The First Lady of the Struggle

Mary McLeod Bethune acted as leader of the Black Cabinet. Bethune was a friend and confidante of Eleanor Roosevelt and FDR held her in high regard. She used her unique connection to the Roosevelts to bring race-related issues directly to the President. Photograph: Library of Congress Much of the success of the Black Cabinet was … Continue reading The First Lady of the Struggle

Irvin and Elizabeth McDuffie

“Throughout the nation today, colored men and women are playing the part in the government under President Roosevelt’s New Deal that we have awaited . . . these seventy years which have passed since President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.”                    —Elizabeth McDuffie, Campaign Speech, St. Louis, Missouri, 1936  Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie, two Black … Continue reading Irvin and Elizabeth McDuffie

Remembering President Warren G. Harding (1865-1923)

President Warren G. Harding's body lying in state in the East Room of the White House. Image from the Library of Congress https://lccn.loc.gov/2006683674 by Kevin Thomas, Archives Technician August 2, 2023, marks the 100th Anniversary of the sudden death of Warren G. Harding, 29th President of the United States. The news, no doubt, shocked Americans, … Continue reading Remembering President Warren G. Harding (1865-1923)

The Year Of Two Thanksgivings

On Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 1939, Franklin Roosevelt carved the turkey at the annual Thanksgiving Dinner at Warm Springs, Georgia, and wished all Americans across the country a Happy Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, his greeting went unanswered in some states; many Americans were not observing Thanksgiving on the same day as the President. Instead, they were waiting … Continue reading The Year Of Two Thanksgivings

Eleanor Roosevelt’s Own Program, April 30, 1940

by William A. Harris, Deputy Director Eleanor Roosevelt prepares for the first broadcast of her new NBC radio series, April 30, 1940. (Harris and Ewing Collection, Library of Congress) On April 30, 1940, with little fanfare, Eleanor Roosevelt commenced a new, commercial radio series on NBC. It is hard to imagine in this media era … Continue reading Eleanor Roosevelt’s Own Program, April 30, 1940

And the Winner Is… FDR and the 13th Academy Awards Ceremony

By William A. Harris, Deputy Director Movie producer and Academy president Walter Wanger invited the President to speak at the Academy Awards ceremony on February 4th and three weeks later, the President gave his remarks. The above cross reference in the President's files tracks the process. (FDR Library, President's Official File 73, Motion Pictures) With … Continue reading And the Winner Is… FDR and the 13th Academy Awards Ceremony

Celebrating the Big Day: FDR’s First Inauguration and the Annual Anniversary Celebrations, 1934-1945

The formal program to FDR's first inauguration. (FDR Library, Grace Tully Papers) By William A. Harris, Deputy Director With March upon us, it is once again time to celebrate the first inauguration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, as FDR himself did almost every year (except 1941 and 1945) of his Presidency. In 1933, FDR became … Continue reading Celebrating the Big Day: FDR’s First Inauguration and the Annual Anniversary Celebrations, 1934-1945