donnacornick

Roosevelt Reading Festival

June 18, 2022June 19, 2022 donnacornick

The 18th Annual Roosevelt Reading Festival was held on Saturday, June 18, 2022 at the FDR Presidential Library and Museum.

It was my privilege to serve as Moderator for two of the presentations.

**Richard B. Frank is a recognized military historian. His area of research is the Asia-Pacific War.** **Mr. Frank was a paratrooper during the Vietnam War and I shared with him that my dad was also a paratrooper in WWII and his role in the Occupation of Japan**
**Instant connection**.

**Michael J. Burgess is Director of NY State Office of Aging**. **His book describes the social programs that FDR created as Governor of NY and how these programs became the foundation for the New Deal. We talked about Bill Leuchtenburg’s classic work, The New Dea**l.

The keynote speaker was David McKean, former U.S Ambassador to Luxembourg.

This book describes Ambassadors Joseph Kennedy, William Dodd, Breckinridge Long, and William Bullitt, who all served in key Western European capitals―London, Berlin, Rome, Paris, and Moscow―in the years prior to World WII

**Mr. McKean attended Duke Law School, so we had the Duke-UNC discussion.**

Every presentation was excellent and enlightening. These are serious scholars.

Opportunities to talk with the presenters, included breakfast, lunch and a delightful dinner at Coppola’s..a local Italian restaurant in Hyde Park.

What a Day!!

I was so happy to have the opportunity to play a small part. I was invited to come back for the 19th Annual Reading Festival next June. Will see???

Without a doubt, my favorite display in the FDR Library/Museum is the area that contains the desk and chair that FDR used in the White House. The worn fabric on the arms of the chair, I find especially moving.

Also in this area are panels with the Four Freedoms, and the Presidential portrait (just like my jigsaw, but fancier frame.)

**Whimsical collection of donkeys,elephants, pigs, Scottie, Westie**

Adjacent to this area is a short film showing FDR’s Funeral, April 12-15, 1945. From Warm Springs, to Washington, to Hyde Park. If video does not load, copy url. https://youtu.be/v8SqjT-Mqew

Other displays of interest include:

**FDR’s office in the Library**. **Sara’s portrait oversees all**

**Note the attached ashtray. He “designed” the wheelchair which is a kitchen chair with bicycle wheels**

**FDR’s special car with hand controls, plus a gizmo thst would offer a lighted cigarette..(smoked Camels 3-4 packs a day)**

**Memorialibla from Harvard. No lapel/scarf pins..hum..wonder if they would be interested in having the Moonstone pin that I own?**

Tour of 2nd Floor of Springwood..1st floor photos are on earlier post, Glorious Day

June 16, 2022June 16, 2022 donnacornick

**Luggage lift which FDR used to pull himself in his wheelchair to 2nd and 3rd floors. He pulled himself up using ropes. With tremendous upper body strength**

**Boyhood bedroom which FDR used until marriage to Eleanor**

**Blue room used by FDR and ER in early days of marriage**.

**Birth room. FDR weighed 10 lbs at** **birth**

In 1915 the home was remodeled with the addition of a bedroom suite. One room was initially designed as a sitting room, but after FDR contracted polio in 1921 and needed help from his male valet, Eleanor used this room as her bedroom

**FDR’s closet ..including a boat cloak, top hat from Inauguration and pink smoking jacket**

**FDR’s bedroom. Phone on the wall had a direct line to the White House**

“D-Train”

June 15, 2022June 15, 2022 donnacornick

**On display on the Information Desk at the Visitors Center**

D-Train…My “handle” assigned to me back in 2017 by one of the Rangers. So today, he drew this sketch..what a special memory.

This all began because I would go, whenever possible, to the train station in Poughkeepsie and meet folks coming up from NYC and then take them to FDR. Hence, D-Train. 🙂

Hudson River from Vanderbilt

June 15, 2022June 15, 2022 donnacornick

Spent the day doing various tasks with the NPS.

I drove to Vanderbilt to pick up an additional Park Ranger shirt and took these photos of the Hudson.

Flag Day at FDR Historic Site.

June 14, 2022June 14, 2022 donnacornick

June 14, Field of Roses

June 14, 2022June 14, 2022 donnacornick

The name, Roosevelt, is Dutch and means “from the rose fields”. This field of roses was Sara Roosevelt’s, FDR’s mother. In his Will, FDR requested to be buried in this garden. His grave, with the flag, is in front of the monument. Some photos of the roses.

**The only one that is identified. Last time I was here, many had identification. Times change**

Monday June 13

June 13, 2022June 13, 2022 donnacornick

By 10:15 and I had walked the grounds; met with Park Rangers as they raised the flags at Springwood; agreed to do afternoon tours; met with Cliff (Program Director) who said Docent service was now open; agreed to serve as a moderator ( with Cliff) on Saturday at the FDR Reading Festival (15 authors). Whew.

On Saturday, June 18, 2022, from 9:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum will host the 18th annual Roosevelt Reading Festival. The day-long program will highlight the recently published work of fifteen authors — including a special afternoon presentation with Ambassador David McKean, author of Watching Darkness Fall: FDR, His Ambassadors, and the Rise of Adolf Hitler.

**The old driveway from Albany Post Road to Springwood home**

Spent several hours as a Docent in FDR Library/Museum. The new Special Exhibit, FDR’s Final Campaign, is very moving. More photos from the exhibit to follow in a future blog.

Afternoon break. Sitting outside the Library, using Roosevelt-Library wifi to start writing this blog….Sunny, warm, breezy..heavenly.

Sunday Morning Service at St. James Episcopal Church

June 12, 2022June 12, 2022 donnacornick

With Deacon Gail who I first met in 2017

Years ago, someone posted a sign at St. James that said, This is Roosevelt’s Church.” Someone else put up another sign, “Used to be God’s.” 😉

Glorious Day

June 11, 2022June 11, 2022 donnacornick

This morning I met with Park Ranger Fran, and talked about leading and backing up tours. So this afternoon I followed Fran as she led the tour of Springwood.

Tours have changed so much in 2 years. Before we met in the Wallace Visitor Center, walked about 1/4 mile across the grounds, stopping at the Library, and the Rose Garden (grave site) and finally at Springwood. These tours could have 50 people and lasted 1 hour. Now they meet at Springwood, short talk and go into the home. A total of 30-45 minutes. Lot less talking and more time inside the home. No more than 25 people per tour. Makes it much easier, but I will really need to “Pare Down” my talk..(yes Paul, I will do that)

A few photos inside first floor of Springwood..photos of 2nd floor will be posted later