I stumbled across 'The GateKeeper' while doing family research of the Farwell and LeHand families, and used the book and resultant correspondence with Kathryn Smith, the book's author, to try and figure out more details about this family that started out in Potsdam, New York and by way of its involvement in government, affected so much of what happened during FDR's time as governor and as president.
The book is a well researched look at Marguerite Alice (Missy) LeHand's life, from beginning to end, and along the way we get to see a lot of the national and international political activities going on during the WW II time period. I think perhaps because the book was written by an investigative journalist (Smith), it probably has many microscopic details of the 'behind the scenes activities' of what I suspect we all now view as a very controversial time period in American life.
Even though I was born during FDR's reign of presidency, he has always been a controversial figure to me, probably because of what I have learned about the political shenanigans of that time period. Did FDR know about the attack on Pearl Harbor ahead of time? Was he trying to support the European Jews in his actions? Were the Americans dragged into a war they did not want to be involved in? What about FDR's health problems? Etc, etc., etc. Surprisingly, Smith addresses many of these questions, but from the backside of the story. So, if as Paul Harvey would suggest, you want the rest of the story, this is it. If this book does not end up in FDR's library in Hyde Park, NY, I will be extremely disappointed. Missy LeHand was well loved and respected by both FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt.
BTW, from the Lehand family history perspective, Marguerite Alice "Missy" LeHand was born in Potsdam, New York on Sep 13, 1896 to Daniel J. LeHand and Mary Jane (Graffin) LeHand, who were the children of Irish Catholic immigrants. Margeurite was the youngest of five children born to the couple. Her siblings were Arthur H LeHand (b. Feb, 1879), Daniel (Dan) James LeHand (b. Aug, 1880), Bernard John LeHand (b. Jul 31, 1883), and Anna M LeHand (b. Sep 1889).
When Marguerite was a young child, the family relocated to Somerville, a working class suburb of Boston, Massachusetts, where LeHand was struck by rheumatic fever at age fifteen. It permanently damaged her heart, causing episodes of atrial fibrillation and eventually leading to her premature death. Eleanor Roosevelt later stated that the disease had left her delicate and barred from strenuous exercise. She graduated from Somerville High School in 1917 at the age of 21, where she had taken secretarial courses in preparation for a career. Although she never attended college, in 1937 Rosary College (now called Dominican University) recognized her professional achievements with an honorary Doctor of Laws, presented at the White House on Jun 11, 1937.
The exact nature of LeHand's relationship with FDR has been discussed and debated by historians for years. It is generally accepted that their relationship contained a romantic element, though scholars remain divided on whether the pair had a sexual relationship. LeHand was, however, romantically involved with William C. Bullitt Jr., U.S. ambassador to Russia and later France, from 1933 to 1940, but apparently never contemplated marriage to him. Her devotion to the Roosevelt family and dedication to her career were the most likely impediments to marriage, though she once asked a friend, "How could anyone ever come up to FDR?
In return for LeHand's devotion to him, President Roosevelt paid all of LeHand's later medical bills. He left half the annual income of his estate to his wife, the other half to "my friend, Marguerite A. Le Hand... for medical attention, care and treatment during her lifetime." However, LeHand died in 1944, preceding FDR in death by less than a year. Missy LeHand died in Chelsea Naval Hospital on July 31, 1944, and is buried in Cambridge's Mount Auburn Cemetery.
There is much, much more. Buy the book and read it. It's a keeper.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2018
The book is a well researched look at Marguerite Alice (Missy) LeHand's life, from beginning to end, and along the way we get to see a lot of the national and international political activities going on during the WW II time period. I think perhaps because the book was written by an investigative journalist (Smith), it probably has many microscopic details of the 'behind the scenes activities' of what I suspect we all now view as a very controversial time period in American life.
Even though I was born during FDR's reign of presidency, he has always been a controversial figure to me, probably because of what I have learned about the political shenanigans of that time period. Did FDR know about the attack on Pearl Harbor ahead of time? Was he trying to support the European Jews in his actions? Were the Americans dragged into a war they did not want to be involved in? What about FDR's health problems? Etc, etc., etc. Surprisingly, Smith addresses many of these questions, but from the backside of the story. So, if as Paul Harvey would suggest, you want the rest of the story, this is it. If this book does not end up in FDR's library in Hyde Park, NY, I will be extremely disappointed. Missy LeHand was well loved and respected by both FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt.
BTW, from the Lehand family history perspective, Marguerite Alice "Missy" LeHand was born in Potsdam, New York on Sep 13, 1896 to Daniel J. LeHand and Mary Jane (Graffin) LeHand, who were the children of Irish Catholic immigrants. Margeurite was the youngest of five children born to the couple. Her siblings were Arthur H LeHand (b. Feb, 1879), Daniel (Dan) James LeHand (b. Aug, 1880), Bernard John LeHand (b. Jul 31, 1883), and Anna M LeHand (b. Sep 1889).
When Marguerite was a young child, the family relocated to Somerville, a working class suburb of Boston, Massachusetts, where LeHand was struck by rheumatic fever at age fifteen. It permanently damaged her heart, causing episodes of atrial fibrillation and eventually leading to her premature death. Eleanor Roosevelt later stated that the disease had left her delicate and barred from strenuous exercise. She graduated from Somerville High School in 1917 at the age of 21, where she had taken secretarial courses in preparation for a career. Although she never attended college, in 1937 Rosary College (now called Dominican University) recognized her professional achievements with an honorary Doctor of Laws, presented at the White House on Jun 11, 1937.
The exact nature of LeHand's relationship with FDR has been discussed and debated by historians for years. It is generally accepted that their relationship contained a romantic element, though scholars remain divided on whether the pair had a sexual relationship. LeHand was, however, romantically involved with William C. Bullitt Jr., U.S. ambassador to Russia and later France, from 1933 to 1940, but apparently never contemplated marriage to him. Her devotion to the Roosevelt family and dedication to her career were the most likely impediments to marriage, though she once asked a friend, "How could anyone ever come up to FDR?
In return for LeHand's devotion to him, President Roosevelt paid all of LeHand's later medical bills. He left half the annual income of his estate to his wife, the other half to "my friend, Marguerite A. Le Hand... for medical attention, care and treatment during her lifetime." However, LeHand died in 1944, preceding FDR in death by less than a year. Missy LeHand died in Chelsea Naval Hospital on July 31, 1944, and is buried in Cambridge's Mount Auburn Cemetery.
There is much, much more. Buy the book and read it. It's a keeper.
Marguerite Alice (Missy) LeHAND - The Gatekeeper
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2018
I stumbled across 'The GateKeeper' while doing family research of the Farwell and LeHand families, and used the book and resultant correspondence with Kathryn Smith, the book's author, to try and figure out more details about this family that started out in Potsdam, New York and by way of its involvement in government, affected so much of what happened during FDR's time as governor and as president.Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2018
The book is a well researched look at Marguerite Alice (Missy) LeHand's life, from beginning to end, and along the way we get to see a lot of the national and international political activities going on during the WW II time period. I think perhaps because the book was written by an investigative journalist (Smith), it probably has many microscopic details of the 'behind the scenes activities' of what I suspect we all now view as a very controversial time period in American life.
Even though I was born during FDR's reign of presidency, he has always been a controversial figure to me, probably because of what I have learned about the political shenanigans of that time period. Did FDR know about the attack on Pearl Harbor ahead of time? Was he trying to support the European Jews in his actions? Were the Americans dragged into a war they did not want to be involved in? What about FDR's health problems? Etc, etc., etc. Surprisingly, Smith addresses many of these questions, but from the backside of the story. So, if as Paul Harvey would suggest, you want the rest of the story, this is it. If this book does not end up in FDR's library in Hyde Park, NY, I will be extremely disappointed. Missy LeHand was well loved and respected by both FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt.
BTW, from the Lehand family history perspective, Marguerite Alice "Missy" LeHand was born in Potsdam, New York on Sep 13, 1896 to Daniel J. LeHand and Mary Jane (Graffin) LeHand, who were the children of Irish Catholic immigrants. Margeurite was the youngest of five children born to the couple. Her siblings were Arthur H LeHand (b. Feb, 1879), Daniel (Dan) James LeHand (b. Aug, 1880), Bernard John LeHand (b. Jul 31, 1883), and Anna M LeHand (b. Sep 1889).
When Marguerite was a young child, the family relocated to Somerville, a working class suburb of Boston, Massachusetts, where LeHand was struck by rheumatic fever at age fifteen. It permanently damaged her heart, causing episodes of atrial fibrillation and eventually leading to her premature death. Eleanor Roosevelt later stated that the disease had left her delicate and barred from strenuous exercise. She graduated from Somerville High School in 1917 at the age of 21, where she had taken secretarial courses in preparation for a career. Although she never attended college, in 1937 Rosary College (now called Dominican University) recognized her professional achievements with an honorary Doctor of Laws, presented at the White House on Jun 11, 1937.
The exact nature of LeHand's relationship with FDR has been discussed and debated by historians for years. It is generally accepted that their relationship contained a romantic element, though scholars remain divided on whether the pair had a sexual relationship. LeHand was, however, romantically involved with William C. Bullitt Jr., U.S. ambassador to Russia and later France, from 1933 to 1940, but apparently never contemplated marriage to him. Her devotion to the Roosevelt family and dedication to her career were the most likely impediments to marriage, though she once asked a friend, "How could anyone ever come up to FDR?
In return for LeHand's devotion to him, President Roosevelt paid all of LeHand's later medical bills. He left half the annual income of his estate to his wife, the other half to "my friend, Marguerite A. Le Hand... for medical attention, care and treatment during her lifetime." However, LeHand died in 1944, preceding FDR in death by less than a year. Missy LeHand died in Chelsea Naval Hospital on July 31, 1944, and is buried in Cambridge's Mount Auburn Cemetery.
There is much, much more. Buy the book and read it. It's a keeper.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2016
Top reviews from other countries
BillyBob
It sometimes feels like there is a lot of "routine events" information embedded ...
Reviewed in Canada on February 26, 2018
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The Gatekeeper: Missy Lehand
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