The President’s Health. FDR’s Final Campaign

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Franklin D. Roosevelt accepts nomination by DNC at Chicago from train at San Diego, California with Mr. & Mrs. James Roosevelt, with his cardiologist,Dr. Bruenn
July 20 1944. 


Speech in August 1944. While speaking, FDR suffered an attack of Angina. His cardiologist, said “scared the hell out of us.”
“his Scotch soul was furious. He has not been the same dog since”.
Sept 1944
Fala Speech, Sept. 1944
Campaign in the rain in NYC, October 1944.
7 cigarettes remained in this pack.  A heavy smoker averaging  3 packs a day. Camel was preferred brand.
Yalta, Boat Cloak, Cigarette February 1945
Address to Congress,
“Ten Pounds of Steel”
March 1945
Final photos of FDR, taken in Warm Springs, Georgia on April 11, 1945.
FDR died the next day, April 12. 1945
Archivist at FDR Library “think” that FDR is holding some official papers from the State Dept. that had arrived in the mail.
While in Warm Springs, FDR worked on what would become the “Undelivered Address”.

His Final words to Americans, in his shaky handwriting,

“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith.“

Dr. Bruenn note of FDR death.

3:35 pm, April 12, 1945

“massive cerebral hemorrhage”

NY Herald…President Roosevelt Is Dead.

Burial in the Rose Garden,
Hyde Park, April 15, 1945

The War Campaign Commander-in-Chief.

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July 1944 with MacArthur and Nimitz.
Discussion on best plan to win the war in the Pacific
Anna accompanies FDR to Yalta, Feb. 1945
February 4-11,1945
Stalin’s gift to FDR. A pack of Russian cigerattes and bearskin and leather gloves
The famous boatcloak worn at Yalta
Among the discussions at Yalta was the plan to create a organization to preserve world peace.
The United Nations
FDR’s sketch of a plan for creation on the United Nations. Drew in Teheran, 1943
FDR address to Congress after returning from Yalta. March 1, 1945. FDR apologized for speaking while seated
10 pounds of steel
Ten Pounds of Steel

FDR’s Final Campaign. Introduction.

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This special exhibit in the FDR Presidential Library/Museum is composed of three simultaneous campaigns that FDR dealt with in last year of his life.

I decided to separate into 3 blogs. My mind, unlike FDR’s, could not juggle all 3 as 1.

A friend wrote..so clever..

Sorta like the Holy Trinity?  ☺️

(Sorry—couldn’t resist!  🤭)

The Political Campaign

The War Campaign

Personal Health Campaign.

The exhibit will remain through 2022.

(The Political Campaign follows this Introduction blog) ( War blog and Health blog will post in a day or so..stay tuned)

The Political Campaign..FDR’s Final Campaign.

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“For myself, I do not want to run”. June 1944.

“All that is within me cries out to go back to my home on the Hudson River” July 11, 1944.

By July 17, FDR accepted the nomination of the Democratic National Convention to run for an unprecedented 4th term.

“Lucky” campaign hat worn in all 4 campaigns

Fourth Inauguration
January 20, 1945
With son James at 4th Inauguration
Held at the White House rather than at the Capitol. Speech of only 561 words.
Original copy on 1945 Inagural Speech
Appeal to abandon isolationism and become ” citizens of the world”

Sunday at Church and Lunch in Rhinebeck

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FDR’s/ GOD’s/ ST. James Episcopal Church
A closeup photo so inscription can be read
Roosevelt Family Plot in the Cemetery at St. James
James Roosevelt.
FDR’s father.
1828-1900
Sara Roosevelt.
FDR’s mother.
1854-1941

Four of the 6 children of Franklin and Eleanor are buried in this churchyard. 5 of the children survived to adulthood.

Anna Roosevelt Halsted. The first born and only daughter. 1906-1975
Franklin Roosevelt Jr.
March-November 1909
Franklin Roosevelt Jr.
1914-1988
John Roosevelt.
1916-1981

Strolling along in Rhinebeck on Sunday afternoon

Friends from Chapel Hill who now live in Rhinebeck

Roosevelt Reading Festival

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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 Deal.

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???

My Favorite Things

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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
Pigs were a favorite

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)
Fragment from USS Arizona
Murray the Outlaw of Falahill
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

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Springwood, Home of FDR
Stairs to 2nd floor
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

Eleanor’s bedroom

Sara’s 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
Another view of FDR bedroom
View from FDR bedroom

“D-Train”

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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. 🙂