"WE ARE IN A FULL-FLEDGED RECESSION"

ELEANOR WANTS JFK TO SPEAK TO THE NATION ABOUT INFLATION

New York City (JFK+50) In her "My Day" column of February 13, 1961, Eleanor Roosevelt wrote that President John F. Kennedy's labor secretary, Arthur J. Goldberg*, said we "are in a full-fledged (economic) recession" and called on government, business and labor to work together to end it.

Mrs. Roosevelt asked President Kennedy to "speak to the nation, explaining the real causes and the importance of avoiding inflation, but the need...for taking...action."

The 'First Lady of the World' wrote that a recent newspaper photograph of men at an unemployment center in Chicago reminded her of the drawing hanging in her cottage at Hyde Park of "unemployed youth sitting on a bench" during the Great Depression. 

*Arthur Joseph Goldberg (1908-1990) was born in Chicago & graduated from Northwestern University School of Law (1930).

AJG served in the OSS during WWII & after his tenure as Secretary of Labor was a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court and U.N. Ambassador.

JFK+50 NOTE

President Kennedy spoke to the Nation as ER counseled on May 25, 1961.  In his address to Congress, JFK said...

"The recession has been halted.  Recovery is underway."  

SOURCE

"My Day, February 13, 1961," by Eleanor Roosevelt, The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers, Digital Edition, www2.gwu.edu/

 

 

Arthur J. Goldberg

July 26 1965

Online Photo Archive Search

 

"ONE MUST HAVE AN OPTIMISTIC DISPOSITION"

ELEANOR'S ADVICE FOR THE PRESIDENT-ELECT

New York City (JFK+50) First Lady of the World Eleanor Roosevelt* wrote...

"As the day (of the inauguration) approaches, the weight of the responsibility he will carry must grow heavier and heavier.  If he has the right temperament for the job, he feels confident of being able to face problems and...find solutions."

Mrs. Roosevelt continued...

"One must have confidence in oneself, trust in God, and (an) optimistic disposition."

Just as her words are applicable to her husband, Franklin D. Roosevelt, we hope,pray and expect that they are applicable to Joseph R. Biden who will become the 46th President of the United States at noon tomorrow.  

*Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) was born in New York City & served as First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945 making her the longest-serving First Lady in U.S. history.

AER's syndicated newspaper column "My Day" was published from Dec 31 1935 to Sept 26 1962. 

 SOURCE

"My Day:  January 18, 1961," by Eleanor Roosevelt, The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Digital Edition, 2017, www2.gwu.edu/

 

 

 

President-elect John F. Kennedy & Eleanor Roosevelt

New York City

Oct 11 1960

NARA/FDR Library Photo

 

"ONE MUST HAVE CONFIDENCE IN ONESELF, TRUST IN GOD, & AN OPTIMISTIC DISPOSITION"

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT DESCRIBES PRESIDENT-ELECT

New York City (JFK+50) In her "My Day" column of January 18, 1961, former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt* gave her description of the President-elect of the United States.  She wrote...

"As the day approaches, the weight of the responsibility he will carry must grow heavier and heavier.  If he has the right temperament for the job, he feels confident of being able to face...problems and...find solutions."

Mrs. Roosevelt continued... 

"One must have confidence in oneself, trust in God, and (an) optimistic disposition."

In the humble opinion of JFK+50, Eleanor Roosevelt described President-elect John F. Kennedy perfectly.

JFK+50 NOTE

In this same column, Mrs. Roosevelt wrote that the weather predictions for January 20, 1961 promised "clearing skies in the East," so she was hopeful for a "good day" for the inauguration.  As it turned out, there was a massive snow storm in Washington, D.C. on January 19, 1961.  Inauguration Day did have clear skies, but also a great deal of snow on the ground and bitterly cold temperatures.

*Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) was born in New York City and served as First Lady of the United States (1933-1945).  AER was U.S. delegate to the United Nations (1945-1952) & earned the nickname "First Lady of the World." 

SOURCE

Eleanor Roosevelt, "My Day, January 18, 1961," The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Digital Edition (2017), www2.gwu.edu/
 

JFK & ER

New York City

October 11, 1960

NARA/FDR Library Photo

"WE TRUST A PRESIDENT WHO WANTS TO GIVE US A BETTER LIFE"

IN JFK WE SHOULD TRUST SAYS ELEANOR ROOSEVELT

Castine, Maine* (JFK+50)  On November 10, 1960, the day following the declaration of the winner of the presidential election, Eleanor Roosevelt wrote in her "My Day" column that Americans must trust their new President-elect, Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts.

Mrs. Roosevelt writes...

"We, in the United States are the leaders, & if we have courage to face the world situation--to trust a President who wants to give us at home a better life but knows that this can only be valid if at the same time we meet the Communist challenge--then we may be able to save ourselves & the world.

The President-elect will need all the youth & energy & health...to meet the problems & I think Mr. Kennedy will be able to carry out his pledge to 'the long range interests of the United States & the cause of freedom around the world.'"

*Castine, located in south central Maine on the Penobscot Bay, is the home of the Marine Maritime Academy which trains officers for the US Merchant Marine & was established in 1941.

                            Main Street
                         Castine, Maine
Photo by Masonbarge at en.wikipedia

ORGANIZED LABOR WOULD BENEFIT FROM USING DIFFERENT WORDS

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT WRITES ABOUT THE CLOSED SHOP

New York (JFK+50) On January 29, 1947, former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt wrote about the "closed shop*" in her "My Day" newspaper column.  Mrs. Roosevelt's reference was a recent speech by Edward L. Bernays** in which he argued that organized labor would benefit from using "different words," such as the closed shop.

Mrs. Roosevelt writes that to the "uninitiated" the term closed shop often means "controlled" where as in reality it represents an agreement between the employer and the union.

The former First Lady emphasized that while the closed shop was not necessary where a union was strong, a weak union relied on the closed shop for its security.

*Closed shop is a work place where membership in a union is a requirement for being hired as well as for continued employment.

**Edward L. Bernays (1891-1995) was born in Vienna, Austria.  His uncle was Sigmund Freud.  ELB was a graduate of Cornell University and became an American pioneer in the field of public relations.  He is known as the father of Public Relations.

JFK+50 NOTE:

My Dad and Mother, Roy and Mavis White, were married 72 years ago today, January 29, 1947.  Roy, a World War II veteran, is 95 years old & Mavis, born in Sydney, Australia, is 93.  Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!

SOURCE

"My Day:  January 29, 1947," by Eleanor Roosevelt, www.gwu.edu/

Roy & Mavis (Green) White

Wedding Day

January 29, 1947

Chattanooga, Tennessee

"A DAY TO WIPE OUT OF OUR MEMORIES ALL THAT WAS BAD"

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT'S ADVICE FOR NEW YEAR'S DAY 1960

New York City (JFK+50) Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt offered some timely advice in her "My Day" column for January 1, 1960.  Mrs. Roosevelt, who wrote the column on New Year's Eve, described New Year's Day as a...

"day to wipe out of our memories all that was bad in the past year."

She added, however, that...

"we must strive to keep alive that which was good and which will be helpful."

Mrs. Roosevelt also wrote about the hope that the Soviets would agree to nuclear weapons inspections in the coming year.  She wrote...

"If the Soviets are convinced they can win a communist world without war, I think we may find them agreeing to inspections."

As far as the United States, however, she advised that we ...

"work to set our personal and national house in order." 

SOURCE

"My Day," by Eleanor Roosevelt, January 1, 1960.

JFK & Eleanor Roosevelt
New York City
October 11 1960
NARA Photo

MY DAY ON THE RELIGIOUS ISSUE

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT ON THE RELIGIOUS ISSUE IN 1960

St. Louis, Missouri (JFK+50) Fifty-four years ago today, November 2, 1960, former First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, wrote on the religious issue debated in the presidential campaign of 1960 in her syndicated newspaper column, My Day.

My Day was published six days a week from 1935 to 1962.  Mrs. Roosevelt only missed four publication dates and those came at the time of FDR's death.

Mrs. Roosevelt pointed out that while Protestant ministers were divided on the issue, she was "glad that we are not united in opposing our Constitution."

She discussed the Nation's founding on the principle of religious freedom and explained that there is no religious test for seeking public office.

Mrs. Roosevelt, who had endorsed Senator John F. Kennedy, wrote that there was a...

"sense of identity between the people and the (Senator)" as evidenced by the crowds that "wanted to shake (his) hand, or...touch him, or...(just) look at him."

Statue of Eleanor Roosevelt

FDR Memorial

Washington, D.C.

Photo by John White (2003)

Excerpts from ER's column...

"MY DAY"
November 2, 1960
by Eleanor Roosevelt

St. Louis--Reformation Sunday is past and our Protestant ministers have divided.  Some preached anti-Catholic sermons and some did not, and I am rather glad that we are not united in opposing our Constitution.

I think it is time for us to face the fact that our country was founded on religious freedom.  People came here from many countries to escape persecution and some of these were Protestants as well as Roman Catholics, & Jews and Quakers...

Our founding fathers carefully left out of the Constitution qualifications on either race or religion...

I do not know what will happen on November 8...but as I...hear about crowds that have greeted Senator Kennedy...and Vice-President Nixon, one interesting observation (is that) the crowds that greet Mr. Kennedy want to shake him by the hand, or...touch him, or...look at him.  This...means a sense of identity between the people and the candidate.

When people finally decide that someone is their man--that he understands and cares about them--though they may not agree with everything he says and does, they are still close to him and they trust him and they believe in him."