FREE TO DISAGREE

Eleanor established her right to disagree with her husband at the start of his presidency. In an article, published in the Women's Democratic News, she criticized the First Hundred Days of the New Deal and advocated an end to isolationist policies. Her suggestions regarding increased spending on New Deal programs would eventually be taken (initially, spending was curbed in a failed attempt to balance the budget), yet Franklin seemed hurt by this initial lack of support. He demanded space in the publication for a reply and was given the opportunity to respond.

Eleanor would never again, publicly, take such a strong stance against Franklin's policies; however, she had established the idea that she was free to disagree with her husband. This would help the couple politically. Eleanor could champion a cause, while Franklin, constrained by politics, would take a more conservative public stand. When Eleanor and her political allies had stirred up the issue, and sufficient public support had been established, Franklin would have the political support necessary to back the issue.

Franklin and Eleanor shared political values and goals, yet sometimes disagreed on how to accomplish them. Eleanor, less restrained than Franklin by his position as President and his need to keep political supporters, advocated more radical ideas and took controversial positions. Eleanor disagreed with popular programs, like the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which gave jobs to young men, but not young women. She fought for anti-lynching laws, unsupported by Franklin. She encouraged the inclusion of African-Americans in New Deal programs, defying New Dealers and public opinion in many cases. She advocated involvement in world politics at a time when Americans wanted to remain isolated and uninvolved, and when Franklin relied on the political support of isolationists.

Franklin and Eleanor divided their efforts into separate spheres. Friends and political allies aligned themselves with either the President or the First Lady. Franklin's court and Eleanor's court remained separate and often viewed each other as having different political agendas.

Differences in ideas and methods were both sources of tension and points of freedom for Franklin and Eleanor. As political partners, they would use both their differences and similarities to work together and to achieve common goals.