What a fantastic book to start out the new year! Stephanie Dray has a wonderful, engaging writing style and Frances Perkins is a fascinating and impressive historical figure that I definitely didn't know enough about. It's so motivating to read about strong, intelligent women who are forces of nature. I was also intrigued by a young Franklin D Roosevelt. When I think of FDR, I think of a former president who was in a wheelchair. I never thought of him as a handsome, charismatic, young man who charmed the pants off the people around him. I also loved reading about how much he matured in his thinking as he aged, and certainly after polio left him wheelchair-bound. I loved his undeniable faith in, and support of, Frances Perkins. For FDR to want a woman appointed to his cabinet in the 1930s is truly remarkable. Even when Frances sometimes caused trouble for him, due to her own strong views, his support of her was unshakeable. I'm just not sure we have these kind of role models in today's society, much less in today's political system.
To be totally honest, I had no idea that it was Frances Perkins, and her husband, Paul Wilson, who came up with the idea of Social Security. Like many (most!) Americans, I have never thought about a time before Social Security. It's just always been there. When I think of the drive, ambition, determination and fearlessness it took for her (with the support of FDR) to push this idea through Congress, the House and the Senate, it's hard to fathom.
On top of her work, Frances had a challenging personal life as well. Paul was a good husband for her because he supported her intelligence and independence at a time when women were supposed to stay home, have babies, and take care of the home. He accepted her for who she was. Paul was deeply intelligent in his own right. Unfortunately, he was also mentally ill, which presented itself years after they were married. They both wanted several children, but after losing one to miscarriage and one to stillbirth, they were only able to have one daughter, Susanna. Susanna took after her father, beautiful and intelligent, but saddled with mental illness. Frances felt guilt her entire marriage as she tried to do right by her family and also the American people.
Frances had an eclectic group of close friends that she was deeply loyal to: repeat presidential candidate Al Smith (although she eventually chose to support FDR over Al Smith), Mary Harriman Rumsey (a millionaire socialite who she lived with once her husband was sent to live in an asylum) and Sinclair Lewis (who seemed deeply in love with her for most of his life).
I highly recommend this book! Definitely impressive!
Wendy's Rating: *****
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