Chapter 51
Summary
- The chapter is titled "Eleanor" and takes place in Daytona Beach, Florida on February 18, 1940. Eleanor, the First Lady, visits Mary's house on the occasion of a thirty-fifth anniversary celebration.
- Eleanor reveals to Mary about Steve Woodburn's offensive behavior. Steve had attempted to prevent Eleanor from visiting Bethune-Cookman, a "colored school" associated with Mary.
- Eleanor tells Mary that when she informed Franklin Roosevelt about Steve's behavior, Franklin dismissed it saying she must have misunderstood. He also emphasized that Steve's relationship with the press and the public perception he created for Franklin was too important to put at risk by firing him.
- Steve had threatened Eleanor with "unfortunate" repercussions from senior Democrats in Florida if she visited Daytona. He also suggested that a visit to Bethune-Cookman by the First Lady could jeopardize the college's request for federal funding through the New Deal due to a conflict of interest.
- Eleanor chose not to share these threats with Mary initially as she hoped to protect her and her school. She believed if she made her visit low key, the supposed repercussions wouldn't occur.
- However, Mary ended up inviting the press to the train station, increasing the exposure of Eleanor's visit.
- Eleanor apologizes to Mary, acknowledging that it was inexcusable for her to make decisions on behalf of Mary and her school without giving Mary all the information to make her own decision.
- Mary absolves Eleanor, holding Steve accountable for his own actions. She suggests that Steve might have invented the call from the Democrats. Nevertheless, she affirms her strength and determination to find a way for the school's funding.
- Mary then surprises Eleanor with news that she has arranged for a concert by Roland Hayes to celebrate Eleanor's visit and Bethune-Cookman's anniversary. Attending a concert by Hayes was something Eleanor had naively suggested at their first meeting, unaware of the segregation that would prevent them from doing so.