FINDING HERSELF

Despite an overbearing mother-in-law and the limitations of her traditional role as young society matron and mother, Eleanor appeared to be in love with Franklin.

In September of 1918, Eleanor made a discovery that would change her marriage and challenge her ability to cope. As she unpacked for Franklin, who had become sick while traveling as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, she found a package of love letters. The letters were written between Franklin and Lucy Mercer, Eleanor's social secretary. Few details of the conversations that followed are recorded, yet we know that Eleanor offered Franklin a divorce, and he refused. They would stay together, and he would promise never to see Lucy Mercer again.

Eleanor fell into a depression, which barely lifted for two years. Sara, once highly critical, seemed more supportive of Eleanor. Eleanor and Franklin retreated to their separate circles of friends and respective activities. For Eleanor, this meant cultivating new interests, friends, and activities. Her first real exposure to women in politics would occur during this time, as she became involved with female activists.

In the wake of this sudden break in their relationship, another event happened that would bring Franklin and Eleanor together again in an unexpected way. In 1921, while vacationing at Campobello, Franklin developed what he thought was a cold, and went to bed early. The next day he could not move his legs, and a few days after a doctor made a diagnosis: poliomyelitis, the dreaded disease that attacked the nervous system and often left victims paralyzed. Franklin would never walk unaided again.

As the illness weakened Franklin's body, it gave the couple strength. FDR began to fight and overcome a challenge that the physically active 39-year-old never imagined he would face. With characteristic determination, he would use his inner strength and his new perspective to develop his political career. Eleanor found an inner strength and purpose of her own as she cared for him, and supported him (against her mother-in-law's wishes) in his decision to continue as a politician. A new sort of partnership formed as they worked together to find new ways to meet new challenges.