The gatekeeper
Subtitle: Missy LeHand, FDR, and the untold story of the partnership that defined a presidency
By: Kathryn Smith
Edition: First Touchstone hardcover edition.
Published: 2016
Language: eng
Number of pages: 341
ISBN-13: 9781501114960
Subjects: Politics and government; Friends and associates; Private secretaries; Presidents; Biography; Staff
Description: "The first biography of arguably the most influential member of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's administration, Marguerite 'Missy' LeHand, FDR's de facto chief of staff, who has been misrepresented, mischaracterized, and overlooked throughout history ... until now"--

"Journalist Smith (A Necessary War) grants readers an unusual insider's view of F.D.R.'s political career by profiling his longtime private secretary. Marguerite 'Missy' LeHand, a young woman with a modest background, an agile intellect, a pleasant personality, and remarkable stenographer's skills, began working for F.D.R. in 1920, when he ran for vice president. Smith writes particularly well about F.D.R.'s struggle to bounce back from being struck with polio in 1921, explaining the disease and the origins of the Warm Springs, Ga., health spa that he frequented. LeHand was F.D.R.'s most constant companion during the 1920s, sparking rumors--convincingly dismissed by Smith--that they were lovers. The real core of the story is the White House years from 1933 until 1942, when LeHand helped create the vast New Deal bureaucracy. She decided who would see the president and when; today her title would be chief of staff. LeHand worked long hours but took time to enjoy the perks of the job, including a barrage of social invitations and fawning press coverage. Though Smith overstates her claim about LeHand's importance to F.D.R. and his work as president, she delivers a fascinating account of one woman's involvement in an important administration"--Publishersweekly.com.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Prologue: The Daring Flight to Chicago; title: When Missy Was Marguerite; title: Scion of the Hudson Valley Roosevelts; title: The Cuff-Links Gang; title: Adrift; title: Warm Springs; title: Don't You Dare; title: The Governor's Girl Friday; title: Running for President; title: Nothing to Fear; title: Queen of the White House Staff; title: The Ambassador to Russia; title: Woman of Influence; title: Mixing Work and Play; title: Polio Redux; title: Hubris and Hell; title: Missy Knows; title: War; title: Bitter Victory; title: Disaster; title: The Exiled Queen; title: Going Home; title: Epilogue.