Chapter 64

Summary

• The chapter begins with Mary pacing in front of the White House, reflecting on how she is not used to coming here unannounced. Though time is important to her, she felt it necessary to visit Eleanor immediately due to an urgent matter.
• Mary has been unable to speak with Eleanor over the last week, a change from their regular correspondence. Mary arrives unannounced at the White House as she is worried about an immediate issue.
• Eleanor apologizes for making Mary wait. She wants to hear the urgent matter, but is interrupted by Tommy, who has an important letter from Eleanor to Mrs. Churchill that must be sent within the hour.
• Despite the urgency, Mary insists on discussing her issue with Eleanor, which leads to a heated argument between them over feeling undervalued and the importance of their cause for equality.
• Both women apologize for their words. Eleanor confides that her husband Frankin recently asked her to live with him as a man and wife again, a request she declined partially due to lingering resentment over his past affair.
• Mary reveals that she is being investigated by the FBI for potentially being a Communist, which Eleanor reacts to with shock. Mary has known about the investigation for months and came to Eleanor due to recent FBI questioning at her home in Washington, D.C.
• Eleanor assures Mary that she will handle the situation and suggests that Steve Woodburn or Congressman Martin Dies may be behind it.
• Mary fears her race will make her an easier target than people like Shirley Temple, who was also investigated previously. Eleanor assures her that the only difference between them is age and promises to confront J. Edgar Hoover herself if necessary.