FDR Curtis b. Dall

8/9/2019 FDR Curtis b. Dall

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F. D. R.

My Exploited Father-in-Law

Curtis B. Dall

A Reprint of the 19! Re"ised EditionFirst #rintin$% De&e'(er% 19)*+e&ond #rintin$% ApriL 19),

+//0/E FR 2+/RCAL RE3E4#.. Box 1,!5

/orran&e% California 9!6!6

n FDR7 My Exploited Father-in- Law% Col. Curtis B. Dall writes fro' &lose personal experien&e &on&ernin$ thefa'ous four-ti'e #resident% his fa'ily% politi&al asso&iates% and so'e of the 'o'entous e"ents whi&h stillstron$ly in8uen&e world history.

A nati"e of ew or: City% Col. Dall attended Mer&ers(ur$ A&ade'y and #rin&eton 0ni"ersity. 2e was anensi$n in na"al a"iation durin$ 4orld 4ar 1% and ser"ed o"erseas.

2is wide in"est'ent experien&e (e$an on 4all +treet in 1920. 2e rose to (e&o'e syndi&ate 'ana$er of Leh'an Brothers% and later was na'ed a partner in the ;r' now :nown as Merrill Lyn&h% #ier&e% Fenner <+'ith. 2e also founded and initially headed the natural $as &o'plex now &alled /enne&o% and en$a$ed inexploration for oil and natural $as in /exas.

Durin$ 4orld 4ar he ser"ed in the Air For&e% and now holds the ran: of &olonel in the Retired Air For&eReser"e. 2is o"erall 'ilitary ser"i&e &o"ers 1,3* years.

n 1948 Col. Dall (e&a'e a&ti"e in national politi&s in /exas as a &onser"ati"e. Fro' 19W to 1964 he wasnational &hair'an of the Constitution #arty of the 0.+.

/oday Col. Dall is Chair'an E'eritus of Li(erty Lo((y in 4ashin$ton D.C. t is often &alled the people=s lo((y%(ein$ the lar$est independent politi&al a&tion $roup in this &ountry. 2e has always (een in fre>uent de'andas a spea:er on patrioti& and politi&al issues throu$hout the nation% and has often appeared on radio andtele"ision pro$ra's. 2e resides in Alexandria% 3ir$inia with his wife ?atherine.

+//0/E FR 2+/RCAL RE3E4+B7 0-99484-0-!

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FDR7 My Exploited Father-in-Law@ 195) (y Curtis B. Dall

/his 19)* paper(a&: edition pu(lished with per'ission of the author (y7nstitute for 2istori&al Re"iew #.. Box 1,!5 /orran&e% CA 9!6!6

+B7 !-9,9)-!,- Li(rary of Con$ress Catalo$ Card o. 5)-*),6

All ri$hts reser"ed. o portion of this (oo: 'ay (e reprodu&ed in any for' without written per'ission fro'the author% ex&ept (y a re"iewer who 'ay >uote (rief passa$es in &onne&tion with a re"iew.

Manufa&tured in the 0nited +tates of A'eri&a

Co"er photo &ourtesy of the ew or: /i'es7 /he Roose"elt fa'ily at the Exe&uti"e Mansion% Al(any% % forChrist'as holidays% 19*9.

Left to ri$ht% front row7 Fran:lin D. Roose"elt% r. and his (rother ohn. Behind seated7 Mrs. Curtis B. Dall% AnnaEleanor Dall% Mrs. Roose"elt% o"ernor Roose"elt% Mrs. D.D. For(es the o"ernor=s aunt% and Mrs. a'esRoose"elt the o"ernor=s Mother.

+tandin$7 Curtis B. Dall and a'es Roose"elt.

5DEDCA/

Dedi&ated to youn$ A'eri&ans - May you (ene;t fro' o(ser"in$ how &ertain shadowy for&es &ontri"e toruthlessly ad"an&e their own ;nan&ial and ideolo$i&al o(Ge&ti"es at your expense. /hey sele&t% then $roo'%and ulti'ately &ontrol 'any of our hi$hest $o"ern'ent oH&ials. /hey plan the wars and throu$h Iforei$npoli&yI arran$e to set the sta$e for in&idents to initiate hostilities. /hey o"erwor: the word I#ea&eI to 'islead


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you and &reate a plausi(le s'o:e s&reen in order to &on&eal their real operations. ou &an re&o$niJe whoItheyI are.

2en&e% say% youn$ A'eri&ans% (e alerted - (e 'ore eKe&ti"e than 'y unsuspe&tin$ and (e'used$eneration.. +ally-forth% defend and preser"e for yourself and those who follow you our $reat herita$e of freedo' and li(erty.

-/he Author

AC?4LEDME/+

Mrs. ?atharine L. Dall% 4ashin$ton% D.C. - +pe&ialMiss l$a Butterworth% 4allin$ford% #a.4illis A. Carto% Los An$eles% Calif.. Ernest Dale% #hiladelphia% #a.Bernard R . DeRe'er% 4ashin$ton% D.C.or'an Dodd% ew or:% .. Ex-o".eor$e 2. Earle% #hiladelphia% #a.BenGa'in 2. Freed'an% ew or:% ..+to&:ton aines% Montrose% #a.Russell 2ardy% +r.% 4ashin$ton% D.C.Re". /. Ro(ert n$ra'% 2ouston% /ex.Mrs. Re(e&&a +'ith Lee% Lexin$ton% ?y.FranJ Ralston% #hiladelphia% #a.saa& Re>ua% a&:son 2ei$hts% ..

ohn +heridan% #hiladelphia% #a.Eduard 4. +ho(er% #hiladelphia% #a.4. B. 3ennard% 2ouston% /ex.4illis . 4il'ot% ew rleans% La.

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ntrodu&tion .......................................................... i 2yde #ar:-Meetin$ Fran:lin Roose"eltsFa'ily .................................................................. 11

Fran:lin D. Roose"elt% ............................. *1 4all +treet ears% .................................... *63 +u''er on the 4ar(ur$ Estate ..... .. ... .. .. . *93 /arrytow' ei$h(ors ................................ ,13 Fran:lin D. Roose"elt % ........................... ,3 Eleanor Roose"elt% Fro' a +'all #asture 13 Eleanor Roose"elt After Al(any ................. 6* /he Chi&a$o Con"entionand +enator 2uey Lon$ .......................................... 5!

=#rofessor= Felix Fran:furter ......................... 56 =Mr. Baru&h= Calls ......................................... 1 nau$uration Day-Mar&h % 19,, ................. 6 Dinner with 2enry ....................................... 93 /he C.F.R. Ad"isors Ad"ise0. +. old for Forei$ners nlyMy 4hite 2ouse 3aledi&tory Address ..................... )9

3 +ara Delano Roose"elt Ma$na Cu' Laude 953 Louis M&2. 2owe ............................................ 1!53 =/he #ani& - oe ?ennedy +old +hort=/en"essee as= Ma:es ood ..................................... 11*

3 /he =#enny /ree= .................................................. 1,! /wenty ears Later

Co''ander Earle Could 2a"e +topped t 15 My 3isit with Ad'iral ?i''el ........................ 169 /he =0nited ations= -ts /rue ri$in% Roots and Bran&hes ......................... 159

Conser"ati"es% Li(erals and Bri&:-Bats. . . 1),

i ) ntrodu&tion

(ser"e a twenty-;"e &ent &oin. ou see either the o("erse or the re"erse side. Both sides of the &oin%

howe"er% are i'portant.

Creatin$ an i'a$e% howe"er% for a spe&i;& purpose 'a:es no pretense at presentin$ (oth sides of a pi&ture%'erely one side.


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/he i'pa&t fro' the i'a$e is ai'ed at the uninfor'ed and the unsuspe&tin$% whi&h &ertainly in&luded 'e fora lon$ period of ti'e.

'a$e-'a:in$ ai's to deli(erately 'islead% &oaxin$ its "i&ti's alon$ predeter'ined paths% often intodan$erous and expensi"e areas.

t is 'y hope that the reader of this (oo: will endea"or to (ehold two sides of our ideolo$i&al and politi&alpi&ture aKe&tin$ i'portant e"ents% and ;nd the' infor'ati"e. ne side is "isi(le% one side hidden.

#eople are often ;tted with &ir&u'stan&e to &o'(ine and produ&e results for (etter or for worse.

Mu&h is re&orded in this (oo: a(out Fran:lin D. Roose"elt% his wife% his 'other% 'e'(ers of his fa'ily% andtheir entoura$e. ther well-:nown world ;$ures are dis&ussed% 'any of who' (eheld at &lose ran$e.

A nu'(er of 'y o(ser"ations 'ay surprise so'e readers. did not ha"e to resear&h. was there% as a rule%not Gust a holder of a seat up frond

2en&e% &ertain areas of this (oo: will appear to (e at "arian&e with so'e other (oo:s.

Ba&: in May of 19,,% wrote an arti&le for a ew or: 'a$aJine &alled I4all +treet and #ennsyl"ania A"enue.It des&ri(ed how felt the new De'o&rati& Ad'inistration% headed (y 'y father-in-law% re$arded 4all +treet.II had been working for some time in Wall Street % the "isi(le fountainhead of our ;nan&ial stru&ture inthis &ountry. :new it fairly well.

2owe"er% not wishin$ to write an arti&le too &riti&al of the Ad'inistration% showed it to a &lose friend of 'ine%Basil =Connor% the #residents for'er law partner% in"itin$ his &o''ents a(out it.

ii 9 IDo&I% as he was :nown to 'e% read it% and loo:in$ out the window so'ewhat thou$htfully said% ICurt%the arti&le is &ertainly >uite interestin$% (ut if you plan to sell it to a 'a$aJine% please sell it to 'e.I

/hat o(ser"ation% with no re8e&tion upon 'y (uddin$ literary talents% &learly indi&ated that he re$arded it asfar too &riti&al of the new Ad'inistration% parti&ularly &o'in$ fro' 'e% a relati"e of the Chief Exe&uti"e andan infor'ed sour&e.

+tartled% said% I:ay% Do&% if that=s your rea&tion% =4all +treet and #ennsyl"ania A"enue= will ne"er (epu(lished.I And% it wasn=t. tore it up.

/hat &on"ersation too: pla&e in Do&=s oH&e at 1*! Broadway% ew or:% thirty-three years a$o% a span of ti'e. n the interi'% nu'erous i'portant e"ents ha"e o&&urred% so'e holdin$ a deep 'eanin$ for us all.u'erous leadin$ ;$ures referred to herein ha"e passed on into the reat Beyond.

n retrospe&t we should (ear in 'ind-I4hat is #ast is #rolo$ueI - #rolo$ue for today

/he A'eri&an people are not reared and trained to (e&o'e international -'inded s&he'ers. As a result% weha"e (e&o'e the ready "i&ti's of those who ha"e (een reared and steeped in that type of trainin$. naddition% as a people% we are too in&lined to hedonis'% deeply a(sor(ed in a pro$ra' of pleasure. /oward thatend% we are (ein$ en&oura$ed and daily I'ouldedI (y our forei$n-in8uen&ed press% radio% and /3 pro$ra's.4e are en&oura$ed to (e&o'e a(sor(ed in the tri"ial% for o("ious reasons% (y dedi&ated world-planners.

Many of us are prone to feel that our politi&al status% e"en our freedo' and our li(erty in the 0.+.A. arese&ure. But% alon$ with that $reat a'ateur internationalist% 4oodrow 4ilson% we too: our perilous seat in191, on his nefarious politi&al to(o$$an% and we are now nearin$ the (otto' of that disastrous run. /hen&a'e another disastrous to(o$$an run with FDR and his su&&essors. 4here do we $o fro' hereN

Let us not fool oursel"es. /he wealth% freedo' and li(erty of the A'eri&an people are (ein$ stolen andsteadily ni((led away. /oday% as easy su&:ers% we are (uyin$ 'any o"er-pri&ed% politi&al I(ene;ts%I all paidfor% of &ourse% with our own hard-earned 'oney

4e ha"e also (een $oaded into tryin$ to run the aKairs of other nations whi&h yields a ;ne pro;t for the world'oney powers who are in-the-:now on &redits and 'ar:ets. 4hether you realiJe it or not% that has all (eenplanned for you in Gust that way.

iii 1! Further'ore% our land has (een and is (ein$ 8ooded with "ast nu'(ers of Ii'a$e 'a:in$I (oo:s%&arefully written a(out nu'erous i'portant &itiJens in pu(li& life% whi&h ai' to further &ertain lon$-ran$einternational poli&ies.

False images and "managed news," howe"er% will soon lead to the destru&tion of a free people% if weallow it. I4eI 'eans you and 'e. t is for you% pri'arily% that this (oo: has (een written.

n the Ithirties%I the i'a$e-'a:ers unveiled the word "isolationist" for their self-serving purposes% to&onfuse us. /hat word 'eans Ito set apart fro' others.I Did not our forefathers endure $reat physi&al


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An hour later% as the dan&ers swirled in a lar$e &ir&le around a $roup of sta$s standin$ &asually in the &enterof the roo'% saw Anna% the $irl who had sat a&ross the ta(le fro' 'e at dinner% dan&e (y.

+he apparently noti&ed 'e standin$ in the sta$ line and 8ashed a &ordial s'ile in 'y dire&tion. t &ertainlyre$istered% and pro'ptly stepped forward% tapped her dan&in$ partner on the shoulder and I&ut in.I /he ;rstdan&e led to a se&ond% and thus a new &hapter (e$an to unfold. t led to that spe&ial o&&asion four 'onthslater% whi&h found 'e in the ew or: oH&e of the Fidelity and Deposit Co'pany of Balti'ore in surroundin$sappropriate for their "i&e-president% Fran:lin Roose"elt.

2is nu'erous friends and for'er politi&al &onne&tions in ew or: 'ade hi' "alua(le in the (ondin$ and&asualty (usiness. /he &o'pany was headed in Balti'ore (y his friend% 3an Lear Bla&:.

Fran:lin Roose"elt=s oH&e was >uite an unusual one. ts walls were al'ost entirely &o"ered with na"alpi&tures. /his was not surprisin$% as durin$ 4orld 4ar 1% he ser"ed as Assistant +e&retary of the a"y under

osephus Daniels. +o'e of the pi&tures of na"al air&raft were of spe&ial interest to 'e (e&ause of 'y 4orld4ar ser"i&e in En$land and in Fran&e in 191) and 1919 with our 0. +. a"al A"iation For&es.

My prospe&ti"e father-in-law $reeted 'e war'ly as entered. 2e sat (ehind a lar$e des:% relaxed in a lar$e&o'forta(le leather &hair% without his le$ (ra&es.

+oon after was seated a&ross his des:% fa&in$ hi'% he ordered lun&heon for us. t was ser"ed on two trayspla&ed

1, on top of the des:. t (e$an% as re&all% with a lar$e $lass of to'ato Gui&e.

4e hit it oK splendidly. 4e were (oth in 4all +treet% and e"en thou$h we operated in diKerent ;elds there% wewere a(le to tal: shop. 2e dis&ussed 'en we (oth :new and as:ed 'e a(out 'y Go( with the (an:in$ ;r' of Leh'an Brothers% then lo&ated in the ld Far'ers Loan and /rust Co'pany Buildin$ near(y. explained that was or$aniJin$ a wholesale or syndi&ate depart'ent for the ;r'% whi&h in"ol"ed the wholesalin$ of newsto&: and (ond issues to nu'erous se&urity dealers lo&ated in "arious &ities for resale (y the' to their ownpri"ate in"estors.

2e as:ed 'e who were the partners in the ;r' and told hi'. /hen he said he re'e'(ered (oth 2er(ertLeh'an and ohn 2an&o&: fro' 4orld 4ar days in 4ashin$ton.

2a"in$ noti&ed his pi&tures of ships and planes% then steered the &on"ersation around to na"al a"iation andli$hter-than-air-&raft% and des&ri(ed to hi' an unfor$etta(le o&&asion or spe&ta&le that had witnessed inFran&e at the end of the war. /his intri$ued hi' so 'u&h that will repeat it here. t was a(out 4oodrow4ilson=s arri"al at Brest% Fran&e% in 'id-De&e'(er 191)% en route to #aris and the #ea&e Conferen&e.

/he s&ene was the har(or at Brest% &ra''ed with all 'anners of na"al &raft% ridin$ uneasily in stor' -whippedwater. Lyin$ at an&hor in the 'idst of the ships% whi&h :ept a respe&tful distan&e fro' her% was the linerIeor$e 4ashin$ton%I in (attleship $ray. n Brest the streets were o"er8owin$ with people and fro' 'anyhouses the 8a$s of the Allies snapped in the (reeJe. /he ro&:y hills a(o"e the har(or were dull (rown and&o"ered with thousands of A'eri&an soldiers% sailors and 'arines% not to 'ention the array of troops of theAllied nations asse'(led there.

/his was in honor of the arri"al in Fran&e of the #resident of the 0nited +tates. /he war Ito 'a:e the worldsafe for de'o&ra&yI was o"er. 4oodrow 4ilson was on his way to attend the #aris #ea&e Conferen&e% and theworld see'ed to (e on the threshold of a new era of pea&e. /ense was the at'osphere. Ex&ite'ent ran hi$hand pent-up e'otional feelin$s ;lled the hearts of the asse'(led troops and &i"ilians.

was an ensi$n% stationed at the 0. +. a"al Airship +tation at uipa"as a(out ei$ht 'iles fro' Brest% and hadtra"eled throu$h hea"y 'ud in order to Goin in wel&o'in$ our #resident #er&hed on a hi$h ro&: o"erloo:in$the har(or% had a ;ne "iew of the pro&eedin$s. ot far (ehind where


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e'(ellished with one lar$e or&hid. /hey paused for a 'o'ent% so'ewhat awed (y the &rowd. /hen the#resident re'o"ed his hat and (owed.

Fro' 'assed 'ilitary (ands &rashed the spine-tingling notes of I/he +tar +pan$led Banner.I t waso"erpowerin$. /ears ;lled 'y eyesO it was hard to swallow. As the ;nal stirrin$ notes died away in the (lea:%wintry air% "i(rant thou$hts 8ashed throu$h 'y 'ind-- "the land of the Free"% Ithe ho'e of the Bra"e.I t'ust always (e that way

/he rest of the s&ene was anti-&li'ax. /he (ands played other national airs and there was 'u&h salutin$ andhandsha:in$ on the platfor'. +oon the spe&ial train with its $litterin$ entoura$e puKed oK to #aris and the#ea&e Conferen&e% unaware of its ulti'ate disillusion'ent. P P P PFor a reason% whi&h did not &o'prehend until lon$ afterwards% F'#, showed great interest in this story.2e (uestioned me )losel$ a(out &ertain aspe&ts of what had seen% parti&ularly a(out people on therailwa$ platform who took part in the wel)oming )eremon$ . 0nfortunately% was not a(le to pro"idehi' with parti&ulars% sin&e was 'erely a youn$

16 ensi$n and not a&>uainted with hi$h-le"el diplo'ati& and 'ilitary persona$es.

2e did not explain his personal interest in the spe&ta&le had witnessed% and it was not until later that learned that he had played a 'inor role in the ea)e Conferen)e. /he Ieor$e 4ashin$tonI su(se>uentlyreturned to the 0nited +tates and% as Assistant +e&retary of the a"y% Fran:lin D. Roose"elt was a 'e'(er of that $roup. 2e did not return representin$ the a"y at those &ru&ial diplo'ati& sessionsO +e&retary Danielshad assi$ned Ad'iral 4illia' +. Benson to that tas:. But% he sent the Assistant +e&retary of the a"y toEurope to help &lose-up &ertain na"al esta(lish'ents% whi&h pro"ided an opportunity for FDR to $et to #arisand attend so'e of the &onferen&es. 2e 'ade the trip with his wife and others on the Ieor$e 4ashin$ton%Iin&ludin$ *ernard *aru)h% Charles +&hwa(% and the sa'e ohn 2an&o&: we had Gust (een dis&ussin$ durin$our lun&heon.

n the return "oya$e to the 0nited +tates% FDR and #resident 4ilson were (oth on the Ieor$e 4ashin$ton%Iand 'u&h to FDR=s deli$ht% #resident 4ilson in"ited hi' to his &a(in to dis&uss so'e aspe&ts of the Co"enantof the Lea$ue of ations% whi&h 4ilson was (rin$in$ ho'e to present to the +enate for possi(le appro"al. t isa 'atter of history that FDR su(se>uently (e&a'e a "o&al &ha'pion of 4ilson=s Lea$ue of ations% and histal:s with the #resident on the (oat dou(tless had 'u&h to do with for'in$ his opinion a(out it.

2owe"er% learned little of that at the ti'e of our lun&heon. 2e 'erely told 'e that when he was Assistant+e&retary of the a"y he had inspe&ted the a"al Air +tation at uipa"as and :new Co''ander Landsdowne%'y Is:ipperI% there.

/hen he said7 ICurt% :now your 0n&le eely A$new. s (e still at the Far'er=s Loan and /rust Co'panyNI

told hi' he wasO that was "ery fond of hi'O that he had in8uen&ed 'e to $o to #rin&eton. 0n&le eely wasa 'e'(er of the Class of 1)91.

FD4=s 2ar"ard (a&:$round and his :een sense of hu'or then (e&a'e apparent to 'e in his next >uestion7ICurt% er% Gust where is that &olle$e lo&atedNI

replied% &asually% that it was situated in a (u&oli& settin$ near a s'all town in ew ersey. /hen &a'e 'yturn% and added with so'e e'phasis% Iou 'ust ha"e heard of it (e&ause we send our unior 3arsity foot(alltea' to Ca'(rid$e e"ery other o"e'(er to play 2ar"ard.I

15 /hereupon% FDR% thorou$hly enGoyin$ the repartee% threw (a&: his head and roared with lau$hter.

Lun&heon o"er% departed% (ut the 'e'ory of that friendly infor'al o&&asion always re'ained a "ery happyone. preferred it to so'e of the 'ore for'al and less inti'ate 'eals later shared with FDR and nu'erous'e'(ers of the Roose"elt fa'ily.

e'phasiJe the word Ilater.I 4hen ;rst :new the'% the Fran:lin Roose"elts were as &on$enial a fa'ily$roup as one &ould 'eet. /hey were pleasant and loyal to ea&h other% friendly to people outside the fa'ily inan at'osphere of easy infor'ality. had an ex&ellent opportunity to experien&e this on 'y ;rst "isit withthe' at Mrs. a'es Roose"elt=s ho'e in 2yde #ar:.

/hat o&&asion was soon after 'et Anna at the Charity Ball. +he in"ited 'e to spend the approa&hin$ ew ears wee:end at 2yde #ar: where she was plannin$ a house party. a&&epted the in"itation with pleasureand% alon$ with so'e other friends% too: an afternoon train fro' ew or: to #ou$h:eepsie. 4e were 'et atthe railroad station (y two &ars% one of whi&h was loaded with $uests% and the other piled full of (a$$a$e%s:ates% ho&:ey sti&:s and (ul:y winter attire.

After a ;fteen 'inute dri"e% we entered a lon$ tree lined lane at the far end of whi&h was a &o''odious stoneand stu&&o house with a &olonnaded porti&o o"er the door. /he &ars pulled into a lar$e turnaround and the$uests were 'et at the front door (y Mrs. Fran:lin Roose"elt who war'ly $reeted us. +he was soon Goined (yher 'other-in-law% Mrs. Roose"elt% who in"ited us to &o'e to the lar$e li"in$ roo' for tea as soon as we


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;nished unpa&:in$.

A "ery lar$e Christ'as tree do'inated one end of the li"in$ roo'. At the other end was a lar$e ;repla&e witha roarin$ ;re. 4e $athered in front of it for tea% near the $low of &ra&:lin$ lo$s. Althou$h it was a "eryspa&ious roo'% runnin$ fro' the front to the rear of the house% it possessed an infor'al at'osphere% possi(ly(e&ause of the paneled walls and portraits on the wall.

Fran:lin Roose"elt did not appear until shortly (efore supper. All asse'(led in the dinin$ roo'% su''onedthere (y the sonorous I(on$I of a lar$e Chinese te'ple (ell% hun$ in the hall. FDR then entered seated in hiswheel &hair and too: his pla&e at one end of the lar$e ta(le. 2is 'other sat at the opposite end and his wifesat on one side% in the 'iddle. 2e was -'ost friendly and &ordial with all the youn$ people%

1 (ut &ould not help thin:in$ that his eyes had a &ertain wistful loo:. t also see'ed to 'e that% despite his(luK &ordiality% he did not feel >uite sure of hi'self. 2e was atte'ptin$ (ra"ely to sur'ount the $reatphysi&al disaster that had in&apa&itated hi' in 19*1. ad'ired his spirit

/he Roose"elt (oys were present and too: an i''ediate li:in$ to the'% althou$h they were all% with theex&eption of i''y% a (it youn$ for our $roup. /hey stayed on the ed$e of the party. i''y and Elliott wereho'e fro' roton for the Christ'as holidays% and Fran:lin and ohnny were on "a&ation fro' Bu&:ley% apri"ate s&hool whi&h they attended in ew or: City. ohnny% (ein$ Gust a :id% eyed the $uests with so'esuspi&ion% as so'ewhat stran$e &hara&ters that only his (i$ sister &ould possi(ly ;nd interestin$.

After dinner we went to the near-(y Ar&hi(ald Ro$ers ho'e. /heir ew ear=s E"e parties were fa'ous. ldMr. Ro$ers% as a host% stru&: 'e as (ein$ &old and &rusty% (ut his wife% a &lose friend of Mrs. a'es Roose"elt%was $ra&ious and friendly. +o was her son Ed'ond who had (een a (oyhood &hu' of FDR% and who wasAnna=s $odfather. Despite the &lose ties (etween the Roose"elts and the Ro$ers% FDR did not stay lon$ at thatparti&ular ew ear=s E"e party. Anna told 'e he felt &onspi&uous in his hea"y (ra&es% whi&h 'ade it hard forhi' to 'o"e a(out.

4hat his aQi&tion 'ust ha"e 'eant to hi' (e&a'e 'ore apparent to 'e the next day at &hur&h. 4eattended the +unday ser"i&e at near-(y +t. a'es= Epis&opal Chur&h where FDR was a senior warden. /he ;neold (uildin$ fas&inated 'e and was 'u&h intri$ued (y its lar$e &e'etery in the rear. /he na'es appearin$on the worn headstones read li:e a Who%" Who of the 2udson Ri"er 3alley=s leadin$ fa'ilies.

Arri"in$ early% FDR wal:ed down the aisle on his &rut&hes to a pew near the front on the left. +ittin$ dire&tly(ehind hi' that 'ornin$% had a &han&e to see exa&tly what his atta&: of polio entailed under su&h&ir&u'stan&es. t was a routine that su(se>uently saw ti'e and a$ain. Ea&h ti'e it $a"e 'e a sort of pan$%howe"er% and ne"er (e&a'e a&&usto'ed to it.

/he steel (ra&es he wore% whi&h were ;r'ly fastened to the 'iddle of his shoes% had to ha"e the Goints lo&:edat his :nees when his le$s were strai$ht% as in standin$. But when he sat down% he released the lo&:s with hishands% one at a ti'e% and this he did when he too: his pla&e in the pew in front of 'e. 2owe"er , on&e thelo&:s were released he had to re'ain seated

1) until he was ready to stand. /hen% he had to strai$hten his le$s% set the :nee lo&:s% and (e helped to hisfeet (y so'eone% then $i"en his &rut&hes% one at a ti'e. /his was an ordeal he hated% whi&h he a"oided inpu(li& as 'u&h as possi(le.

noti&ed% too% that as he sat down he had to (e helped in suita(ly handlin$ the stiK (ra&es% ha"in$ to sitaw:wardly with his le$s still stiK until the two lo&:s were released at the :nee Goints. nly then &ould headGust his sittin$ position into a nor'al &o'forta(le one and (end his le$s.

For this reason he was una(le to stand to Goin in the sin$in$ of hy'ns with the &on$re$ation% and fro' his;d$etin$% &ould see that this situation was e'(arrassin$ to hi'% thou$h he &o"ered it up with an assu'edattitude of indiKeren&e. After the ser"i&e% he waited until 'ost of the &on$re$ation had departed. /hen helo&:ed his (ra&es and helped hi' to a standin$ position and held s ar' ;r'ly until he was $i"en his&rut&hes and adGusted the'. 2e then pro&eeded "ery slowly down the aisle% under his own power.

utside the &hur&h% a few of his old friends fro' the nei$h(orhood who :new how sensiti"e he felt a(out hiswal:in$ in pu(li&% waited to $reet and &on"erse with hi'. 2is 'other% o("iously "ery popular% soon (e&a'esurrounded (y a $roup of her friends and noti&ed that her s'iles and :ind words were extended to all. Fro'the start was >uite ta:en with that wonderful lady. /o 'e% +ara Delano Roose"elt was outstandin$ a'on$ the2yde #ar: Roose"elts. P P P Pne of the &olorful e"ents of that house party wee:end% re&all% was an infor'al and hi$hly unorthodox $a'eof ho&:ey that was played on the Ar&hi(ald Ro$ers i&e pond% lo&ated halfway (etween their (aronial ho'eo"erloo:in$ the 2udson Ri"er and the ri"er itself. /he pond was entirely surrounded (y tall trees and was

a(out four a&res in area% whi&h 'ade it an ideal rin:. /he Roose"elt Itea'I% &o'prisin$ fa'ily and $uests%played the Ro$ers Itea'I and $uests. /he &aptain of the Ro$ers tea' was the "enera(le I#aI Cornin$% of thefa'ous Co'in$ lass &lan. 2e was aided (y Ed'ond Ro$ers in their tea' eKort% for I#a= was up in years%and $ot a(out the rin: in a rather $in$erly% (ut surprisin$% 'anner. 2is Jest for the $a'e was ad'ired (y all.


8/98

found 'yself &aptain of the Roose"elt tea' althou$h

19 was only fair with a ho&:ey sti&:. As the $a'e wore on% the Ro$ers tea' &learly outshone us% than:slar$ely to so'e powerful assists pro"ided for the' (y a &ouple of $uest Irin$ersI who apparently played&olle$e ho&:ey.

4hen the sun de&lined% the $irls &alled to &ease the play as it was ti'e to return ho'e. /he $irls-Anna% ?ayDou$las% 2elen Dou$las Ro(inson% Anna=s &ousin and a $reat-nie&e of /eddy Roose"elt-and others &oaxed theplayers oK the i&e. 4e headed (a&: to the (i$ ;repla&e in the Roose"elt li"in$ roo' for tea. o li>uor wasthen ser"ed at the Roose"elt ho'e (ut re&all the plentiful supply of it at the Ro$ers ew ear=s E"e party%prohi(ition to the &ontrary notwithstandin$.

n +unday afternoon% the day after ew ear=s% the house party (ro:e up. Most of us returned (y train to ew or:. was (e$innin$ to $et serious notions a(out Anna. Do'inatin$ all 'y thou$hts% in retrospe&t% was thefeelin$ that the Roose"elts were a(out the 'ost &olorful lar$e fa'ily had e"er :nown. P P P P

After 'y return to &i"ilian life fro' o"erseas ser"i&e in 4orld 4ar % went to wor: in 4all +treet for a (an:%then for se"eral in"est'ent ;r's there. Later% (e&a'e the 'ana$er of the +yndi&ate Depart'ent of Leh'anBrothers.

Althou$h ew or: was usually $ay with e"enin$ parties% /hursday ni$hts reser"ed for +>uadron IAI. /hatwas drill ni$ht for ICI /roop% a part of that well-:nown ational uard out;t. +>uadron IAI was loaded withtradition% re8e&ted in erstwhile spit-and-polish dis&ipline and $ood horse'anship. n ICI /roop% was a.#ri"ateFirst Class and after awhile (e&a'e Bu$ler of the /roop.

/here we rode horses% drilled on horses and went part way to su''er &a'p on horses. Durin$ 'u&h of thisa&ti"ity we s'elled li:e horses. /o$ether with fellow troopers% felt sure the 'ounts we were $i"en to ride (ythe $o"ern'ent had (een Idis&ardedI (y 4est #oint as too ornery.

n "iew of this situation% it was $ood strate$y for a trooper to arri"e early on drill ni$ht% so as to $et ;rst pi&:of the (est a"aila(le 'ounts. therwise% one 'i$ht end up on so'e horse8esh that would 'a:e drill ni$ht arather rou$h one.

ne f these tur(ulent 'ounts on&e $a"e 'e a ride on 69th +treet that will ne"er for$et. 4e were passin$the 2otel #laJa

*! headed west for Ca'p Dix% when 'y unruly horse% whi&h had (een pran&in$ up and down and $enerally'is(eha"in$% slipped on a steel trolley tra&: laid in the &o((lestones whi&h used to e'(ellish thatdistin$uished thorou$hfare. 2e went down on (oth front :nees% ri$ht up to his nose. went further% ri$ht o"erhis head and for an additional ten feet or so% alon$ the &o((lestones on 'y &hin. +pe&tators alon$ 69th +treet'ust ha"e (een i'pressed at that unusual perfor'an&e. n the (a&:$round and a(out 'e% &ould hear theenthusiasti& and fa'iliar &o''ents of fellow &a"alry'en% IRide hi'% /rooperI

t was an interestin$ life - (ein$ a (a&helor in the early *!=s in ew or:. /he 'ilitary a&ti"ities of +>uadronIAI were fun% parti&ularly the ;ne &o'pany pro"ided (y its fellow 'e'(ers% Roland #al'edo% Di&: La'ar&he%#ete 3oorhis% 'y &ousins% Rea A$new and ulian Ro'aine% and 'any others. /he Captain of ICI /roop% eor$eMatthews% was a ;ne oH&er. n eKe&t% he was then an oH&er of oH&ers% as 'ost of us were o"erseas oH&ers%"eterans of 4orld 4ar . Apart fro' this &on$enial 'ares world and fro' 4all +treet=s a&ti"ities% there wasthe pleasant so&ial side of ew or: - rides in an open &arria$e in Central #ar:% when es&ortin$ a $irl ho'eafter a party% nu'erous dinners and dan&es% and wee:ends in the &ountry "isitin$ &ousins. /here were 'anya&ti"ities su&h as tennis and ridin$ durin$ the su''er. n +aturdays in the fall% there were foot(all $a'eswhi&h 'eant enGoya(le trips (a&: to #rin&eton for &lass $atherin$s% to witness ex&itin$ e"ents on the $ridiron%and to 'in$le and ho(-no( with old friends.

ot lon$ after that ew ear=s 2ouse #arty% an in"itation &a'e to 'e to return to 2yde #ar:. did return% andit led to 'y lun&heon in Mar&h% 19*5 with FDR as his prospe&ti"e son-in-law.

n early une% there was a weddin$ in 2yde #ar:. ?ay Dou$las was the 'aid of honor% and her s&hool'ate%Ithe tall (londe $irlI% was the (ride.

n 19*5% politi&al 'atters interested 'e (ut little. &elie#ed what the i'portant &andidates for pu(li& oH&esaid% as reported in the press and fully expe&ted the' to &arry out their for'al state'ents and pro'ises'ade to the people in ex&han$e for their support at the polls.

/he e(( and 8ow of "arious politi&al &ross &urrents in&reased as ti'e passed. FDR :new that re$arded 4all+treet as (ein$ of pri'e i'portan&e in order for 'e to $et ahead.

*1 But% he also :new that respe&ted and fully &ooperated with hi' and his own ai's and aspirations.

At that ti'e :new nothin$ of :in$ 'a:ers or Ii'a$e 'a:ersI and their "ast powers to &ontrol people ande"ents. was &o'pletely unaware of the te&hni>ue of I'ana$edI news. n $eneral% thou$ht li:e a Repu(li&an


9/98

(ut a sense of stron$ fa'ily loyalty led 'e to shift and to Goin the ran:s of the De'o&rats. E"en so% oftenfound 'yself rather un&o'forta(le in o(ser"in$ at short ran$e the politi&al &reed of Louis 2owe% who wasFDR=s &lose politi&al ad"iser. Louis o&&upied a roo' on the top 8oor and was thorou$hly esta(lished as a;xture in FDR=s household.

&onsidered his "iews stron$ly slanted to the left. #erhaps sensed a diKeren&e (etween e&ono'i& soundnessand politi&al expedien&y.

After se"eral years of eKort% Louis $a"e up wor:in$ on 'e as a potential &on"ert to his leftist ideas% (ut hewor:ed Io"erti'eI on FDR=s wife.

+o% in spite of 'any politi&al &ross &urrents whi&h su(se>uently 'ade their appearan&e% 'y for'erfather-in-law and always shared a war' and aKe&tionate relationship. /hat=s the way it was e"en after he(e&a'e en$ulfed in the a&ti"ities of power-politi&s% &entered in the 4hite 2ouse.

n the daily &o'in$s and $oin$s of 'ost of us% the fa&tor of opportunis' plays an i'portant role. 2owe"er% ha"e always pla&ed it se&ond to loyalty and aKe&tion on fa'ily 'atters.

C2A#/ER

Fran:lin D. Roose"elt%

Mu&h has (een written a(out Fran:lin D. Roose"eltO 'u&h will (e written a(out hi'. My approa&h to thissu(Ge&t% howe"er% is a personal one and% in so'e respe&ts% uni>ue.

0sually well-:nown 'en% or their professional $host writers% when writin$ a(out FDR or a(out his wife% ha"edone so in a 'anner &arefully desi$ned to &reate a spe&i;& politi&al or ideolo$i&al i'a$e ai'ed to furtherso'e desired o(Ge&ti"e%

** will de"ote se"eral &hapters in this (oo: to FDR% a $entle'an who' (e&a'e "ery fond of as 'y thenfather-inlaw. /his was &hie8y (efore the ti'e when politi&s a$ain entered the s&ene and $radually (e&a'e ano"erpowerin$ for&e.

n this &onne&tion% do not need the i'a$e-'a:in$ tou&h of a Louis 2owe% or so'e (ri$ht 'ind fro' IMadisonA"enueI to present a pi&ture.

/wo eras are &o"ered here. /he ;rst one ended when politi&s really entered. /he se&ond one ended with FDA=ssudden death% (ut it started when his politi&al IstarI was hi$hest and then (e$an its $radual des&ent% &o'in$to a &lose at 4 +prin$s% eor$ia% in April 196.

/hen% a&&ordin$ to so'e% his al'ost e'pty &as:et Gourneyed north to 4ashin$ton and 2yde #ar: fro'eor$ia. Meanwhile% a thou$htful 2arry +. /ru'an was suddenly &alled upon to assu'e the 'antle of the&ountry=s Chief Exe&uti"e and ta:e o"er the reins of $o"ern'ent in 4ashin$ton. /hat he did with $reat di$nity.

/he two eras pertainin$ to FDR are >uite diKerentO hen&e this situation in"ol"in$ personal loyalty% (ut with&onsidera(le &on&ern% &reates an ano'aly. t should (e possi(le to (e fond of so'eone% and yet disa$ree withthat person on so'e politi&al su(Ge&ts. s that not reasona(leN /here was ne"er the sli$htest "esti$e of politi&al opportunis' in 'y feelin$s toward FDR-;rst% (e&ause a' not 'oti"ated that wayO se&ondly%(e&ause there was nothin$ of any politi&al si$ni;&an&e dis&erni(le when ;rst :new hi' that &ould ha"e(een opportunisti& a(out% e"en had (een so in&lined.

re$arded fa'ily and &ountry as &o'in$ ;rst% politi&s and power% se&ond.

t appears to 'e that politi&s is the $entle art of ha"in$ to pretend to (e so'ethin$ that you :now you arenot% for "ote&at&hin$ purposes% while (ein$ aided (y our press. /hus% (e.hind the i'a$e duly &reated% one &anoperate in the ;eld of $o"ern'ent as thou$h he is a leadin$ ;$ure in a Broadway play. /his is often the &ase.

/he theatri&al sta$e and the politi&al sta$e ha"e always held 'u&h in &o''on. n 'any respe&ts they aresi'ilar.

/he theatre% or a 2ollywood 'otion pi&ture ;l'% is desi$ned to please an audien&e and there(y in"itenu'erous ti&:et pur&hasers for &ash. A politi&al produ&tion% or i'a$e presentation% "ia a purported andwell-ad"ertised Iplatfor'I% is desi$ned to please and attra&t a lar$er Iaudien&eI% not for &ash%

*, (ut for "otes. f su&&essful% the politi&al entrepreneurs% (y 'eans of a few Isu$$estedI le$islati"e (illsloudly pro&lai'ed to (e in the pu(li& interest% of &ourse ;nd ways to a'ply reward the'sel"es and theirleadin$ a&tors. 0sually% &arefully s&reened leadin$ Ia&torsI are pi&:ed well in ad"an&e of ele&tion day (y a

s'all $roup% pi&:ed for &oth 'a(or partie"$ there(y redu&in$ the pro'otional ris: to Gust a(out Jero.

n the politi&al sta$e% one 'ust (e $roo'ed (y I(a&:ersI to (e&o'e a Istates'an.I t is desira(le for su&h a&andidate to ha"e $reat per"onal a'&ition and% per&han&e% to (e #)lnera&le to &la*+'ail for so'e pasto&&urren&esO hen&e% so'eone not apt to (e&o'e too independent in ti'e% (ut always a'ena(le to


10/98

Isu$$estionsI on the poli&y le"el. /hus% with ta&t and extended eKort% alon$ with a'ena(ility% one 'i$ht(e&o'e a states'an.

n due &ourse% Fran:lin Roose"elt (e&a'e a talented% super IBarry'oreI on the politi&al sta$e% as he was>uite willin$ to da((le his toe in the waters of politi&al expedien&y% e"en politi&al indis&retion% to se&ure the&arefully 'uQed applause of his (a&:ers. 0ndou(tedly% FDR felt that he &ould always $et hi'self (a&: Itoshore - (oth hi'self and his followers n his esti'ate of that situation% howe"er% he failed. 0sin$ foot(allter's% oe +talin ran to our IoutsideI at will. 2e often ran ri$ht up the 'iddle to s&orel For "aried reasons%'any of our top 'en on the diplo'ati& playin$ ;eld in 4ashin$ton 'erely 8ex their 'us&les in a sort of &on"entional Iwar'-upI operation. n referen&e to oe +talin% (ear in 'ind that he and his fellow +o"iets areonly one phase of that Iwar'-upI operation. t is extended into the ;eld of international (an:in$% e&ono'i&s%edu&ation and to our so-&alled Forei$n poli&y% spelled with a *apital ,F,. /here is no dou(t% fellow &itiJen%a(out its (ein$ IForei$nI in 8a"or.

t is needless for 'e to say% in adherin$ to 'y old-fashioned &on&ept of fa'ily and &ountry ;rst% &a'e out"e*ond.

2owe"er% there were two i'portant and two distin$uished 'e'(ers of the Roose"elt &lan who a$reed withthat feelin$ of 'ine. ne was +ara Delano Roose"elt% who was >uite i'portantO the se&ond was &ousin 2enry#arish% of ew or:. t was in his house that his nie&e% Eleanor Roose"elt% was 'arried.

n 'any respe&ts% FDR was &learly the hi$hly pu(li&iJed politi&al ILead 2orse.I But he was not the IDri"erI of the politi&al &on"eyan&e% the 'an who held the reins and &ra&:ed the whip. 2e 'i$ht (e suita(ly des&ri(edas the lon$-ran$e

* I$unI% the a''unition for whi&h was duly pro"ided (y IothersI . . . (y the &lose ad"isers% in&ludin$ hiswife% and (y so'e Coun&il on Forei$n Relations leaders.

/he 'atter whi&h ha"e Gust tou&hed upon &ould easily (e&o'e the sole topi& for the rest of this (oo:. t is'y endea"or% -howe"er% to write (rie8y a(out so'e 'atters of pu(li& interest% and to enlar$e upon &ertain of these the'es on another o&&asion.

n the ;rst era% :new Fran:lin Roose"elt in the su&&essi"e roles of a&>uaintan&e% friend% father-in-law%o"ernor% and then% #resident-an exploited one. n the se&ond era% he was #resident of the 0nited +tates andsoon (e&a'e a leadin$ ;$ure in world politi&al aKairs% hea"ily in8uen&ed and $uided (y his ad"isers.

t is interestin$ to &onGe&ture Gust to what extent% in that ;nal role% he e"en (e&a'e an ideolo$i&al andpoliti&al prisoner% trapped% as it were. For hi'% there appeared no retreat 2e (owed to all re>uire'ents of oH&e that apparently pree'pted all spheres of a&ti"ity% in&ludin$ e"en his health. 2e was $reatlyhandi&apped in 'o"in$ a(out nor'ally% as we :now% (e&ause of the aftereKe&t of his polio atta&:. /herefore%he was readily a&&essi(le to people and plants in the 4hite 2ouse and to &lose-at-hand politi&al in8uen&esthat too: ad"anta$e of his i''o(ility.

E"en in the se&ond era to whi&h ha"e referred% 'y feelin$ of personal aKe&tion for hi'% in pri"ate life% lastedto the end% in spite of 'y dis'ay in o(ser"in$ so'e of the disastrous poli&ies that ste''ed fro' the 4hite2ouse - disastrous as "iewed the'% for the (est interests of this &ountry. /he deep &on&ern that 'anyA'eri&ans feel in re"iewin$ so'e of these poli&ies and in suKerin$ fro' their aftereKe&ts% fully share. /hereis the ano'alyl /o 'e% this 0nited +tates of A'eri&a and its future is 'o"t i'portant For 'e% era twoappeared as thou$h were (eholdin$ dra'a% an extended politi&al tra$edy. +o it has pro"ed to (e% in 'anyrespe&ts. +o it will &ontinue% until our $o"ern'ent poli&ies in 4ashin$ton are &han$ed and so"erei$n &itiJensre&apture it% (y le$al 'eans% for the (ene;t of all A'eri&ans% and not for a few powerful 'oney 'ana$ers.

*6 CHA!# III

Wall Street +ears, I

n 19*% went to wor: for Leh'an Brothers% than:s to an introdu&tion (y an old friend% Roland #al'edo. /he;r' was then &o'posed of IMr. #hilipI% IMr. ArthurI% and IMr. 2er(ertIO then &a'e 2arold% Allen% Ro(ert theson of IMr. #hilipI% Monroe ut'an and ohn 2an&o&:. /he ;r'% to$ether with the ;r' of old'an% +a&hs%had underwritten and distri(uted the preferred and &o''on sto&:s of 'any of the &ountry=s leadin$industrial &o'panies. 0sually old'an% +a&hs did the syndi&atin$ of the issues.

2owe"er% new fa&es were then appearin$ in (oth ;r's. +ydney 4ein(ur$ was syndi&ate 'ana$er forIold'anI% and (e&a'e syndi&ate 'ana$er for ILeh'an.I /he two ;r's were 'erely 'ildly &o'petiti"e(e&ause of the &lose relationship that had existed (etween the' for 'any years.

+ydney was youn$% a(le% "ery ener$eti&% and on his way up% soon to (e&o'e a partner in his ;r'. 4e (e&a'efriends and thou$ht his o(ser"ations were always interestin$ and to-the-point. nly on&e did we e"er &lasho"er the syndi&atin$ details of an oKerin$.

+e"eral years later% a(out 19,% at an annual Ioutin$I of the Bond Clu(% held at /he +leepy 2ollow Country


11/98

Clu(% in /arrytown% ew or:% +ydney pulled >uite a Go:e on 'et. As usual% there was the all -day $olf &o'petition% with the sweepsta:es% et&.% tennis% and se"eral &arni"al-type $a'es and 'ild a&ti"ities forlate-&o'ers. n the lawn outside was a tent where refresh'ents were ser"ed. Dinner in the e"enin$ &appedthe day=s pro$ra'.

At that ti'e% the Ad'inistration in 4ashin$ton was not too popular in 4all +treet (e&ause of its stern attitudetowards (usiness% at least so expressed on the surfa&e for politi&al eKe&t= t appeared that for the dart $a'e% one of the popular &arni"al-type attra&tions% so'e (ri$ht 'ind on theentertain'ent &o''ittee ha &o'e up with a lar$e &ari&ature of FDR

*5 with li"ely &o''ents added. /his pi&ture was pla&ed near the dart $a'e. happened to (e lined upawaitin$ 'y turnthree throws fro' ;fteen feet% for a priJe. ut of the &o'er of eye% (y &han&e% saw +ydney.2e was $rinnin$ at 'e% and see'ed to (e rather (usy at so'ethin$. ;nished 'y eKort with the darts withso'e &lose hits% (ut no (ull=s-eye. As re&all% +ydney approa&hed and said% ICurtis% want to show youso'ethin$.I

said% I4hatNI

I2ere% loo: o"er hereI% and he pointed to the lar$e pi&ture of FDR.

ICan you see that printin$NI +till lau$hin$% he said% I/here.I As (ent forward% out popped a photo$rapherfro' nowhere who snapped a pi&ture of 'e% a'idst 'u&h hilarity

/hat pi&ture appeared in Life 'a$aJine in a pi&torial series a(out the Bond Clu( utin$% whi&h in&luded aphoto of +ydney throwin$ darts at Fati'a% a &olorful lady% and one showin$ the I(oo(yI priJe in the tennistourna'ent - a deodoriJed s:un:.

n re&ent years ha"e read with interest a(out +ydney=s &ontinued and outstandin$ su&&esses in 4all +treet2e is undou(tedly one of the world=s 'ost in8uential (an:ers. n the 0. +. he has (e&o'e a $reatI(ehind-the-s&eneI politi&al power for (oth 'aGor parties.

After had (een wor:in$ for Leh'an Brothers for a while% (e$an to :now the partners% espe&ially theyoun$er ones. 2arold and had (e&o'e "ery &lose friends% parti&ularly after 'o"ed to orth /arrytown. 2eli"ed at /arrytown. /here a&>uired so'e land on the northwestern (an: of La:e #o&anti&o% and (uilt a houseo"erloo:in$ the la:e. was Gust half a 'ile fro' where 'y oldest friend ohn 4a&: li"ed with his &har'in$wife% Ethel. A&ross the la:e was the "ery lar$e estate of ohn D. Ro&:efeller and his son Iohn D.% r.

n 'any wee:ends in the late fall and winter% 2arold Leh'an and played s>uash ra&:ets on the &ourt at hisho'e in /arrytown. 2e and his wife Ce&ile were $reat &o'panyl 2arold wor:ed hard and played hard. 2eplayed (oth hand(all and s>uash ra&:ets and he s'o:ed a $reat 'any ;ne &i$ars. 2arold would ha"e ahandful of these &i$ars (rou$ht out on a tray fro' a spe&ial hu'idor% at the &lose of a 'eal. /hey were reallyterri;&

t is sad indeed to relate that 2arold so'ehow &ontra&ted pneu'onia% and when it appeared that he wasal'ost entirely o"er the atta&:% he suddenly passed away% 'ost pre'aturely. /his e"ent was a deep personalloss.

* IMr. 2er(ertI% a 4illia's Colle$e 'an% was older than 2arold who had $one to Cornell. My relationshipwith the for'er was 'ost &ordial and friendly% (ut% naturally% 'ore for'al. 2e had :nown FDR in 4ashin$ton%(ut only sli$htly% as had ohn 2an&o&:% then a Gunior partner% who had ser"ed in the a"y durin$ 4orld 4ar 1.

had 'et so'e people with who' FDR had (e&o'e in"ol"ed in (usiness deals in 4all +treet who did noto"erly i'press 'e. IMr. 2er(ertI% felt% was a solid and sound (an:er% and (e&a'e deter'ined to (rin$ hi'and FDR to$ether in the hope that in so'e way they would (e&o'e 'utually helpful% :nowin$ they (oth hadan interest in politi&s.

t was >uite diH&ult for FDR to $et a(out (e&ause of his hea"y le$ (ra&es and% on so'e o&&asions% his&rut&hes. 2owe"er% his exer&ises and swi''in$ were i'pro"in$ his wal:in$ a(ility. /he wheel &hair was (ein$$radually rele$ated to the (a&:$round.

n nu'erous o&&asions too: pains to extol to FDR and IMr. 2er(ertI% separately% of &ourse% their respe&ti"e"irtues and a(ilities and to set up 'eetin$s to (rin$ the' &loser to$ether.

2en&e% Ifro' a s'all (e$innin$ the (usiness $rewI% referrin$ to 'y Iseed-t(ou$htI in respe&t to the two'en-FDR and 2er(ert Leh'an. Later% IMr. 2er(ertI (e&a'e FDR=s Istron$ ri$ht ar'I in the ew or: politi&alarena. My eKorts (e&a'e fruitful for (oth 'en.

My syndi&ate depart'ent also $rew and expanded. Apparently% the partners were well satis;ed with theresults a&hie"ed.

Around 19*% Frederi&: 4ar(ur$ Goined the $roup at Leh'an Brothers. t was duly stated that he was Ion


12/98

loanI% as it were% fro' ?uhn% Loe(. 4e :new ea&h other well% (oth fro' 4all +treet &onta&ts and fro'(u'pin$ into ea&h other fre>uently on the sta$ line at so'e of the seasonal dan&es uptown% as he was 'ostpopular. E"eryone &alled hi' IFreddy.I

Freddy=s spi&y - and deli$htful sense of hu'or was well:nown all around the Istreet.I "iewed his &o'in$ toLeh'an Brothers with $reat pleasure. 2e wor:ed dire&tly with the partners on "arious tas:s.

/he years S*-=*)-S*9 &ontinued with 'any ex&itin$ days in 4all +treet. /he followin$ years of =,!--T,1-T,*-*,, were full of $ruellin$% hard% uphill wor:% with 'any heada&hes. n 19*% =*) and =*9 therewere 'any new oKerin$s of (ond and sto&: issues and was "ery (usy.

+o'eti'es (efore the a&tual date of a pu(li& issue% our

*) oKerin$ would sell at a one or two point pre'iu' o"er the oKerin$ pri&e% in the o"er-the-&ounter 'ar:ets%on a Iwhen issuedI (asis. 2en&e% on su&h issues% the s&ra'(le for a parti&ipation (y 'any in"est'ent housesfro' Iall o"erI was >uite a$$ressi"e and persistent. Allo&ation of a reasona(le and nor'al parti&ipation wasfre>uently >uite diH&ult aturally% all the dealers wanted a lot of IfastI issues% and then ad"an&ed 'anyplausi(le reasons why they did not want to parti&ipate in the IslowI ones.

I#resentsI &reate a pro(le' in "arious wal:s of life% as how to handle the 'atter &orre&tly.

My ;rst IpresentI &a'e to 'e when we were puttin$ out the lar$e ?ro$er ro&ery and Ba:in$ Co'pany&o''on sto&: issue. Bein$ a ;ne &o'pany and ri$htly pri&ed% the issue was sellin$ IupI% on a when-issued(asis% se"eral days (efore the a&tual oKerin$ was 'ade.

nto 'y oH&e one 'ornin$ (y Ispe&ial deli"eryI &a'e a lon$% hea"y pa&:a$e fro' hio. t was fro' awell-:nown dealer there% (ut one not re$ularly on our list. t was a set of 'at&hed irons and three woods. A;ne set of $olf &lu(s

went downstairs to see 2arold% found hi'% and said% I2arold% ="e Gust re&ei"ed a ;ne set of $olf &lu(s fro'so-and-so in hio. /hey want a lot of ?ro$er. 4hat will doN +end the' (a&:NI

2arold loo:ed at 'e% $rinned% and said% I?eep the'. Let=s not in&rease the siJe of their parti&ipation% howe"er.lad you 'entioned it.I +o% :ept the set. /he issue went o"er with a (an$

Another present re&ei"ed later on had 'u&h 'ore of a politi&al rin$ to it and (e&a'e dire&tly responsi(le for=/he Battle of the ellow Roo'I% in the 4hite 2ouse on nau$uration Day% 19,,. t will (e further des&ri(ed ina later &hapter. n that o&&asion 'y present was a &ase of +&ot&h 4his:eyat a ti'e when all of us had (eenstru$$lin$ for lon$ in the I+aharaI of prohi(ition /his &ase was deli"ered to 'e% personally% in the 4hite2ouse (efore the alert noses of the +e&ret +er"i&e (oys (y an i'portant ew or:er% who arri"ed at the 4hite2ouse (y taxi around noon of Mar&h % 19,,% loo:in$ for 'e. /he IpresentI% o("ious as to the nature of its&ontents% &reated &onsidera(le lo&al interest. than:ed the donor% told hi' unfortunately had no politi&alin8uen&e whatsoe"er% (ut in"ited hi' to &o'e (a&: to the Iellow Roo'I around ,7,! with so'e of hisfriends to sa'ple his Ipresent.I /hat he did.

*9 /he tas: of handlin$ the 'ountin$ "olu'e of new oKerin$s of se&urities &reated new pro(le's for the;r'. was $i"en a pro'otion to relie"e so'e of the added (urdens whi&h had fallen upon the partners -&hie8yupon 2arold and Allen. All of the ;r'=s se&urities% in&ludin$ &usto'ers and new issues% had to (e &ountedea&h 'ornin$ and &he&:ed with a &ontrol sheet% then ta:en fro' the "ault at 16 Broad +treet to the oH&eunder $uard. At ni$ht% they had to (e &he&:ed and returned to the "ault under $uard. ften there were 'any'illions of dollars of ne$otia(le se&urities to loo: after. A &ount was ne&essary% of &ourse% (ut tedious.

Freddy 4ar(ur$ was often a"aila(le to help 'e% and 'any were the hours that we spent to$ether% deep downunder 16 Broad +treet in the "ault

/he &hief $uard% a ;ne% (i$ rish'an na'ed Courtney% had a $reat sense of hu'or that in a way was a&hallen$e to Freddy=s. 4e 'ana$ed to &reate and enGoy >uite a few lau$hs /his helped enli"en the &ountin$pro&edure in the "ault. 4e &o"ered a lot of so&ial ite's% fou$ht the war% et&. Freddy was >uite ta:en with thephono$raph re&ord% I/he /wo Bla&: CrowsI% then in "o$ue. 2e was "ery 'u&h a'used (y its lines.

ne interestin$ ane&dote he des&ri(ed to 'e too: pla&e at the &lose of 4orld 4ar 1% in o"e'(er 191). tsee's his un&le% Max 4ar(ur$% of 2a'(ur$% er'any% had (een one of the ?aiser=s top +e&ret +er"i&e 'en. twas he who arran$ed for the ;rst sealed train after the Ar'isti&e to pass throu$h er'any% &arryin$ to

/rots:y in Russia U6!!%!!! in $old. /his see'ed to 'e% at the ti'e% to (e a lot of $old to send to /rots:y% or toany one 'an 2owe"er% Russia% in 'y 'ind% "as then far away.

CHA!# I

Summer on the Warburg state

+o'eti'es the su''er weather in ew or: $ets "ery war'. ne day in the "ault% was $rousin$ a(out the


13/98

heat in ew or: with Freddy 4ar(ur$ and he said to 'e% I4hy dont you &o'e up to our pla&e and rent=DandruK-on-the-?no(=

,! for the rest of the su''errN replied% I4hat=s thatNI IhI% he said lau$hin$% It=s a s'all house on ourpla&eO it=s on a hill. 2ow=s that for a na'eNI replied% IA swell na'e Let=s play tennis this afternoon and thensee the house.I After tennis% we "isited the house that e"enin$ and rented it on the spot for the su''er.

ften in the late afternoon% (efore supper% there was lots of tennisO so'eti'es would win% so'eti'es Freddywould. 4e were "ery e"enly 'at&hed. +o'eti'es we would play as a dou(les tea' a$ainst other "isitors whowere nu'erous.

Vuite fre>uently% would play tennis with #er&y Dou$las on his &ourt o"er at 2astin$s. 4e had 'any a spirited'at&h there.

n&e in awhile% Mrs. Felix 4ar(ur$% Freddy=s 'other% who was a 'ost &har'in$ hostess% extended anin"itation to us to attend one of their lar$e +unday noon $atherin$s. re'e'(er one o&&asion "ery distin&tly.

/here were a doJen or so people $athered in a lar$e roo'% in&ludin$ so'e &ousins and Fred=s 0n&le #aul4ar(ur$. /he latter had (een the &hief ar&hite&t for a (an:in$ (ill whi&h% in 191,% (e&a'e :nown as theFederal Reser"e A&t% when si$ned (y #resident 4ilson% Gust (efore Christ'as.

Althou$h Felix 4ar(ur$ was war' and friendly% a ;ne host% thou$ht his (rother #aul see'ed >uite austereand re'ained al'ost aloof. re&all hi' distin&tly% as he sat in a lar$e &hair on the far ed$e of the&on"ersational% so'ewhat noisy $roup $athered (efore dinner was ser"ed.

As usual% that was the ti'e for so'e 'usi&% and on that parti&ular o&&asion Mrs. 4ar(ur$ spo:e to one of her$uests% sittin$ next to her% a rather shy youn$ 'an% and as:ed hi' if he would play a pie&e of 'usi& that hehad Gust &o'posed. t was >uite o("ious to 'e that he would ha"e 'u&h preferred not to do so. But% in theew or: 'usi&al world at that ti'e% a re>uest fro' her to play or sin$ was so'ethin$ a:in to a re>uest&o'in$ down fro' IMount ly'pusI% or so'ethin$ li:e I/he #resident is &allin$ you on the phone.I +o theyoun$ 'an duly o(li$ed% sat down at the piano and eor$e ershwin played his super( new IRhapsody inBlueI for the asse'(led $roup.

ne +aturday afternoon in that su''er of 19*)% had (een playin$ tennis at the ho'e of 'y un&le% CorneliusA$new% at near(y Ar'on:. 4e were always "ery &lose and 'y &ousins% Rea% Donald and +anford% and theirsister% Ali&e% were li:e (rothers and sister to 'e. n eKe&t% we $rew up to$ether.

,1 /here was a $roup of a(out ei$ht or ten of us at Ar'ent playin$ dou(les and 'ixed dou(les. /he afternoonhad (een 'ost enGoya(le

returned to IDandruK-on-the-?no(I Gust (efore supper and there on the 'antel in the house was a tele$ra'fro' 4ar' +prin$s% eor$ia.

t read as follows7 I+o'e people here want 'e to run for o"ernor of ew or: this fall. 4hat do you thin:a(out itN #lease wire. Lo"e% FDR.I

After so'e dis&ussion% a reply was sent to hi' at 4ar' +prin$s as follows7 IRe&ei"ed your 'ost interestin$wire. /hin: it is a $reat idea. Belie"e you will win. 4ill do e"erythin$ possi(le to help you and the &ause.I

n the followin$ day% fro' 4ar' +prin$s another wire arri"ed fro' FDR% readin$7 Iour wire re&ei"ed. ouou$ht to (e span:ed.I

/his se&ond 'essa$e% howe"er% showed that he was hi$hly pleased with the war' support anden&oura$e'ent indi&ated.

/hat su''er spent on Freddys fa'ily estate was a 'ost enGoya(le one.

Before lon$% ru'(lin$s of the approa&hin$ $u(ernatorial &ontest (e$an to in&rease in "olu'e as the lea"es(e$an to turn.

CHA!#

/arrytown ei$h(ors

Down a steep slope fro' 'y ho'e and a&ross La:e #o&anti&o% lay the "ast estate of ohn D. Ro&:efeller andhis lar$e fa'ily. t was a (eautiful (it of rollin$ 4est&hester County% se"eral thousand a&res of it.

Fro' 'y lawn% &ould o"erloo: the western portion of it% and &at&h a $li'pse of the 2udson Ri"er% as it 8owed(y /arrytown% on its way past the har(or of ew or: to the Atlanti&.

had no i''ediate nei$h(ors. /he &losest ones were ohn and Ethel 4a&:% and Ethel=s deli$htful 'other% Mrs.Bar:sdale. +he was the sister of Cole'an Du #ont% the leader of the fa'ous Du #ont &lan of 4il'in$ton.


14/98

,* t=s a fair state'ent to 'a:e that% in 19*9% found 'yself &o'pletely surrounded (y pro'inent nei$h(ors.

My house was a new one% and it was fun ;xin$ it up and wor:in$ on the $rounds. /here were (i$ ro&:s and talltrees extendin$ for a(out a >uarter of a 'ile alon$ the la:e shore. n the la:e=s upper rea&hes% there was&onsidera(le wildlife. Many pheasants li"ed in the area and wild du&:s% in season% &a'e and went. n thesu''erti'e there were herons of "aried siJe. +o'e enterprisin$ (ea"ers appeared% until the state a'eDepart'ent (ro:e up their da'. n the early fall% ea$les o&&asionally $lided down fro' the north and wouldoften soar a(o"e the upper la:e% in hi$h &ir&les% see'in$ly 'otionless. t was a lo"ely &ountryside

was runnin$ (a&: and forth% seein$ ohn and Ethel. ohn and had (een insepara(le for years% ha"in$ (een(oys in (oardin$ s&hool to$ether% and later% when we &ould s&rape up the ne&essary fonds% we would $odu&:-shootin$. Ea&h shootin$ trip% so'ehow% turned out to (e a real Io&&asionI whi&h was tal:ed o"er ando"er - se"eral were ne"er-to-(e-for$otten e"ents

ne trip in that &ate$ory too: pla&e on a +aturday 'ornin$ in a 'arsh se"eral 'iles fro' #rin&eton% ew ersey. ohn and arri"ed in the 'arsh so'ewhat late for the 'ornin$ 8i$ht. ne du&:% howe"er% soon 8ashed(y at hi$h speed and% thin:in$ it was a fast-8yin$ teal% $a"e it a lon$ lead and let $o. Down it &a'e and weretrie"ed it. /o 'y dis'ay% when pi&:ed up the du&:% it was net a teal% (ut a wood du&:% >uite ille$al to shootat the ti'e.

/he 'ornin$ 8i$ht of du&:s% a (rief one at (est% was soon o"er% so we started (a&: to town% hopin$ to 8ush apheasant. After $oin$ a short distan&e% we &a'e out on the ed$e of the 'arsh and the (e$innin$ of a lar$e;eld.

0p ahead a(out forty yards% so'ethin$ 'o"ed on the $round in the low (ushes and it &au$ht 'y eye.

Iohn% whats that NI said% pointin$. 2e too: a "ery lon$ loo: and said% It loo:s li:e a (i$ roosterI

pro&eeded ahead% &autiously. ohn=s expert ad"i&e te 'e was duly &on"eyed in a hoarse whisper7 I+tal: hi'li:e a 'ooseI

/hat did% and after &o"erin$ a(out twenty yards or so% raised up and% sure enou$h% ahead of 'e was a "erylar$e rooster% far fro' ho'e. 2e saw 'e and at on&e too: oK for when&e he &a'e% rou$hly half a 'ile away%(ut he ne"er 'ade it

,, /hat e"enin$% ohn and % &ool and &o'forta(le in the well fre>uented #rin&eton IFren&h RestaurantI% satdown to a su'ptuous 'eal% featurin$ #oulet a la IMooseI% real Fren&h (read% a (ottle of white wine% ail thetri''in$s% and the ter'% Istal: hi' li:e a 'ooseI% thereafter (e&a'e a (yword

Another +aturday of du&:-shootin$ with ohn will always lin$er in 'y 'ind. /his one too: pla&e on the reat+outh Bay% Lon$ sland.

2e had in"ited his newly a&>uired (rother-in-law% Donaldson Brown% fro' 4il'in$ton% to $o du&:-shootin$with us oK Bellport. t was shootin$ (la&: du&:s fro' a (attery. /his 'ost un&ertain and un&o'forta(le&ontraption is li:e a "ery shallow (ath tu(% with &an"as aprons on the front and rear% extendin$ far out intothe water. ts ed$es are wei$hted down with hea"y iron de&oy du&:s% so as to put the o&&upant ri$ht on thele"el with the surroundin$ water% for the ut'ost in &on&eal'ent. Many wooden de&oys are pla&ed all a(out it.4hen a 8o&: of du&:s passes o"er% the o&&upant of the (attery raises up to shoot. n rou$h% &old days% whenthe shootin$ is $enerally at its (est% a (attery &an (e "ery wo((ly and also a little wet.

Don Brown was a "ery i'portant (usiness'an in 4il'in$ton% and shortly thereafter (e&a'e one of the topexe&uti"es of the eneral Motors Corporation.

2e a&&epted our in"itation% and the three of us duly arri"ed at Bellport% went to a near(y shore front inn and&han$ed into our shootin$ to$s. 4e (oarded the $uide=s lar$e huntin$ and ;shin$ 'otor(oat% with thefa'iliar row(oat tied astern whi&h was &o'pletely loaded with wooden de&oys% plus the (attery (ox.

4e pro&eeded east% a 'ile or so% into wide water on the 8y-way% and dropped an&hor. For lun&heon% we hadso'e sandwi&hes and &oKee in the s'all &a(in of the (oat.

t was a little early for the 8i$ht% (ut the $uide left us to set up the (attery a(out 6!! yards pla&in$ thewooden de&oys all a(out it. t was a one-'an (attery% so we drew straws for our turn% and Don &a'e last.

/hat was ;ne% we felt% (e&ause he was the $uestO usually the shootin$ Gust (efore sunset was 'ost li"ely.

ohn and too: our turns with fair lu&:% and then &a'e Don=s turn.

hadnt noti&ed Don=s shootin$ out;t% had ne"er e"en $i"en it a thou$ht% (ut re&alled that he did say hehadn=t (een du&:shootin$ "ery often.

, 2e had on a hi$h% stiK &ollar under his huntin$ &oat and on his head was a (la&: der(y hat. /a&tfully%


15/98

oKered hi' 'y shootin$ &ap. Io% than:sI% he said% Ill wear 'y hatI. 4ear it% he did

ur $uide or ICaptainI% a 'an with who' ohn and had shot (efore% was our friend. 2e was a typi&al(ay'an% and therefore% >uite an independent &hara&ter with a de;nite 'ind of (is own. 2e loo:ed at Donsder(y with a'aJe'ent and started to say so'ethin$ to hi' a(out it% (ut 'ana$ed to &he&: hi' with ati'ely nud$e.

4e pla&ed Don in the (attery% with so'e diH&ulty% and then 'o"ed oK IleewardI a(out one >uarter of a 'ile% Gust far enou$h away so as not to distur( the 8i$ht of du&:s% and wat&hed.

/he wind had pi&:ed up &onsidera(lyO the afternoon sun was (e$innin$ to sin: in the west #erfe&t weather /he sin$le 8yin$ du&:s whi&h had pre"iously fa"ored 'e now (e&a'e Istrin$sI% and then 8o&:s (e$an totrade a(out the (ay fro' all dire&tions.

said to ohn% IBoy% Don is really sittin$ prettyI /o 'y surprise% the Captain said% in a rather 8at "oi&e% I=ll say he isIot one shot fro' the (attery had we heard. Du&:s were really 8yin$. +till not one shot

ohn then loo:ed out and said% IoshI loo:ed out the &a(in door >ui&:ly and (eheld the unfor$etta(le spe&ta&le 0nfor$etta(le .

Du&:s would approa&h Don=s (attery and then suddenly 8are% 'a:in$ sharp% e"asi"e turns% 8yin$ past it asthou$h they s'elled so'ethin$ 'ost unpleasant. /hey didn=t% (ut they saw so'ethin$ 'ost unusual% if not>uite unpre&edented

n the (attery% 'ore than a foot a(o"e the le"el of the water% loo'ed so'ethin$ de&idedly (la&: in the "ery&enter of the de&oys. t loo:ed li:e a &hannel 'ar:er% (ut it wasn=tO it was Don=s (la&: der(y (at% &learly"isi(le for 'ore than half a 'ile +till not a shot was ;red. ohn and $lan&ed at ea&h other% rather uneasilyOthen he said% ICaptain% thin: we had (etter pull up and pi&: up Mr. Brown.I /(at we did Later% we di"idedour du&:s three ways . . .

/he Inew loo:I had &ertainly arri"ed that afternoon in Bellport for (attery shootin$. 2owe"er i'portant ItheDer(yI 'i$ht (e in ?entu&:y% it was not held in exa&tly the &ate$ory out on the reat +outh Bay for (la&:du&:s.

ohn su$$ested the addition of a red feather in the der(y%

,6 next ti'e% for (etter &on&eal'ent. su$$ested tippin$ oK A(er&ro'(ie < Fit&h to add the new ite'% aton&e% to their du&:shooters= &lothin$ :it% as optional e>uip'ent.

n one side of 'y pla&e at orth /arrytown were the re'ains of an old stone >uarry. /here were lots of natural stone and $ra"el still s&attered all a(out. t was indeed a "ery rou$h-loo:in$ four or ;"e a&res.Be&ause of it &a'e 'y ;rst &onta&t with one of the nu'erous 'e'(ers of the near(y Ro&:efeller fa'ily. twas with ohn D. Ro&:efeller% r.

ne day% a 'an fro' his estate &alled% and said he had &o'e to see 'e% at the re>uest of Mr. Ro&:efeller% r.

2e wanted to :now if he &ould ha"e so'e of the stone fro' the old >uarry% to use in (uildin$ so'e roads onthe Ro&:efeller estate. f were a$reea(le% he would ta:e what he needed for the roads% and then ha"e therou$h area around the >uarry ni&ely s'oothed o"er.

said that would (e deli$hted to $i"e hi' all the stone he 'i$ht desire and to Ihelp hi'self.I

2e did so% and a lot of stone was ta:en to #o&anti&o 2ills. 4hen the road (uildin$ operation was &o'pleted% re&ei"ed a "ery ni&e letter fro' Mr. Ro&:efeller and in turn% he ;xed up the old >uarry site.

n the 'eanwhile% had $otten to :now elson and ohn% . /he latter was then a student at #rin&eton.&&asionally% elson would in"ite 'e o"er for tennis% whi&h was always fun elson was full of enthusias'and "ery a&ti"e.

n one o&&asion% after tennis% elson as:ed 'e if Anna and would &o'e for dinner a few days later% atIrandfather=s.I a&&epted% and re&all it was for a +aturday e"enin$. had ne"er 'et Mr. Ro&:efeller% +r.% thefa'ous Iohn D.I and was "ery 'u&h pleased to ha"e the opportunity to do so as so 'u&h had (e written onhi'. /herefore loo:ed forward to the o&&asion.

4e arri"ed pro'ptly% and pro&eeded up to the I(i$ houseI% hi$h on a (ill o"erloo:in$ his son=s (ouse and the2udson Ri"er.

/here were a(out a doJen people who had (een in"ited to dinner. /o 'y surprise% found 'yself pla&ed on theold $entle'an=s ri$ht at the ta(le.

/he dinner pro&eeded "ery pleasantly. found Mr. Ro&:efeller extre'ely alert and tal:ati"e% 'u&h 'ore so


16/98

than expe&ted hi' to (e% (e&ause he was then well ad"an&ed in years.

,5 2e &on"ersed freely% and see'ed to $reatly enGoy listenin$ to the near(y &on"ersation.

was >uite a'aJed at his eyes. /hey were :eenO (rilliant% in fa&tO an unusual shade of (lue. ne &ould noteasily for$et the'. 2e was rather thin.

After dessert% he 'ade a 'otion with his hand to the (utler% who understood the si$nal. /he latterdisappeared and soon returned with so'e s'all (oards whi&h were pla&ed (efore ea&h person at the ta(le.Apparently% it was for a fa"orite $a'e of Mr. Ro&:efeller. t was &alled Iu'eri&aI% and re'inded 'eso'ethin$ of IBin$o.I /he $a'e was "ery easy to play and >uite interestin$. Mr. Ro&:efeller sat at one end of the lon$ ta(le and his (ouse:eeper% Mrs. E"ans% sat at the other end. +he appeared to 'e to (e in her latesixties% and was a "ery di$ni;ed and pleasant lady.

/he $a'e pro&eeded% and e"eryone see'ed to enGoy it. t was &on&luded (y another si$nal of the hand fro'Mr. Ro&:efeller% and then the Iu'eri&aI (oards were ta:en away.

At this point% and re&all it perfe&tly% said to 'y host% IMr. Ro&:efeller% althou$h ha"e ne"er played=u'eri&a (efore% it is a $reat $a'eI

2e $a"e 'e a >ui&: loo: with his pier&in$ eyes% whi&h twin:led sli$htly. /hen he leaned (a&: in his &hair% and&leared his throat in the usual 'anner so'eone does who is a(out to start a spee&h% or who is re>uestin$attention. 2e $ot it naturally% at on&e

E"eryone stopped tal:in$. 2e &leared his throat a$ain and% loo:in$ pointedly down the ta(le in the dire&tion of Mrs. E"ans% in a sli$htly raised "oi&e said% IMr. Dall% =u'eri&a= is a $ood $a'e ... the ;ne points of whi&h learned fro'. Mrs. E"ans at her :nee% when was a s'all (oy I

/hen he slapped his :nee% threw (a&: his head% after a$ain $lan&in$ at Mrs. E"ans% and ro&:ed with 'irth

At ;rst% Mrs. E"ans loo:ed >uite &onfusedO then e"eryone roared with lau$hter at the old $entle'ans Go:e%'ade at her expense. /hus% Idinner at randfather=sI% a 'e'ora(le one% was &on&luded. o dou(t Mrs.E"ans also re'e'(ered it.

, C2A#/ER 3

Fran:lin D. Roose"elt l

FDR ne"er &on"ersed with 'e to any extent a(out his father% and $athered that Mr. a'es Roose"elt hadpassed on when FDR was at (oardin$ s&hool.

Bein$ fond of all thin$s pertainin$ to the out-of-doors% su&h as shootin$ and ;shin$% was 'u&h interested inhearin$ a(out so'e of his early proGe&ts and a&ti"ities% as he related the' to 'e fro' ti'e to ti'e.

A (oyhood friend of his% and &lose 2yde #ar: nei$h(or% was Ed'ond #. Ro$ers. t see's that he and Ed'ondwere &hu's and% as su&h% they roa'ed the 2yde #ar: &ountryside to$ether. /here was explorin$ in thewoods% slin$shots% and "arious proGe&ts% su&h as (oys de"elop. /hey a'assed a &olle&tion of (ird e$$s% forexa'ple% of 'any of the (irds in the area% a &olle&tion whi&h $radually assu'ed &onsidera(le proportions. nthis &onne&tion% often the nests of the (irds the'sel"es were in&luded in the operation% as an Iexhi(itI% soafter awhile% the whole operation was Iexhi(itedI in Mrs. Roose"elt=s atti&. A parental hand was then exertedin a restrainin$ 'anner% on (ehalf of the (irds of the area. May opine% that dou(tless the Museu' of atural2istory in ew or: City would ha"e (een% or would (e 'u&h interested in a&>uirin$% for a no'inal&onsideration% the Roose"elt-Ro$ers (irds= (irde$$ &olle&tion% had they (een a(le to $aJe into the &rystal (allof the future% and "isualiJe politi&al history in the 'a:in$l

t see's to 'e% outside of Ed'ond% that FDR had no &lose I&roniesI in 2yde #ar:. /his was unfortunate% as(oys often polish oK the rou$h ed$es of their friends. ="e (een told (y an elderly friend of 'ine who :newFDR that he was a poor loser in sports li:e tennis.

+ituated as he was in the &ountry% in those days% replete with horse and &arria$e% he had no real opportunityto hold forth with a I(un&h-of-$uysI in the nei$h(orhood% whi&h was too (ad% and on top of that he was anonly &hild.

2e did not really li:e horses or horse(a&: ridin$% althou$h

,) he rode a lot. 2e lo"ed sailin$% (ein$ on the water in the su''erti'e% wor:in$ with sails and ri$$in$ and

'atters &onne&ted with sail(oats. /his was 'ostly at Ca'po(ello sland. 0p there% the tides run "ery stron$%and this was a fa&tor that always had to (e re&:oned with% alon$ with the wind% when sailin$ in those tri&:y%dan$erous waters.

Another lon$-ran$e (oyhood proGe&t in whi&h FDR was 'u&h interested was that of sta'p &olle&tin$. /he


17/98

&olor of the sta'ps and the $eo$raphy in"ol"ed see'ed to fas&inate hi'% and e"en up to the ti'e when used to see hi' fre>uently% often found hi' pourin$ o"er his sta'ps% i'pro"in$% or addin$ to this or thatseries. 2is &olle&tion% e"en then% was $ettin$ to (e an i'portant one

/he "alue of a sta'p% of &ourse% is in dire&t proportion to its s&ar&ity fa&tor and its &ondition. E"ery now andthen% of &ourse% so'e sta'p &olle&tor &o'es up with a $reat I;ndI fro' an old atti& or fro' the trun: of are&luse. /his type of e"ent Istea's upI the whole fraternity of philatelists all o"er the world% so that they &an$o out and do li:ewise t is always the hope of ea&h one that so'e day they will 'a:e% Gust su&h a I;ndI

ne day% down the road% FDR did 'a:e a I;nd.I /he e"ent &reated >uite a &o''otion in the sta'p &olle&tin$fraternity% 'ar:ed (y so'e shrill out&ries of indi$nation and (y Gaundi&ed &o''ents Certainly% it &an (efairly stated that at that 'o'ent% all was not sweetness and li$ht /he &ause of the "iolent out(urst ... wasthat so'e oH&ial in our $o"ern'ent in 4ashin$ton% when 'a:in$ a plate for a new issue of 0. +. sta'ps%inad"ertently% a&&identally% or otherwise% 'ade one of the sta'p ;$ures in an in"erted position% whi&hi'paired the usefulness of the plate. 4hen the 'ista:e was dis&o"ered% howe"er% the a(nor'ality% in&ludin$the in"erted ;$ure appearin$ thereon% was Ita&tfullyI and pro'ptly res&ued fro' the waste(as:et and%so'ehow% found its way into the &olle&tion of a "ery pro'inent 4ashin$ton philatelist 2en&e% the s&rea's

also $athered fro' FDR that he was fond of shootin$ (ut ne"er heard fro' hi' dire&tly exa&tly what :ind of shootin$ it was of whi&h he was fond. /he Ro$ers (oys and their father often went oK on (i$ $a'e hunts% allo"er% and (rou$ht (a&: to 2yde #ar: 'any ;ne trophies. May(e FDR went with the' on so'e of their trips.

/he ;rst pi&ture that &an e"er re&all seein$ of FDR appeared in the Literary Die"t of uly 1% 19*!. t was a

,9 politi&al one and in it% FDR is shown standin$ (y an auto'o(ile% loo:in$ so'ewhat tired% with a rathersphinx-li:e expression on his fa&e% &asually holdin$ a hi$h-powered ri8e in his hands. 2owe"er% he is shownwearin$ a for'al% tailor'ade% dou(le-(reasted suit% with stiK &ollar% tie and sti&:pin. /his was a(out ;"e years(efore 'et hi'. &an re&all readily thin:in$ to 'yself% why the ri8e in su&h a settin$N 4hat was theIshootin$I a(outN #erhaps% it was politi&al (i$-$a'e huntin$ /he I+easonI% howe"er% did not open for hi't(at fall

/he o&&asion for the pi&ture was when Cox and Roose"elt were linin$ up to oppose 2ardin$ and Coolid$e inthe national ele&tion in o"e'(er of that year.

/he Die"t $oes on to state7

IRepu(li&an% De'o&rati&% and ndependent Gournals unite in &on$ratulatin$ the De'o&rati& #arty in thesele&tion of Fran:lin D. Roose"elt as the &andidate for 3i&e-#resident.I pa$e 11 If the De'o&rati& ti&:et isele&tedI% says he /ew or+ lo&e$ Ie"en Repu(li&ans will (e $lad to ha"e Roose"elt in 4ashin$ton.I he )nand ew or: 3erald Repu(li&an $i"e hi' hi$h praise. he World De'o&rati& says his sele&tion Ihas addedstren$th to the ti&:et in pla&es where stren$th will (e needed.I It is fortunate for the nationI% says he /ewor+ i'e" De'o&rati&% Ithat ea&h party has na'ed a 3i&e-#residential &andidate who &ould% if the needarose% (e&o'e #resident% without &ausin$ the &ountry a tre'or of apprehension.I

/he Itre'orsI for 'any people were to &o'e later.

/he $enial half-(rother of FDR li"ed on 'e adGoinin$ pla&e at 2yde #ar:. 2is na'e was a'es Roose"elt. ha"e not seen 'u&h written a(out hi'% (ut always felt that lie was >uite an interestin$ $entle'an. nappearan&e% he &losely rese'(led ?in$ Edward 3 of En$land - sa'e type of head% sa'e type of hea"y%&lipped (eard. ne ti'e FDR said to 'e% ICurt% how do you li:e Rosey=s (eardNI n 'any ways% he re'inded'e of an En$lish'an.

I0n&le RoseyI had retired when 'et hi'% (ut he tra"eled a(out >uite a (it. t was diH&ult for 'e to ;$ureout Gust what he did. 2e was older than FDR. /here was not 'u&h in &o''on% o(ser"ed% (etween the two$entle'en. /he at'osphere% howe"er% was always &ordial% (ut they 'i$ht as well ha"e (een li"in$ in twodiKerent worlds.

2e was &alled I0n&le RoseyI (y all the youn$er $eneration. 2e was fond of shootin$ and we went out to$ethera &ouple of ti'es. re'e'(er one day we went o"er to Mill(roo: and

! had >uite a ni&e day there% shootin$ pheasant. 2e had a 'at&hed pair of rant hand'ade En$lishshot$uns% whi&h really 'ade 'y 'outh water

After the death of I0n&le RoseyI% his widow% who was &alled Aunt Betty% was a fre>uent "isitor at the Bi$2ouse.

As ti'e passed% FDR=s a&ti"ities and interest in so&ial 'atters de&reased% while his interest in politi&ala&ti"ities in&reased. 2e used to as: 'e to $o with hi' to "arious 'eetin$s% so that he had an attenti"e andexperien&ed ar' to hold onto% there(y 'a:in$ the least apparent eKort to wal:% to ne$otiate ra'ps and%o&&asionally% stairs. 2e $enerally held 'y ri$ht ar' with his left ar' and% in his ri$ht hand% he &arried a "erystout &ane with a hea"y ru((er tip% so as to pre"ent the e"er-present possi(ility of a slip and possi(le fall.


18/98

will ne"er for$et one e"enin$ after he had (een ele&ted o"e'or. 4e were &o'in$ in to so'e $atherin$ in alar$e hall in ew or:. 2e was the honored spea:er on a lon$ e"enin$s pro$ra'. /he fa&ilities were &ertainlynot of the (est 2e had as:ed 'e to $o with hi'% and he held 'y ar'. 4e were slowly pro&eedin$ towardsthe platfor'% fro' the street% as usual. A &o'(ination of thin$s happened si'ultaneously. +o'eone spo:e to'e% on 'y left% and 'o'entarily drew 'y attention% while on his ri$ht% an old friend spo:e to hi'. n anye"ent% the tip of his &ane slipped on so'e $rease on the polished 8oor% and down he went Vui&:ly% $ot hi'up% with help% and we pro'ptly pro&eeded Gust as thou$h nothin$ at all had happened. All he said was% Iosh%CurtI Fortunately% he was not hurt. n% Wno ti'e 8atI% he re$ained his &o'posure. 2owe"er% did suKerinward I(utter8iesI +li&: or $reasy 8oors were always dan$erous for hi'. /hose e"enin$ pro$ra's wereusually lon$ ones and% when &on&luded% the Gourney ho'e had to (e li:ewise &arefully ne$otiated.

a' sure that he appre&iated 'y (ein$ Ialon$ with hi'I on so'e of these o&&asions. 2is two oldest sons% i''y and Elliott% were then away at s&hool and &olle$e. 2e :new "ery well% howe"er% that 'y loyalty andaKe&tion for hi' far ex&eeded 'y personal interest in politi&al topi&s.

n loo:in$ o"er so'e old papers% &a'e a&ross a 'e'ento of a (i$ e"enin$ in Carne$ie 2all% ew or:% ono"e'(er 1% 19,!. /hen he was runnin$ for re-ele&tion as o"ernor of ew or:. A&ross the top of hisprepared spee&h when it had (een deli"ered% he wrote for 'e so'e personal words a(out the ;ne o&&asiont is one of 'y "alued sou"enirs of hi'

1 CHA!# II

Eleanor Roose"elt - Fro' a s'all pasture

4e ha"e heard that Ithe pen is 'i$htier than the sword.I Anyone wieldin$ a pen in the open% therefore%should do it with &onsidera(le &are

n addition% it is dan$erous for an ex-son-in-law to write a(out his ex-'other-in-law% parti&ularly if shee'er$es as Eleanor Roose"elt. E"en if the Mar>uess of Vueens(ury Rules were to hold sway% has he a &han&eto sur"i"eN 2e does ha"e a s'all &han&e% howe"er% hen&e a &hallen$e.

+o'eti'es% a hardy pen'an appears on the horiJon who de&ides the ti'e is ripe to &hallen$e the politi&alsword and let the &hips fall. /his is one of those rare o&&asions - perhaps a I&olle&tor=s ite'.I

Fran:ness and friendliness will (e 'anifest% howe"er% as pro&eed alon$ this literary 4idow=s 4al:. hopethis IsaunterI on 'y part will (e interestin$ and add so'ethin$ towards a sounder future for us all.

'a:e this o(ser"ation to those who are staun&h ad'irers of Eleanor Roose"elt% the leadin$ lady of this&hapter% and to those who are >uite &riti&al of her "aried a&ti"ities% parti&ularly durin$ and after her 4hite2ouse years.

4hen ;rst 'et Eleanor Roose"elt% she was a shy housewife. +he possessed a :een intelle&t% (ut see'edrather inse&ure at ti'es% underneath an apparent external &al'. +he see'ed so'ewhat restless also% asthou$h sear&hin$ for (roader pastures to pro"ide an in&reased outlet for her intelle&tual a&ti"ities that would(rin$ her in&reased personal re&o$nition.

4hen usin$ the ter' I(ousewifeI 'ean she ran her lar$e fa'ily "ery well with the aid of a (utler plusse"eral do'esti&s.

2er hus(and re>uired a $reat deal of attention% at the ti'e% on a&&ount of his unfortunate atta&: of poliowhi&h pre"ented hi' fro' wal:in$ without assistan&e. 2owe"er% it &an (e stated fairly% that EleanorRoose"elt did not spend her early years of 'arried life o"er an ironin$ (oard.

* Any fa'ily &onsistin$ of hus(and and wife% a dau$hter and four sons% is so'ethin$ to loo: after.

/he e&ono'i& Iwol8I ne"er howled for lon$ at her front doorO no lon$er than was ne&essary for the (utler toshoo hi' away with the aid of a handy I(roo'I% one that was pro"ided (y a near-(y relati"e to ade>uatelyhandle the situation.

Eleanor Roose"elt was $entle in 'anner% friendly and usually 'ost $ra&ious. As lon$ as :new her% we ne"erex&han$ed a sin$le &ross word. But when &a'e to :now her rather well% dete&ted a feelin$ of "a$ue&riti&is'% &oupled with dissatisfa&tion% expressed fro' ti'e to ti'e% a(out the 'anner of life and ai's of so'e of her 2yde #ar: and 2udson 3alley nei$h(ors. /hese were the people% assu'ed% that she had $rownup with on Lon$ sland and 2yde #ar:. t indi&ated to 'e a re(ellious train of thou$ht for un:nown reasons.

4hen Eleanor Roose"elt presided at dinner% she was a 'ost o(ser"ant and $ra&ious hostess% anti&ipatin$ea&h $uests needs and :eepin$ the o"er-all &on"ersation (alan&ed and on an e"en :eel. 2er interest in ea&h$uest was 'u&h in e"iden&e% thou$h at ti'es so'e were on the dull side. +he 'ade all those seated aroundher ta(le% the $reat and the lesser-$reat% feel e>ually i'portant% in a friendly at'osphere% whi&h 'ade theo&&asion (oth enGoya(le and a distin&t su&&ess


19/98

nitially% re&all% politi&al pro(le's and pressures were al'ost non-existentO a war'% relaxed at'ospherepre"ailed.

Althou$h she &ould hardly (e des&ri(ed as a photo$eni& (eauty% to 'e she possessed attra&ti"eness% &olor%and real &har' 2er lau$h was 'ost &onta$iousO her hair was (eautiful and rather unusual. 2er youn$ sons%Fran:lin% r.% and ohnny% were (usy &o'in$ fro' and $oin$ to Bu&:ley% their day s&hool in ew or:. i''yand Elliott tra"eled to and fro' roton. 2er dau$hter% Anna% was attendin$ 'any of the ew or: dan&es andwas also ta:in$ a IshorthornI &ourse in A$ri&ulture at Cornell% on the side% so'ethin$ whi&h presented aserious pro(le' to &ope with for so'e of ew or:s $ay-(lades on the Ista$-lineI. tha&a was not exa&tly as&lose to town as were se"eral other institutions of learnin$% well &on&ealed neath the hi$hly pu(li&iJed "yLeaf. Eleanor Roose"elt ran an a&ti"e household.

also re&all% with 'u&h a'use'ent% so'e o&&asions in the 'ornin$ around )7,!% s&hool ti'e. t see'edparti&ularly diH&ult in the winter for Fran:lin% r. to :eep tra&: of his 'uQer and ru((ers% et&.% so when theappointed ti'e &a'e

, for Fran:lin% r. and ohnny to depart% often a $reat &o''otion would rise out in the front hall. Closet doorssla''edO an$ry :id "oi&es in &res&endo arose% with the "oi&e of Made'oiselle% their o"erness% risin$ stillhi$her a(o"e the ru'pus% &allin$ in her +wiss-Fren&h-En$lish a&&ent% IFraun:laine Fraun:laineI +oon his'other would ha"e to appear upon the s&ene to >uell the distur(an&e. /hen% the 'issin$ pie&e of winter&lothin$ would ;nally appear fro' so'ewhere. 4ith a 'ild parental ad'onish'ent to the eKe&t that% Iyou(oys 'ust not (e so =rou$h= with Made'oiselleI% and that Ithey 'ust ta:e (etteir &are of their thin$sI% thefront door would sla' and the two youn$sters% under the &are of the indi$nant and harassed Made'oiselle%would start oK to s&hoolO whereupon the rest of the household would relax at the (rea:fast ta(le to ;nishtheir 'ornin$ &up of &oKee% then on the &ool side.

/he two youn$er (oys were full of life% always up to so'ethin$. was "ery fond of the'.

Another interestin$ and a'usin$ situation o&&urred e"ery now and then% one that fre>uently &rops up in 'anylar$e fa'ilies7

Eleanor Roose"elt was 'arried in the ew or: ho'e of her &ousin% Mrs. 2enry #arish% (etter :nown asICousin +usie.I +he was a well-preser"ed% (ut rather spoiled ew or: Dowa$er of distin&tion% with no&hildren. +he felt that she had so'e sort of a prior lien on the aKe&tions of Eleanor Roose"elt% and deser"ed aratin$ Gust a not&h hi$her to the aKe&tions extended (y Eleanor Roose"elt to her Mother-in-law% Mrs. a'esRoose"elt. Both Mrs. #arish and Mrs. Roose"elt were al'ost the sa'e a$e and ea&h wielded a hea"y so&ials&epter in parallel (ut diKerent &ir&les /his set up a natural ri"alry (etween the two stately ladies - thefor'er was Ild ew or:I% the latter was Ild 2udson 3alley.I

Eleanor Roose"elt enGoyed this natural ri"alry existin$ (etween the' and o&&asionally set up a dinner partyand awaited with anti&ipation and half &on&ealed a'use'ent as to what Ispar:sI 'i$ht de"elop and 8y. /heyalways did 8y.

I+usieI would 'a:e a "ery polite re'ar:% (ut with an Ied$eI to it% addressed to ranny% so'ethin$ li:e%I+ally% really didn=t thin: that you would >uite fall for that idea.I

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Documents

FDR Curtis b. Dall