The gatekeeper : Missy LeHand, FDR, and the untold story of the partnership that defined a presidency

Title:

Author:

Smith, Kathryn, 1956- author.

ISBN:

9781501114960

Personal Author:

Smith, Kathryn, 1956- author.

Physical Description:

341 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Contents:

Prologue: The Daring Flight to Chicago -- When Missy Was Marguerite -- Scion of the Hudson Valley Roosevelts -- The Cuff-Links Gang -- Adrift -- Warm Springs -- Don't You Dare -- The Governor's Girl Friday -- Running for President -- Nothing to Fear -- Queen of the White House Staff -- The Ambassador to Russia -- Woman of Influence -- Mixing Work and Play -- Polio Redux -- Hubris and Hell -- Missy Knows -- War -- Bitter Victory -- Disaster -- The Exiled Queen -- Going Home -- Epilogue.

Abstract:

"The first biography of arguably the most influential member of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's administration, Marguerite 'Missy' LeHand, FDR's de facto chief of staff, who has been misrepresented, mischaracterized, and overlooked throughout history...until now"-- Provided by publisher.

"Journalist Smith (A Necessary War) grants readers an unusual insider's view of F.D.R.'s political career by profiling his longtime private secretary. Marguerite 'Missy' LeHand, a young woman with a modest background, an agile intellect, a pleasant personality, and remarkable stenographer's skills, began working for F.D.R. in 1920, when he ran for vice president. Smith writes particularly well about F.D.R.'s struggle to bounce back from being struck with polio in 1921, explaining the disease and the origins of the Warm Springs, Ga., health spa that he frequented. LeHand was F.D.R.'s most constant companion during the 1920s, sparking rumors--convincingly dismissed by Smith--that they were lovers. The real core of the story is the White House years from 1933 until 1942, when LeHand helped create the vast New Deal bureaucracy. She decided who would see the president and when; today her title would be chief of staff. LeHand worked long hours but took time to enjoy the perks of the job, including a barrage of social invitations and fawning press coverage. Though Smith overstates her claim about LeHand's importance to F.D.R. and his work as president, she delivers a fascinating account of one woman's involvement in an important administration"--Publishersweekly.com.

Personal Subject:

LeHand, Marguerite, 1896-1944.

Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945-Friends and associates.

BISAC Subject:

Bio / Leader

Subject Term:

Presidents -- United States -- Staff -- Biography.

Private secretaries -- United States -- Biography.

Geographic Term:

United States -- Politics and government -- 1933-1945.

Available:*

Format	Library	Call Number	Status
Book	Searching... East Regional Library	B LeHand Smi	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

The first biography of arguably the most influential member of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's administration, Marguerite "Missy" LeHand, FDR's de facto chief of staff, who has been misrepresented, mischaracterized, and overlooked throughout history...until now.

Widely considered the first female presidential chief of staff, Marguerite "Missy" LeHand was the right-hand woman to Franklin Delano Roosevelt--both personally and professionally--for more than twenty years. Although her official title as personal secretary was relatively humble, her power and influence were unparalleled. Everyone in the White House knew one truth: If you wanted access to Franklin, you had to get through Missy. She was one of his most trusted advisors, affording her a unique perspective on the president that no one else could claim, and she was deeply admired and respected by Eleanor and the Roosevelt children.

With unprecedented access to Missy's family and original source materials, journalist Kathryn Smith tells the captivating and forgotten story of the intelligent, loyal, and clever woman who had a front-row seat to history in the making. The Gatekeeper is a thoughtful, revealing unsung-hero story about a woman ahead of her time, the true weight of her responsibility, and the tumultuous era in which she lived--and a long overdue tribute to one of the most important female figures in American history.

Author Notes

Kathryn Smith is a journalist and writer with a life-long interest in FDR and his circle. She has lived all her life in Georgia and South Carolina, and earned a bachelor's degree in journalism at the University of Georgia. She worked as a daily newspaper reporter and editor, and has been the book columnist for the Anderson Independent Mail for twenty years. She has been involved through Rotary International in the worldwide effort to eradicate polio, called PolioPlus, and she has lectured and spoken on FDR's leadership in that arena. Smith is the author of an oral history of World War II told by living veterans and civilians called "A Necessary War."

Reviews (3)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Journalist Smith (A Necessary War) grants readers an unusual insider's view of F.D.R.'s political career by profiling his longtime private secretary. Marguerite "Missy" LeHand, a young woman with a modest background, an agile intellect, a pleasant personality, and remarkable stenographer's skills, began working for F.D.R. in 1920, when he ran for vice president. Smith writes particularly well about F.D.R.'s struggle to bounce back from being struck with polio in 1921, explaining the disease and the origins of the Warm Springs, Ga., health spa that he frequented. LeHand was F.D.R.'s most constant companion during the 1920s, sparking rumors-convincingly dismissed by Smith-that they were lovers. The real core of the story is the White House years from 1933 until 1942, when LeHand helped create the vast New Deal bureaucracy. She decided who would see the president and when; today her title would be chief of staff. LeHand worked long hours but took time to enjoy the perks of the job, including a barrage of social invitations and fawning press coverage. Though Smith overstates her claim about LeHand's importance to F.D.R. and his work as president, she delivers a fascinating account of one woman's involvement in an important administration. Illus. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Booklist Review

From 1921 to 1941, Marguerite Missy LeHand served as FDR's personal secretary. As journalist Smith strongly indicates, her powers and influence far exceeded that deceptively modest job title. As his schedule manager, she controlled access to Roosevelt, which took on increased significance as the federal government expanded under the New Deal. She also had a strong personal relationship with Roosevelt, frequently accompanying him on trips while other important advisers were excluded. Though LeHand was fiercely protective of her boss' time, she was surprisingly well liked by officials who could have resented her. Roosevelt's children and Eleanor Roosevelt were particularly fond of her. Smith is neutral regarding the question of a sexual relationship, but Roosevelt clearly reciprocated the loyalty and affection she showed him, and he assumed the costs of her medical bills following a disabling stroke in 1941. Smith may have inflated their partnership, since LeHand's impact on substantial policy matters was minimal. Still, this is a well-written, informative, and valuable biography, and an important addition to the many-faceted and perpetually fascinating Roosevelt story.--Freeman, Jay Copyright 2016 Booklist

Library Journal Review

Smith (A Necessary War) has written the first full biography of Marguerite "Missy" LeHand (1898-1944), Franklin D. Roosevelt's longtime secretary and close adviser. During World War I, she accepted a job with the U.S. Navy in Washington, DC, which led to a position with Roosevelt during his campaign for vice president in 1920. As a trusted confidant and sometimes nursemaid for Roosevelt while he battled polio, LeHand began living with the Roosevelts to be able to serve the politican around the clock. Although the evidence is scant, Roosevelt's son Elliott claimed his father and -LeHand had an affair. When Roosevelt was elected president, he chose LeHand to be his head secretary, and she became the first woman to serve in this position. Living at the White House, she often filled in as hostess while the first lady was traveling and became widely known in the press for her political savvy, humor, and glamorous fashion. Although Smith is an engaging writer, this feels like another biography of Roosevelt himself and underscores the difficulties of discussing a figure who orbited such a famous leader. VERDICT Recommended for readers interested in the Roosevelt family.-Kate Stewart, American Folklife Ctr., Washington, DC © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Prologue: The Daring Flight to Chicago	p. 1
1 When Missy Was Marguerite	p. 11
2 Scion of the Hudson Valley Roosevelts	p. 23
3 The Cuff Links Gang	p. 35
4 Adrift	p. 49
5 Warm Springs	p. 65
6 Don't You Dare	p. 79
7 The Governor's Girl Friday	p. 89
8 Running for President	p. 103
9 Nothing to Fear	p. 117
10 Queen of the White House Staff	p. 127
11 The Ambassador to Russia	p. 141
12 Woman of Influence	p. 153
13 Mixing Work and Play	p. 165
14 Polio Redux	p. 173
15 Hubris and Hell	p. 187
16 Missy Knows	p. 201
17 War	p. 213
18 Bitter Victory	p. 227
19 Disaster	p. 237
20 The Exiled Queen	p. 251
21 Going Home	p. 259
Epilogue Missy's Legacy	p. 267
Afterword and Acknowledgments	p. 273
Notes	p. 281
Bibliography	p. 315
Photography Credits	p. 329
Index	p. 331

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Bound With These Titles

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Summary

Summary

Author Notes

Reviews (3)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Booklist Review

Library Journal Review

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