FDR’s mother ran his life. When he and Eleanor returned from their European honeymoon, they found that his mother had bought them the house next door to hers and connected the houses with a breezeway. She never trusted Franklin with the family finances and kept the checkbook until she died in her 90s. So FDR had two dominating women telling him what to do. Little wonder he had a mistress.
We visited FDR’s Library in Hyde Park. I was amazed to see how pretty Eleanor was as a young woman. Previously, I only remembered her photos as an elderly woman. Modern orthodontia would have done wonders for her.
The other thing we learned was how incapacitated our military was at the beginning of WWII. We had no combat vehicles and few planes. It was a miracle that we won. It brings the words “Grace of God” to mind.
I think this series will be worth some time, just for the historical context.