Sublime

Lindbergh captured the public’s imagination in a way that is hard to imagine today. The more he turned down interviews, the more his fame grew. The day before his flight, a cameraman had asked Lindbergh’s mother to give him a kiss for a photo. She declined, smiling. “I wouldn’t mind if we were used to that, but we come of an undemonstrative Nordic

they were neither crazy nor alone in their

biographer.

The long, tender love affair between Franklin and Lucy remained shrouded in secrecy until well after the president’s death. Eleanor never mentioned it in her extensive autobiographical writings; Franklin said nothing; and Lucy was among the most private of persons. The families knew, the White House staff was aware, and many in the press had more t

The third was the ultimate political weapon: Alfred Emanuel Smith.

If FDR had presidential ambitions (and certainly Howe did on Franklin’s behalf), he would have to choose between his career and Lucy Mercer.

friends?” Evelyn remembered that I picked her up at her family’s

“Well,” Thompson replied, “I have never before seen a chauffeur get out of a car and kiss the General good morning when he comes from his office.”3