Author: donnacornick

dcornick@gmail.com

Another Morning walk

donnacornick
Raising the Presidential Flag
3 Park Rangers raise the flags
Flags over Springwood
Elizabeth. Park Ranger that I met when I first volunteeted

View from Entrance to Presidential Library
Lou, a favorite security guard

Integrating The Armed Services, 1940, Oval Office Meeting (Part of New Special Exhibit)

donnacornick
Read to understand the background
President Roosevelt secretly recorded several meetings for about 1 year, June 1940-June 1941.

The first President to secretly record meetings.

The recordings were manually turned off and on and FDR forgot to turn off the recorder, so we have this recording discussing integrating the Armed Forces. The tape was not discovered until the 1980s.

The meeting was held in the Oval Office, September 27, 1940. Attending were
FDR, Walter White (NAACP), A. Phillips Randolph (Union and civil rights activist), Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy.

The tape is hard to hear, but the Library produced the script to read.

For White and Randolph to present their case to the President at a meeting in the Oval Office at least began a dialog on the issue.

The Armed Services remained segregated until 1948.

I found the tape both illuminating and disconcerting to hear FDR so unfiltered.
Talking about musicians for ship band
More on a “Negro band” “an opportunity”
FDR’s “colored messenger in the Navy Department”
“a northern ship and a southern ship” laughter

Perhaps a swipe at Southern Democrats?

Best of The Library/Museum

donnacornick
For me, this area is the most significant, poignant display in the Museum

Pres. Truman offered FDR’s Desk and Chair to Eleanor. Now in the FDR Presidential Library and Museum.

FDR’s Desk Used in the White House
The arms of FDR’s Chair. To me, THE most significant item on display.
Desk and Official Portrait
1936 Ford Phaeton
Hand controls
Professor Leuchtenburg