donnacornick

Misc. Photos from Another Morning Walk

June 28, 2023June 28, 2023 donnacornick

**Exterior of Springwood in great need of repair**

Screen Porch looking toward Hudson Valley

A Foggy Day and Sara Delano Roosevelt’s Roses

June 27, 2023June 27, 2023 donnacornick

The garden was the Roosevelt family’s formal garden and today contains the gravesites of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt seen in upper right

Several years ago each rose bed had a small sign to identify the variety. I wish those signs were back.

My Daily Morning Walk. FDR Historic Site

June 26, 2023June 26, 2023 donnacornick

Pass by the garden. The garden is a historic restoration of the original home garden. Visitors may view the many different varieties the Roosevelt family grew and put on their table. Today the garden continues in the spirit of the Roosevelts by addressing food insecurity in our local community through our park partnership with Dutchess Outreach.

Freedom Court. FDR and Churchill busts and segments from Berlin Wall

Sara’s Rose Garden with Gravestone on left

Graves of FDR, Eleanor, Fala and Chief (German Shepherd)

Gerry, Buddy, Tram driver and artist of D-Train (my handle)

View from Home over Hudson Valley but the benches are GONE! Thursday.
**I am so distraught**

FDR Presidential Library. The First Presidential Library and only one used by a President still in Office

“Gloster”. James Roosevelt’s champion trotter, ca. 1874. Once upon a time, the horse’s tail was in frame

Coach house with initials JR. James Roosevelt

My guess is the total walk is about 5000 steps

St. James Episcopal Church, Hyde Park, NY

June 25, 2023June 25, 2023 donnacornick

Deacon Gail. We met at Eleanor Roosevelt’s birthday party back in Oct 2017. She is a Gem!

Roosevelt Reading Festival

June 24, 2023June 25, 2023 donnacornick

I attended the following 2 presentations

FDR on Democracy: The Greatest Speeches and Writings of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt

FDR Unmasked: 73 Years of Medical Cover-ups That Rewrote History

I was the Moderator for the 3 following presentations.

Rewriting America: New Essays on the Federal Writers’ Project

A Documentary History of the United States (11th ed)

Century’s Witness: The Extraordinary Life of Journalist Wallace Carroll

Bill Harris, Director of FDR Presidential Library introduces the Keynote Speaker, Jill Watts.

The Black Cabinet: The Untold Story of African Americans and Politics During the Age of Roosevelt

A full day of very well-researched, interesting presentations.

Wined and dined with these scholars at Coppola’s. Perfect ending to the day.

BLACK AMERICANS, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND THE ROOSEVELTS, 1932-1962

June 23, 2023June 27, 2023 donnacornick

The new Special Exhibit in the FDR Library

The FDR Museum Curator, Herman Eberhardt, gave the Docents a tour of the new Special Exhibit, BLACK AMERICANS, CIVIL RIGHTS, and THE ROOSEVELTS, 1932-1962.

He said that they worked on this Exhibit for 3 years, planning, consulting with historians, and designing the Exhibit.

Mr. Eberhardt gave an incredibly detailed tour, and I was so impressed.

To summarize, the Roosevelts began the slow movement toward civil rights. Certainly not enough, but at least, a start.

FDR, limited by the Southern Democrats who controlled the House and Senate and were completely racist, had to navigate a fine line if he were to be able to pass any legislation and maintain their support.

He always looked at a situation through the political lens that would do the most good for the most people

Eleanor was much more vocal and active in her support which steadily grew and continued until her death.

As someone once told me, Eleanor knew what SHOULD be done. FDR knew what COULD be done.

At the start of the exhibit, a note of warning that the exhibit may be disturbing and offensive due to content.

The Roosevelts grew up in a society without people of color. It was just not something that concerned them. Once they moved to Washington in 1913, they did employ Blacks as servants.

Once FDR was stricken with polio, he always had Black valets who aided him with his most personal activities, dressing, bathing, etc.

In 1932, Blacks begin to consider leaving the Republican Party and look at the Democrats..maybe

Southern Democrats control both houses of Congress and were racist.

Blue photos are Southern Democrats in House

Blue photos are Southern Democrats in the Senate.

To pass any New Deal legislation, these Southerns had to vote, Aye. FDR had to “deal” with this situation.

“If I come out for the anti-lynching bill now, [southern Democrats] will block every bill I ask Congress to pass to keep America from collapsing. I just can’t take the risk.” May 1934..
FDR

Supporters of civil rights included 2 cabinet members, and close advisor, Frances Perkins, Harry Hopkins, and Harold Ickes

At the 1936 Democratic Conelvention, 2 speakers were African-Americans. The Democratic Party was becoming their party. In 1932 there had been no Blacks.

Eleanor continually pushed for more equal rights and worked with movement leaders in their struggle.

Marion Anderson sings at Lincoln Memorial Supported by Eleanor and Ickes. Eleanor resigned from DAR due to their refusal to allow Anderson to sing in a venue they controlled.

June 1942..Threating a March on Washington, FDR meets with leaders White and Randolph. He agrees to support blacks working in the defense industries and signs Executive Order 8802. FDR does not agree to integrate the armed forces. The March was “postponed”, thus a comprimise.

Eleanor never gave up on fighting for equal rights until her death in 1962

President Truman desegregates the military, 1948

Tour of Springwood

June 23, 2023June 23, 2023 donnacornick

FDR’s Collection on Anti-British cartoons. Apparently King George was amused

Located on landing to 2nd Floor. One of FDR’s favorite naval paintings

Lift for luggage. FDR used to pull himself in his wheelchair to the 2nd and 3rd floors.

In his bedroom is chair where Fala slept

Closet with famous boat cloke. Wheelchair was kitchen chair with bycycle wheels. His design

FDR’s study. Not included in tours, but I managed to see on way out a side door.

During Covid, the interior of the home was refreshed and repaired. No longer ceilings covered in blue tarp. Yay!! Hopefully repairs on exterior will be next