Roosevelt Home and Library

Our main reason for stopping in the Hudson Valley area was to visit the FDR home and presidential library in Hyde Park. If you decide to go, allow a whole day because there is much to see.

FDR won a historic mandate in 1932. After three years of brutal economic depression, Americans decisively rejected President Hoover and the ruling Republican Party. Roosevelt defeated Hoover in a landslide and Democrats seized control of Congress for the first time in 16 years. They dominated the new Senate by an overwhelming margin of 60 to 35 and enjoyed a 310 to 117 majority in the House. Voters handed Roosevelt and the Democrats a blank check. Their only demand was action and FDR acted!

Imagine what could be done about climate change and other pressing issues today with that kind of mandate?

“Eleanor dreaded becoming First Lady. A writer, teacher, social reformer, political activist, she relished her hard-won freedom and financial independence. Though happy for her husband’s success, she now faced the prospect of a life confined to the traditional social duties of the ‘President’s Wife’. At FDR’s insistence, Eleanor resigned all her professional positions. She came to Washington with no defined role other than White House hostess. Yet ER soon began showing FDR how her energy and interest could help him achieve his goals. Instead of conforming to the accepted role of First Lady, she redefined it. She began holding press conferences on political matters for female reporters. She made fact finding trips- logging 40,000 miles in three months. She asked Americans to write to her with their concerns. Within months she received 300,000 letters. ER’s actions served notice that she was a new kind of First Lady.” From museum display

Here are a few more fun facts:

We were sorry that we did not see Valkill, Eleanor’s retreat on the other side of the estate. We plan on a return trip in the summer!

Here is a collage from the Roosevelt residence, Springwood, where FDR was born and lived throughout his life.