Audio
9. FDR's Bedroom
Transcript
Franklin and Eleanor occupied this room following the 1915 Springwood expansion. By Eleanor’s own account, she moved to the smaller adjacent room after FDR contracted polio so that attendants could administer his physical needs throughout the night. The chair near the fireplace was sometimes where FDR’s Scottish Terrier, Fala, slept. Fala became quite a celebrity, frequently appearing in photographs and newsreels attending conferences with the president and world leaders or inspecting defense plants. After FDR’s death, Fala lived with Eleanor at Val-Kill. He is buried in the Rose Garden, just beyond the grave of Franklin and Eleanor. A marble column marks his burial site. From this corner of the house, FDR could see the Hudson River. During his presidency, he would spend much of his mornings here conducting the business of the nation—signing correspondence, executive orders, and appropriation bills in this room. One of the telephones next to his bed provided direct access to the White House switchboard operator. The small dressing room to the right is filled with some of FDR’s original clothing, including one of his signature fedoras.
Description
FDR's Bedroom
Copyright and Usage Info