
Eleanor Roosevelt was really happy and grateful to have Lucy Mercer as part of her staff. While most people remember Eleanor Roosevelt as this powerful and inspiring woman, Eleanor was extremely shy, awkward and filled with self doubt. Her father Elliott was an alcoholic who once kept a young Eleanor outside of the New York Knickerbocker Club for four hours while he was inside drinking. Her mother Anna Hall Roosevelt was not an affectionate mother either. She chipped away at her daughterβs self-esteem by bemoaning Eleanorβs lack of beauty and her bookish ways. If this wasnβt tragic enough, Eleanor lost both her parents by a very young age and was sent off to live with her cold and distant maternal grandmother, Mary Livingston Ludlow.
Β Eleanor Roosevelt as a child.
Β Elliott Roosevelt with his three children. Eleanor is in the middle. Her two younger brothers Hall and Gracie (Hall is in the left and Gracie is on the right).
Β Anna Hall Roosevelt. One story about Anna Hall Rooseveltβs parenting style was βallowingβ the young Eleanor to rub her temples when she had a headache. This had a major impact on Eleanor who equated being of use to someone as the same thing to being loved.
When Eleanor and Franklin married in 1905, Eleanor still could not believe that it had happened. Franklin and Eleanor were fifth cousins and while they had known each other, they truly did not become close until 1902. Franklin Roosevelt was handsome and self assured while Eleanore was still trying to find her purpose in life. When the young couple became engaged 1903, both Eleanor and Franklin Delano Rooseveltβs mother Sara were both surprised. Eleanor because she could not believe that Franklin would want to marry her and Sara because she did not want to believe the relationship was serious. Sara was an incredibly devoted mother and was terrified that she would no longer be the most important person in her son Franklinβs life.
Β A young Eleanor Roosevelt. This picture was taken while she wasΒ in her teens. She would meet Franklin D. Roosevelt soon after. I honestly donβt know why she was considered homely and plain, I think she looks pretty in this picture.
Β A young Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He was a handsome devil wasnβt he?
Β Calling Sara Delano Roosevelt a loving mother would be an understatement. She lived for her son. No seriously, she even bought a house in Massachusetts when Franklin attended Harvard.
Eleanor and Franklin were married in New York on March 17, 1905. The brideβs uncle Theodore Roosevelt, the current president of the United States gave the bride away.
Β Franklin and Eleanor in the center. After the wedding, Teddy once said it was good that Franklin and Eleanor had decided to keep the name in the family.
Β But the life as a married woman to a man with a high profile political career proved to be very demanding for Eleanor.
However, early on in the marriage cracks began to show in the Roosevelt marriage. While Franklin was outgoing and loved being the center of attention, Eleanor was more serious and reflective. Add to that, Sara Delano Roosevelt continued to be the main woman in her sonβs life.
Β Sara Delano Roosevelt even went out of her way to try to break Franklin and Eleanor up. She even brought Franklin on a year long cruise to in the hopes he would forget about Eleanor.
Β The side by side houses Sara Delano Roosevelt bought was truly mind-blowing. So her being seated close to Franklin and Eleanor being seated further away is incredibly symbolic to the strained domestic life.
From all accounts, Eleanor was incredibly happy with Lucy Mercer as her social secretary. While Eleanor was shy and had a tendency to stand off on the side lines. Lucy was a happy and outgoing person and she often took part in social parties, dinners and other occassions and simply charmed everyone around her. Eleanor came to regard Lucy not only as part of her staff but as part of the household and a member of the family. Thatβs why the affair was so devastating to Eleanor.
Most historians agree that by 1916 Franklin Roosevelt and Lucy Mercer were having a full blown affair. Franklin and Lucy often had private times together when Eleanor and the children would go to the family home in Campobello to escape the Washington, D.C. heat. He was also aided by Alice Roosevelt Longworth who was disdainful of Eleanor and also greatly unhappy in her own marriage.
Β Franklin and Lucy had a complex relationship.
Β Alice Roosevelt Longworth once said βFranklin deserved a good time. He was married to Eleanor.β Not very nice, Alice.
Another aspect to the situation was the personality dynamic between Franklin, Eleanor and Lucy. Eleanor was an incredibly reflective and driven woman. She was a progressive and demanded a great deal of herself and others around her. Franklin was used to being loved and idolized by the women in his life. Lucy Mercer filled that place in his life as an adult. She gave him unconditional support and was in awe of him. But unlike his mother, Lucy was not demanding and jealous of his time or attention. She was simply devoted to him.
However, there is some debate among historians about the exact nature of Franklin and Lucyβs affair. We must remember that this was a different time. Lucy was a Catholic and engaging in a sexual affair with a married man would have been an unforgivable sin. We also have to consider pregnancy; an unwanted pregnancy would have ruined Franklinβs chances of attaining the White House and Franklin was a very ambitious man. So if it was not a sexual affair, it was a very close, deep and important relationship for both Lucy and Franklin. And when Eleanor discovered this secret relationship she was greatly hurt and affected by it.
Β Franklin and Eleanor together. It was a complicated marriage but I think a deep one.
In 1918, the affair was uncovered by Eleanor while she was unpacking Franklinβs suitcases. Franklin had come home from a European tour and had been suffering from a bad case of pneumonia and also a high fever. Eleanor found a stash of letters written by Lucy to Franklin among Franklinβs belongings.
Eleanor was destroyed. Her upbringing caused Eleanor to have a very low opinion of herself and she was plagued by self doubt. She had always been afraid that she would not be enough for Franklin. She had confided to her cousin Ethel that she believed herself to plain and boring while Franklin was so charming and attractive. Now, she was confronted with his affair with Lucy Mercer. Lucy who was younger than she was, more charming and someone who she had placed a great deal of trust in.
Β Unfortunately not too many letters between Lucy and Franklin survived.
Eleanor confronted Franklin and offered him a divorce. This was unthinkable in the early 1900s but Eleanor was willing to set him free to marry Lucy if he was in love with her. Franklin admitted he was in love with Lucy. However, it was Sara Delano Roosevelt who halted these plans.
Β Even though Sara Delano Roosevelt was not happy with her son marrying Eleanor and even went out her way to stop the engagement, she did not want Eleanor and Franklin to divorce.
Β I think Sara Delano Roosevelt was worried about Franklinβs political career but also about her grandchildren.
Β I donβt think the family dynamic was ever the same after Eleanor discovered about the relationship between Franklin and Lucy. Eleanor was so hurt by Franklin betrayal that she burned all the letters Franklin had written her during their courtship.
Sara Delano Roosevelt control the family purse strings. While Franklin Delano Roosevelt was not a poor man, he was not used to living on his income alone. Sara Delano Roosevelt told her son that if he was going to divorce Eleanor then he would be financially cut off. While Franklin Roosevelt loved Lucy Mercer, his ambitions were too powerful. He returned back to Eleanor.
Eleanor had two conditions. First, Franklin must have no further contact with Lucy Mercer. Second, Eleanor and Franklin will never share a bedroom again. It seems while Eleanor and Franklin remained married until his death in 1945, she never really forgave or forgot his affair with Lucy Mercer.
Soon after her relationship with Franklin Roosevelt was discovered, LucyΒ was dismissed. She began work as a governess for the six children of Winthrop Rutherfurd, a wealthy New Yorker (He actually has a pretty interesting romantic history. He was once in love and secretly engaged to the lovely Consuelo Vanderbilt). Winthrop Rutherfurd was a widower in his fifties and eventually he married Lucy in 1920. From all accounts, Lucy was devoted wife and stepmother. Lucy and Winston Rutherfurd even had a daughter of their own, Barbara.
Β A portrait of Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd. Franklin found out about her marriage to Winston Rutherfurd from social acquaintances.
Until recently, most people assumed that Franklin kept his promise to stay away from Lucy until 1941. But it seems that Franklin and Lucy were incapable of staying away from each other. They continued to stay in contact with each other throughout Franklin Rooseveltβs life.
Β A letter from Lucy Rutherfurd to FDR.
Franklin continued to stay in contact with Lucy. He even dedicated his first 1926 lecture, his first public lecture dedicated to her. He had a copy of his lecture sent to Lucy with a handwritten script telling her that he was dedicating the lecture to her. He also had Lucy invited to his first inauguration as president in 1933. They continued to write to each other. She even visited him in the White House under the secret name of βMrs. Paul Johnsonβ. These meetings were always when Eleanor was out of the White House and at times Lucy would have dinner with him in private.
Β FDR had promised Eleanor that he would cut Lucy Mercer from his life but it was a promise he could not keep. He had Lucy Mercer, now Mrs. Rutherfurd secretly invited to his first inauguration as president.
The relationship was also quite supportive. When Lucyβs husband Winthrop Rutherfurd suffered a stroke, she wrote to FDR to arrange for Rutherfurd to be cared for at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. She also brought her daughter Barbara to meet the president and Franklin wrote Lucy a letter in which he praised Barbara. In their letters to each other they discussed their pride in their children and grandchildren. Lucy also used her connection with Franklin to help her step-sons in their respective careers.
Β Another surviving letter.
As the stresses of World War II took its toll on Franklin D. Rooseveltβs health along with own personal health problems, Franklin asked his daughter Anna to help him secretly meet with Lucy. Anna arranged for Lucy to secretly meet with her father in Warm Springs, Georgia at FDRβs Little White House retreat.
Β Anna Roosevelt was torn when her father asked her to help him arrange a meeting with Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd. She was old enough to remember her motherβs hurt over his affair. But when she met Lucy and got to know her, they actually became friends. Of course this caused a lot of strain between Anna and her mother, Eleanor.
During a visit in 1945 to the Little White House, Lucy arranged for her friend Elizabeth Shoumatoff, an artist to paint a portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was during this April 12th visit in 1945 that Franklin D. Roosevelt suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and passed away.
Eleanor was notified of Franklin D. Rooseveltβs death and found Elizabeth Shoumatoffβs unfinished watercolor painting. She mailed the painting to Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd. Lucy wrote to Eleanor and expressed her gratitude and her grief as well as her condolences.
Β The Little White House. Warm Springs was FDRβs retreat. It was his refuge when he was stricken with polio and later during his tenure as president.
Β FDRβs famous Unfinished Portrait.The painting now hangs in The Little White House in Warm Springs, Georgia.
While Eleanor was initially hurt over both Annaβs assistance and Franklinβs broken promise. I think what was especially hurtful was finding out that Anna had developed a friendship with Lucy and that Lucy was there at the final moments of Franklinβs life. But over time Eleanor became a bit philosophical about his relationship with Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd. She recognized that her husband needed Lucy in his life in a way that she could not understand but she finally accepted it for what it was.
In a way I think it is really hard to really describe Lucy Mercerβs relationship with Franklin D. Roosevelt. I donβt know if the relationship between Lucy and FDR can be classified as a simple affair. It was really more of a deep and long-lasting relationship and friendship. The relationship was an incredibly complex one that spanned a lifetime. I believe that Franklin did love Eleanor and she loved him as well. However, a part of him always loved Lucy as well and Lucyβs love for him was equally returned. She gave him the comfort, love and acceptance he needed and could not find in his wife. I think she also knew that he would never leave his wife for her but she still loved him and accepted being a part of his life but always existing in secret and behind closed doors
Bibliography
Eleanor and Franklin: The Story of Their Relationship Based on Eleanor Rooseveltβs Private Papers by Joseph P. Lash
The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project
FDR and his Women
FDR and His Women. Biography.com by Katie Uva
FDRβs Secret Love
FDR and Lucy: Lovers and Friends by Resa Willis
Franklin and Lucy: President Roosevelt, Mrs. Ruftherfurd, and the Other Remarkable Women in His Life by Joseph E. Persico
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
The many loves of FDR by Reed Tucker
The Newly Discovered FDR- Lucy Mercer Correspondence by Ellen Feldman
No Ordinary Time: Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II by Doris Kearns Goodwin
The Roosevelts: An Intimate History by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns
What was for FDRβs eyes only is now for yours by Michael E. Ruane
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