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The Gatekeeper: Missy LeHand, FDR, and the Untold Story of the Partnership That Defined a Presidency
The first biography of arguably the most influential member of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s administration, Marguerite “Missy” LeHand, FDR’s de facto chief of staff, who has been misrepresented, mischaracterized, and overlooked throughout history…until now.
Widely considered the first female presidential chief of staff, Marguerite “Missy” LeHand was the right-hand woman to Franklin Delano Roosevelt—both personally and professionally—for more than twenty years. Although her official title as personal secretary was relatively humble, her power and influence were unparalleled. Everyone in the White House knew one If you wanted access to Franklin, you had to get through Missy. She was one of his most trusted advisors, affording her a unique perspective on the president that no one else could claim, and she was deeply admired and respected by Eleanor and the Roosevelt children.
With unprecedented access to Missy’s family and original source materials, journalist Kathryn Smith tells the captivating and forgotten story of the intelligent, loyal, and clever woman who had a front-row seat to history in the making. The Gatekeeper is a thoughtful, revealing unsung-hero story about a woman ahead of her time, the true weight of her responsibility, and the tumultuous era in which she lived—and a long overdue tribute to one of the most important female figures in American history.
Widely considered the first female presidential chief of staff, Marguerite “Missy” LeHand was the right-hand woman to Franklin Delano Roosevelt—both personally and professionally—for more than twenty years. Although her official title as personal secretary was relatively humble, her power and influence were unparalleled. Everyone in the White House knew one If you wanted access to Franklin, you had to get through Missy. She was one of his most trusted advisors, affording her a unique perspective on the president that no one else could claim, and she was deeply admired and respected by Eleanor and the Roosevelt children.
With unprecedented access to Missy’s family and original source materials, journalist Kathryn Smith tells the captivating and forgotten story of the intelligent, loyal, and clever woman who had a front-row seat to history in the making. The Gatekeeper is a thoughtful, revealing unsung-hero story about a woman ahead of her time, the true weight of her responsibility, and the tumultuous era in which she lived—and a long overdue tribute to one of the most important female figures in American history.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published September 6, 2016
160 people are currently reading
651 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Smith
7 books10 followersKathryn Smith is a journalist and writer with a life-long interest in FDR and his circle. Her curiosity about Marguerite LeHand arose when she read fleeting mentions of the enigmatic secretary in books about FDR and wondered, “Who was she? What was she like?” Three years and hundreds of hours of research later, she had her answer.
Smith has lived all her life in Georgia and South Carolina, and earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at the University of Georgia. She worked as a daily newspaper reporter and editor, and has been the book columnist for the Anderson Independent Mail for twenty years. Her specialization in health care reporting led to the establishment and management of a charity for cancer patients in her hometown of Anderson, S.C.
Smith also has a special interest in polio through her long membership in Rotary International. (She was one of the first women inducted into Rotary in the late 1980s.) She has been involved in Rotary’s worldwide effort to eradicate polio, called PolioPlus, and she has lectured and spoken on FDR’s leadership in the polio arena. Smith is the author of an oral history of World War II told by living veterans and civilians called A Necessary War. (From author's website)
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. Please use four (4) spaces between the first and last name to file under this author.
Smith has lived all her life in Georgia and South Carolina, and earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at the University of Georgia. She worked as a daily newspaper reporter and editor, and has been the book columnist for the Anderson Independent Mail for twenty years. Her specialization in health care reporting led to the establishment and management of a charity for cancer patients in her hometown of Anderson, S.C.
Smith also has a special interest in polio through her long membership in Rotary International. (She was one of the first women inducted into Rotary in the late 1980s.) She has been involved in Rotary’s worldwide effort to eradicate polio, called PolioPlus, and she has lectured and spoken on FDR’s leadership in the polio arena. Smith is the author of an oral history of World War II told by living veterans and civilians called A Necessary War. (From author's website)
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. Please use four (4) spaces between the first and last name to file under this author.
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May 30, 2021
Marguerite "Missy" LeHand was far more than just the private secretary of Franklin Roosevelt. In many ways, she is the reason that FDR even ran for further political office after his contraction of polio.
Having been taken on as an aid for FDR's 1920 vice-presidential election campaign, Missy was taken by FDR, who hired her as his own personal secretary. Missy moved to the Bronx so she could be closer to her new employer, and for the next twenty years, Missy would serve Franklin, and the Roosevelt family, without fail.
In many ways the FDR Whitehouse, was the LeHand Whitehouse. Because of Eleanor's extensive tours around the country and the world, she was rarely at the 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and so the job of hostess often fell on Missy, a mantel she was more than happy to carry.
There have been, and continue to be, many rumors surrounding the private relationship between Missy LeHand and FDR. And while it is true that the two of them were attracted to the other, and had plenty of time just the two of them, it is unlikely, given the evidence we have now to assume that their relationship was something more than just that of two friendly people, who enjoyed each others company. In fact, for much of her time at the Whitehouse, Missy was romantically involved with, and briefly engaged too, William C. Bullitt, an American diplomat, who served as the US ambassador to France during the second world war, as well as the first US ambassador to the Soviet Union. However, Missy cut off the engagement after a trip to Moscow, when she discovered about an affair that Bullitt was having with a Russian ballet dancer.
For most all of Missy's adult life, FDR, and the Roosevelt family was her sole focus. Spending every waking moment dictating, transcribing, and taking care of every aspect of the Whitehouse, Missy kept everything running like a ship, in order to let FDR have the space and environment he needed to thrive in.
Missy would serve as the first female Whitehouse Chief of Staff until June, 1941 when she collapsed at a Whitehouse lunch party, and was rushed to the hospital. She would never return to the Whitehouse, or to any of the ways of the life she had known, and loved so much.
Missy would be between sickness and somewhat health for the next three years, finally passing away on July 31, 1944, she would be buried in the Roosevelt family cemetery, next to those of whom she served without fail or complaint for more than half her life.
I highly recommend this book. It is the story of a remarkable woman, who deserves the spotlight she has long been starved of. Five stars.
Having been taken on as an aid for FDR's 1920 vice-presidential election campaign, Missy was taken by FDR, who hired her as his own personal secretary. Missy moved to the Bronx so she could be closer to her new employer, and for the next twenty years, Missy would serve Franklin, and the Roosevelt family, without fail.
In many ways the FDR Whitehouse, was the LeHand Whitehouse. Because of Eleanor's extensive tours around the country and the world, she was rarely at the 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and so the job of hostess often fell on Missy, a mantel she was more than happy to carry.
There have been, and continue to be, many rumors surrounding the private relationship between Missy LeHand and FDR. And while it is true that the two of them were attracted to the other, and had plenty of time just the two of them, it is unlikely, given the evidence we have now to assume that their relationship was something more than just that of two friendly people, who enjoyed each others company. In fact, for much of her time at the Whitehouse, Missy was romantically involved with, and briefly engaged too, William C. Bullitt, an American diplomat, who served as the US ambassador to France during the second world war, as well as the first US ambassador to the Soviet Union. However, Missy cut off the engagement after a trip to Moscow, when she discovered about an affair that Bullitt was having with a Russian ballet dancer.
For most all of Missy's adult life, FDR, and the Roosevelt family was her sole focus. Spending every waking moment dictating, transcribing, and taking care of every aspect of the Whitehouse, Missy kept everything running like a ship, in order to let FDR have the space and environment he needed to thrive in.
Missy would serve as the first female Whitehouse Chief of Staff until June, 1941 when she collapsed at a Whitehouse lunch party, and was rushed to the hospital. She would never return to the Whitehouse, or to any of the ways of the life she had known, and loved so much.
Missy would be between sickness and somewhat health for the next three years, finally passing away on July 31, 1944, she would be buried in the Roosevelt family cemetery, next to those of whom she served without fail or complaint for more than half her life.
I highly recommend this book. It is the story of a remarkable woman, who deserves the spotlight she has long been starved of. Five stars.
February 2, 2017
I have long been curious about Marguerite (Missy) LeHand. This book “The Gate Keeper” came out in September of 2016 and has been on a stack waiting for me to read. Missy has been in every book about FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt that I have read. It is great to find a book all about her.
Missy went to work for FDR in 1920 when he was running for Vice President as his personal secretary and all around aide. She worked for him until her stroke. She was with him through his ordeal with polio. She helped him build the Warm Springs Center for Rehabilitation. She went to Albany from 1928 to 1932 when he was Governor of New York and of course she was still at his side in the While House from 1933 until her stroke in June of 1941. FDR paid for Missy’s medical care. FDR said Missy had a genius for getting things done.
Smith says Missy was a formidable multi-talented multitasker. When in the White House she oversaw a staff of 50 people and in-fact functioned as Chief of Staff, the only woman to do so. This freed up Harry Hopkins for meeting with people and to work the politics. Eleanor hated the role of hostess so Missy took on this role in her place and was extremely talented at it. Missy took care of all of FDR’s personal and business affairs and was his constant companion. Missy also had excellent relationship with Eleanor. There is no question Missy was a central figure in FDR’s personal and political life. Smith says there were rumors of an affair between them particularly when they lived and work on his houseboat named Larooco not long after he came down with polio. Smith goes on to say there is no proof of an affair. Missy dated William Bullitt in 1933; Bullitt went on to be FDR’s Ambassador to the Soviet Union.
The book is well written and meticulously researched. Apparently, Smith had access to letters, photos and notes not seen before. Smith is a journalist and the writing is in the style of a reporter. It is well documented and easy to read.
Bernadette Dunne does an excellent job narratoring the book. Dunne is a multi-award winning audiobook narrator.
Missy went to work for FDR in 1920 when he was running for Vice President as his personal secretary and all around aide. She worked for him until her stroke. She was with him through his ordeal with polio. She helped him build the Warm Springs Center for Rehabilitation. She went to Albany from 1928 to 1932 when he was Governor of New York and of course she was still at his side in the While House from 1933 until her stroke in June of 1941. FDR paid for Missy’s medical care. FDR said Missy had a genius for getting things done.
Smith says Missy was a formidable multi-talented multitasker. When in the White House she oversaw a staff of 50 people and in-fact functioned as Chief of Staff, the only woman to do so. This freed up Harry Hopkins for meeting with people and to work the politics. Eleanor hated the role of hostess so Missy took on this role in her place and was extremely talented at it. Missy took care of all of FDR’s personal and business affairs and was his constant companion. Missy also had excellent relationship with Eleanor. There is no question Missy was a central figure in FDR’s personal and political life. Smith says there were rumors of an affair between them particularly when they lived and work on his houseboat named Larooco not long after he came down with polio. Smith goes on to say there is no proof of an affair. Missy dated William Bullitt in 1933; Bullitt went on to be FDR’s Ambassador to the Soviet Union.
The book is well written and meticulously researched. Apparently, Smith had access to letters, photos and notes not seen before. Smith is a journalist and the writing is in the style of a reporter. It is well documented and easy to read.
Bernadette Dunne does an excellent job narratoring the book. Dunne is a multi-award winning audiobook narrator.
April 6, 2017
This book would be better served as a multi page article in a magazine like Smithsonian. There are good bits but to sparsely spread over the pages. When asked what I was reading in the breakroom at work, the reply to my response was "Didn't she have an affair with the president?" 3 or 4 times in almost as many discussions, so there is a good reason to make the argument of the book that history has overlooked her role and aptitude in the FDR administration.
However, 269 pages are not needed to make a fairly straightforward argument that boils down to her position in our times is more equivalent to Chief of Staff, she adeptly handled a variety of personalities and agendas, she was a trusted adviser to the president, and had received a fair amount of notoriety in her day. The book languishes with endless scene setting of the world Missy LeHand moved in without substantive evidence of what Missy thought or who she was as a person. Mostly I was left the impression, "this was happening, that was happening, oh yeah, and Missy was there." at the end of the book it is acknowledged how little personal documentation was left behind to provide insight into her thoughts and activities. The second to last paragraph in the book concisely makes the case of the preceding 200+ pages.
I agree with the premise that history should recast her. Now, if some magazine or website will provide the condensed version that cuts out the filler in this book.
However, 269 pages are not needed to make a fairly straightforward argument that boils down to her position in our times is more equivalent to Chief of Staff, she adeptly handled a variety of personalities and agendas, she was a trusted adviser to the president, and had received a fair amount of notoriety in her day. The book languishes with endless scene setting of the world Missy LeHand moved in without substantive evidence of what Missy thought or who she was as a person. Mostly I was left the impression, "this was happening, that was happening, oh yeah, and Missy was there." at the end of the book it is acknowledged how little personal documentation was left behind to provide insight into her thoughts and activities. The second to last paragraph in the book concisely makes the case of the preceding 200+ pages.
I agree with the premise that history should recast her. Now, if some magazine or website will provide the condensed version that cuts out the filler in this book.
October 26, 2016
Secretary Clinton may become America's first female president, but she's not the first female secretary to hold a powerful position in a presidential administration.
As Kathryn Smith reveals in her new book, The Gatekeeper: Missy LeHand, FDR, and the Untold Story of the Partnership That Defined a Presidency, another secretary played a strong but hidden hand in the Oval Office. Marguerite LeHand, personal secretary to Franklin D. Roosevelt for nearly twenty years, served as his confidant, communicator, adviser, companion and hostess, both in Washington and at FDR's Little White House in Warm Springs, GA. The only place she did not play a prominent role was in Hyde Park, where Sara Roosevelt, FDR's mother, seems to have distrusted her and perhaps feared her closeness to Franklin. To "Missy" (the Roosevelt children's name for her), FDR was FD (in writing, Effdee) a name that no one else used.
LeHand came from a family of working-class Boston Catholic parents. A trained secretary when she went to work for FDR's vice-presidential campaign in 1920, she stayed with him through his "wilderness years" as a polio survivor, spending weeks at a time alone with him on his rickety houseboat, Larooco, and helping him build what became the Warm Springs Center for Rehabilitation for polio sufferers. She went to Albany with him during his years as governor (1928-1932), and served him from 1933 to 1941 in the White House. LeHand was incapacitated by a stroke in June, 1941. FDR amended his will to leave her half of the income from his estate for her medical care. "I owed her that much," FDR said to his son James. "She served me so well for so long and asked so little in return."
In the writing of her book, Ms. Smith had access to a treasure trove of primary materials—letters, notes, photos, invitations, newspaper clippings—that had not yet been seen. They enabled her, she says, "to flesh out [Missy's] portrait—the way she expressed herself in writing, her love of family, her glamour and desirability in Washington society, the playful relationship she had with everyone in the White House, from F.D.R. down to her co-workers in the West Wing."
These materials also help to set the record straight with regard to LeHand's love life. While Missy and Effdee might have been lovers during the wilderness years (that's speculation: there is no evidence either way), Smith reveals that in 1933 LeHand fell in love with William C. Bullitt in 1933, a witty, engaging man whom FDR appointed the first ambassador to the Soviet Union. There were rumors of an engagement, but LeHand denied them, and Smith puts the matter firmly to rest. "There is no indication in her letters that she believed their relationship would lead to marriage," she writes.
In the White House, FDR's secretary was indispensable:
If there were any doubts that LeHand was a central figure in FDR's personal and political life, Kathryn Smith's lively, meticulously documented book has laid them to rest. Smith has given us a carefully drawn portrait of a brave and talented woman whose dedication to FDR shaped her life and his.
As Kathryn Smith reveals in her new book, The Gatekeeper: Missy LeHand, FDR, and the Untold Story of the Partnership That Defined a Presidency, another secretary played a strong but hidden hand in the Oval Office. Marguerite LeHand, personal secretary to Franklin D. Roosevelt for nearly twenty years, served as his confidant, communicator, adviser, companion and hostess, both in Washington and at FDR's Little White House in Warm Springs, GA. The only place she did not play a prominent role was in Hyde Park, where Sara Roosevelt, FDR's mother, seems to have distrusted her and perhaps feared her closeness to Franklin. To "Missy" (the Roosevelt children's name for her), FDR was FD (in writing, Effdee) a name that no one else used.
LeHand came from a family of working-class Boston Catholic parents. A trained secretary when she went to work for FDR's vice-presidential campaign in 1920, she stayed with him through his "wilderness years" as a polio survivor, spending weeks at a time alone with him on his rickety houseboat, Larooco, and helping him build what became the Warm Springs Center for Rehabilitation for polio sufferers. She went to Albany with him during his years as governor (1928-1932), and served him from 1933 to 1941 in the White House. LeHand was incapacitated by a stroke in June, 1941. FDR amended his will to leave her half of the income from his estate for her medical care. "I owed her that much," FDR said to his son James. "She served me so well for so long and asked so little in return."
In the writing of her book, Ms. Smith had access to a treasure trove of primary materials—letters, notes, photos, invitations, newspaper clippings—that had not yet been seen. They enabled her, she says, "to flesh out [Missy's] portrait—the way she expressed herself in writing, her love of family, her glamour and desirability in Washington society, the playful relationship she had with everyone in the White House, from F.D.R. down to her co-workers in the West Wing."
These materials also help to set the record straight with regard to LeHand's love life. While Missy and Effdee might have been lovers during the wilderness years (that's speculation: there is no evidence either way), Smith reveals that in 1933 LeHand fell in love with William C. Bullitt in 1933, a witty, engaging man whom FDR appointed the first ambassador to the Soviet Union. There were rumors of an engagement, but LeHand denied them, and Smith puts the matter firmly to rest. "There is no indication in her letters that she believed their relationship would lead to marriage," she writes.
In the White House, FDR's secretary was indispensable:
A formidable, multitalented multitasker, Missy might on any given day be directing the work of fifty staffers, writing a check to Franklin Jr.' s doctor for treatment of hemorrhoids, telling the president the wording in a speech "just doesn't sound like you," soothing an irate bureaucrat who couldn't get an appointment, and then racing over to the White House to "pour tea for a crowd of archaeologists." In a letter she dashed off to her niece Babe, Missy lamented, "I am having a devilish time trying to finish this—the telephone—callers & that man—the P!!"
If there were any doubts that LeHand was a central figure in FDR's personal and political life, Kathryn Smith's lively, meticulously documented book has laid them to rest. Smith has given us a carefully drawn portrait of a brave and talented woman whose dedication to FDR shaped her life and his.
July 9, 2017
From the book jacket: Marguerite “Missy” LeHand was the private secretary and right-hand woman of Franklin Delano Roosevelt for more than twenty years, serving as de facto chief of staff in the White House – a position never held by a woman before or since. From her perch at Roosevelt’s side, she offered him counsel on Supreme Court and cabinet appointments – and on events as momentous as the unfolding war in Europe (and as minor as whom to invite for dinner).
My reactions
I had never heard of Miss LeHand, and yet she was written about during her tenure as Roosevelt’s private secretary, with a Time magazine cover in 1934 that featured the four people who formed FDR’s secretariat, and several profile articles in Life and Look magazines, as well as regular mention in newspapers. So how is it that she has slipped out of our collective memories?
Perhaps the answer is that, until this work, there has never been a biography of this extraordinary woman. Smith did extensive research and she includes detailed notes and a bibliography at the end of the main biography. Her interest in Missy and her access to letters, journals and records, helped Smith craft a book that is interesting, balanced and fascinating. There is controversy, to be sure, about LeHand’s actual role in FDR’s life, with some people claiming that she was the President’s mistress, while others refute that. Smith’s research leads her to the conclusion that Missy was not a love interest but a close and reliable confidant, a person the Roosevelts (both Franklin and Eleanor) trusted and depended upon. The high regard in which Missy LeHand was held is evidenced by the fact that the Roosevelts paid for all her medical expenses after her major stroke, and the family continues to pay for the maintenance of her gravesite.
I found the Afterword and Acknowledgements section almost as fascinating as the main biography. In it Smith relates how she came across a reference to Missy LeHand which piqued her interest. When she began searching for a biography to read, she discovered the lack of one. The rest, as they say, is history.
My reactions
I had never heard of Miss LeHand, and yet she was written about during her tenure as Roosevelt’s private secretary, with a Time magazine cover in 1934 that featured the four people who formed FDR’s secretariat, and several profile articles in Life and Look magazines, as well as regular mention in newspapers. So how is it that she has slipped out of our collective memories?
Perhaps the answer is that, until this work, there has never been a biography of this extraordinary woman. Smith did extensive research and she includes detailed notes and a bibliography at the end of the main biography. Her interest in Missy and her access to letters, journals and records, helped Smith craft a book that is interesting, balanced and fascinating. There is controversy, to be sure, about LeHand’s actual role in FDR’s life, with some people claiming that she was the President’s mistress, while others refute that. Smith’s research leads her to the conclusion that Missy was not a love interest but a close and reliable confidant, a person the Roosevelts (both Franklin and Eleanor) trusted and depended upon. The high regard in which Missy LeHand was held is evidenced by the fact that the Roosevelts paid for all her medical expenses after her major stroke, and the family continues to pay for the maintenance of her gravesite.
I found the Afterword and Acknowledgements section almost as fascinating as the main biography. In it Smith relates how she came across a reference to Missy LeHand which piqued her interest. When she began searching for a biography to read, she discovered the lack of one. The rest, as they say, is history.
August 6, 2016
The Gatekeeper: Missy LeHand, FDR, and the Untold Partnership that Defined a Presidency by Kathryn Smith is the first biography of President Roosevelt's constant companion for twenty years in the office and out, the first female 'chief of staff'.
With only a high school education Missy was hired as a personal secretary before FDR contracted polio. She rose with her boss to become his 'gatekeeper', and an influential and respected advisor in the White House.
Missy dedicated her life to her boss, on call 24-7. She accompanied FDR to Warm Springs, which Eleanor disliked, or on his cruises and vacations. She served as his hostess while Eleanor was following her own interests. Missy was given rooms in the governor's mansion and the White House. Missy was also intimate with Eleanor and the Roosevelt family.
Hobnobbing with the powerful and high society, including Joe Kennedy, Missy could pull off glamour and had flirtations and love affairs. Popular magazines ran articles about her. Her love letters to Bill Bullitt offer us glimpses of the woman.
Smith's biography covers FDR's life and career showing how Missy played her part. Much of this information I had already learned from other books about FDR. This book sheds the most light on Missy's private life, her health issues and death, her family, and the articles and comments written about her by others, and especially her love letters.
I was glad to see a book about Missy. For those not familiar with the life of FDR, Smith offers a complete outline of his life. As I had read quite a few books on FDR, including James Tobin's The Man He Became , A First Class Temperament by Geoffrey Ward, and Doris Kearns Goodwin's marvelous No Ordinary Time, I sped read through much of the early parts of the book; the information was not new to me.
I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
With only a high school education Missy was hired as a personal secretary before FDR contracted polio. She rose with her boss to become his 'gatekeeper', and an influential and respected advisor in the White House.
Missy dedicated her life to her boss, on call 24-7. She accompanied FDR to Warm Springs, which Eleanor disliked, or on his cruises and vacations. She served as his hostess while Eleanor was following her own interests. Missy was given rooms in the governor's mansion and the White House. Missy was also intimate with Eleanor and the Roosevelt family.
Hobnobbing with the powerful and high society, including Joe Kennedy, Missy could pull off glamour and had flirtations and love affairs. Popular magazines ran articles about her. Her love letters to Bill Bullitt offer us glimpses of the woman.
Smith's biography covers FDR's life and career showing how Missy played her part. Much of this information I had already learned from other books about FDR. This book sheds the most light on Missy's private life, her health issues and death, her family, and the articles and comments written about her by others, and especially her love letters.
I was glad to see a book about Missy. For those not familiar with the life of FDR, Smith offers a complete outline of his life. As I had read quite a few books on FDR, including James Tobin's The Man He Became , A First Class Temperament by Geoffrey Ward, and Doris Kearns Goodwin's marvelous No Ordinary Time, I sped read through much of the early parts of the book; the information was not new to me.
I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
August 1, 2018
You may have never heard of this woman however Kathryn Smith has shed some light on Franklin Roosevelt’s most important person in his White House - Missy Lehand. She started out as a secretary to Franklin when he was Governor of New York. When Roosevelt became President he brought Missy with him.
It was said that only Missy and Franklin’s wife Eleanor were the only ones who could tell FDR exactly what they were feeling. Cabinet members often asked Missy to talk to the President for them.
FDR went to Warm Springs Georgia to help him with his polio. Missy also went with him taking care of his every need.
As we entered World War II FDR lost his best most loyal follower due to Missy having a stoke. In 1941 she was in a wheel chair just like her boss had always been. FDR didn’t call or visit her often but he did pay for all her medical expenses. She passed away at the relatively young age of just 46. It was interestingly noted that many (in fact 5 of FDR’s closest advisors) of FDR’s assistants had died an untimely death. This hadn’t gone unnoticed. In fact, this led White House maid Lillian Rogers to remark “the White House used up people like soap!”
It was said that only Missy and Franklin’s wife Eleanor were the only ones who could tell FDR exactly what they were feeling. Cabinet members often asked Missy to talk to the President for them.
FDR went to Warm Springs Georgia to help him with his polio. Missy also went with him taking care of his every need.
As we entered World War II FDR lost his best most loyal follower due to Missy having a stoke. In 1941 she was in a wheel chair just like her boss had always been. FDR didn’t call or visit her often but he did pay for all her medical expenses. She passed away at the relatively young age of just 46. It was interestingly noted that many (in fact 5 of FDR’s closest advisors) of FDR’s assistants had died an untimely death. This hadn’t gone unnoticed. In fact, this led White House maid Lillian Rogers to remark “the White House used up people like soap!”
November 28, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book about the woman who broke the glass ceiling before there was a glass ceiling. In the 1930’s Marguerite “Missy” LeHand took the profession of being a Secretary to an entirely new level and elevated it to something beyond.
Missy LeHand: “Missy had climbed high for a young woman of undistinguished background, without a college education or any social connections. She had done it with her own unique combination of brains, street smarts, intuition, tact, patience, and charm”. (Pg.257)
Because Missy did not leave any diaries of her own the author had to dig deep to find what information she could to give the reader a satisfying look into the world of the woman who was closest to FDR (apart from Eleanor) and in some cases even more so. And NO! There is absolutely no evidence that she was a mistress to FDR.
Missy was, by all accounts, a vital woman with great energy, verve and vigor which makes the way her life came to an abrupt end a heart-breaking tear jerker.
***PBS – Masterpiece Theatre mini-series (2020) “Atlantic Crossing” presents a look into the relationship between Crown Princess Martha of Norway and President Franklin Roosevelt (a relationship important enough to be mentioned in Smith’s book). Lucy Russell plays Missy.***
Missy LeHand: “Missy had climbed high for a young woman of undistinguished background, without a college education or any social connections. She had done it with her own unique combination of brains, street smarts, intuition, tact, patience, and charm”. (Pg.257)
Because Missy did not leave any diaries of her own the author had to dig deep to find what information she could to give the reader a satisfying look into the world of the woman who was closest to FDR (apart from Eleanor) and in some cases even more so. And NO! There is absolutely no evidence that she was a mistress to FDR.
Missy was, by all accounts, a vital woman with great energy, verve and vigor which makes the way her life came to an abrupt end a heart-breaking tear jerker.
***PBS – Masterpiece Theatre mini-series (2020) “Atlantic Crossing” presents a look into the relationship between Crown Princess Martha of Norway and President Franklin Roosevelt (a relationship important enough to be mentioned in Smith’s book). Lucy Russell plays Missy.***
November 23, 2021
A thoroughly enjoyable read about an average American who, through hard work, dedication, virtue and faith became a vital hero. Finally, she is not an unsung hero. This great biography was well written and a page turner. It was a tribute to a real woman who became a real example of the American dream and promise. This walk through the era was a good history book as well as a biography everyone should enjoy and relish.
May 8, 2019
Very interesting portrayal of FDR's secretary. If you like biographies, you will really enjoy this. Highly recommend.
January 11, 2018
This book wasn't as interesting as I had expected it to be, perhaps because the author didn't have a lot to work with and had to repeat herself much of the time. There are few papers left regarding Missy LeHand. Although her life was very important to FDR and those of that time period, she was a background figure and not one who would be remembered by historians. She worked in an office and just happened to get a job for FDR long before he was president, even before his polio struck, when he was a young man. They hit it off even then, eventually working together for decades. Her influence grew (as a friend and confidante), and when Eleanor Roosevelt and FDR became basically estranged, Missy took on Eleanor's role as hostess and party planner. Although some people have suggested it, there seems to have been no closer relationship more than friends and close coworkers. Missy was the person that FDR could relax with. She was devoted to him and went out of her way to find things to distract him from the difficulties of his life. She helped him with all his pet projects, including the Warm Springs spa in Georgia, his gubernatorial duties in NY, then later with his presidential role in the White House. She would probably be called Chief of Staff if she was there in today's world. The writing is more textbook-like than story-like. I found it dry and somewhat tedious as the author told of parties and vacations and activities over and over. There was a lot of namedropping, but because I'm not a particular history buff, most of the names meant nothing to me, and I had to stop and try to remember who was who. The photos in the book were more interesting, showing both the public and private sides of FDR, with Missy almost always in the background. I was actually far more interested in the FDR information than in Missy's life. Actually the poor thing had pretty much no life, being at FDR's beck and call 24/7. And her illness at the end was very sad. All in all, a mildly interesting book, but slow and quite dry.
I was surprised and amazed at all the things that FDR proposed (and accomplished) during his presidency: "minimum wages and maximum hours, old age insurance, unemployment relief through public works and other means, unemployment insurance, regulation of public utilities, stricter regulations of banks and of the use of public subsidies, farm relief, public development of water power, cheaper electricity especially in rural areas, greater use of state funds for education, crippled persons and the mentally and physically handicapped, repeal of prohibition laws, reforms in the administration of justice, reforestations and proper land use."
This quote made me smile: "Empire State Building construction begun in 1930 (when stocks rebounded slightly reassuring people that the worst was over), completed the next year, the tallest building in the world. But there was such a hard time finding tenants that the building was snidely called the 'Empty State Building.'"
I was surprised and amazed at all the things that FDR proposed (and accomplished) during his presidency: "minimum wages and maximum hours, old age insurance, unemployment relief through public works and other means, unemployment insurance, regulation of public utilities, stricter regulations of banks and of the use of public subsidies, farm relief, public development of water power, cheaper electricity especially in rural areas, greater use of state funds for education, crippled persons and the mentally and physically handicapped, repeal of prohibition laws, reforms in the administration of justice, reforestations and proper land use."
This quote made me smile: "Empire State Building construction begun in 1930 (when stocks rebounded slightly reassuring people that the worst was over), completed the next year, the tallest building in the world. But there was such a hard time finding tenants that the building was snidely called the 'Empty State Building.'"
September 12, 2017
"THE GATEKEEPER" is a book that brings back to life a singularly remarkable woman whose vital contributions to the administration of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) - both professional and private - deserve to be more widely known.
Marguerite "Missy" LeHand came from humble origins in Massachusetts to work for FDR in August 1920 as his private secretary. At that time, he was the vice presidential running mate of Ohio Governor James Cox, who was running for the Presidency against the Republican candidate, Senator Warren G. Harding of Ohio. Though the Cox-Roosevelt ticket went down resoundingly to defeat in November 1920, "Missy" would go on to work faithfully for FDR for the next 20 years, helping him (along with those persons - e.g. Louis Howe, a highly skilled political strategist who had been a supporter of FDR from the time he won election to the NY State Senate in 1910 and FDR's wife Eleanor - who would later form FDR's inner circle in the White House) thru the personal crisis caused by the polio that left him unable to walk for the rest of his life, to the slow and steady upward path to a political resurrection that led to FDR being elected Governor of New York in 1928, and 4 years later, elected President of the United States.
Though Missy LeHand's official position in the Roosevelt White House was personal secretary, she was much more than that. In many respects, she can be considered as the first woman presidential chief of staff. Indeed, Missy enjoyed FDR's complete trust and commanded his respect. She had a room in the White House near the President and played a vital role in the shaping of many of FDR's policies and initiatives. So much so that "if you wanted access to Franklin, you had to go through Missy." By virtue of their deeply close personal relationship (exactly how close is unclear to this day), "[a]s one of his most trusted advisors, Missy had a unique perspective on the president that no one else could claim, and she was deeply admired and respected by Eleanor and the Roosevelt children."
Sadly, this unique working relationship between FDR and Missy LeHand was not to last. The reasons for that I leave for the reader of this review to discover by reading this fantastic, well-written and researched book.
Marguerite "Missy" LeHand came from humble origins in Massachusetts to work for FDR in August 1920 as his private secretary. At that time, he was the vice presidential running mate of Ohio Governor James Cox, who was running for the Presidency against the Republican candidate, Senator Warren G. Harding of Ohio. Though the Cox-Roosevelt ticket went down resoundingly to defeat in November 1920, "Missy" would go on to work faithfully for FDR for the next 20 years, helping him (along with those persons - e.g. Louis Howe, a highly skilled political strategist who had been a supporter of FDR from the time he won election to the NY State Senate in 1910 and FDR's wife Eleanor - who would later form FDR's inner circle in the White House) thru the personal crisis caused by the polio that left him unable to walk for the rest of his life, to the slow and steady upward path to a political resurrection that led to FDR being elected Governor of New York in 1928, and 4 years later, elected President of the United States.
Though Missy LeHand's official position in the Roosevelt White House was personal secretary, she was much more than that. In many respects, she can be considered as the first woman presidential chief of staff. Indeed, Missy enjoyed FDR's complete trust and commanded his respect. She had a room in the White House near the President and played a vital role in the shaping of many of FDR's policies and initiatives. So much so that "if you wanted access to Franklin, you had to go through Missy." By virtue of their deeply close personal relationship (exactly how close is unclear to this day), "[a]s one of his most trusted advisors, Missy had a unique perspective on the president that no one else could claim, and she was deeply admired and respected by Eleanor and the Roosevelt children."
Sadly, this unique working relationship between FDR and Missy LeHand was not to last. The reasons for that I leave for the reader of this review to discover by reading this fantastic, well-written and researched book.
July 31, 2016
Missy LeHand may not be a political celebrity, but she is certainly a familiar name to anyone with even a passing interest in Franklin Roosevelt's political career. This year I watched Ken Burns excellent TV series on The Roosevelts, so I was interested in reading about the family from another perspective.
Missy LeHand spent her entire adult life working for Franklin Roosevelt and also living (for all intents and purposes as a member of the family) with the Roosevelts. Prior to reading this book my impression was that Ms. Lehand's relationship with FDR was both professional and intimately personal. Ms. Smith worked very hard at presenting a picture of Missy LeHand that would be fair and
"seemly." That said, it appears that either no one knows the depth of the personal relationship between the President and his Secretary, or the relationship is precisely what this author presented it to be: a symbiotic relationship on both the personal and professional level that was very close, but not likely sexual. Darn! I wanted some dish.
Perhaps that is what left me feeling a little less than satisfied with this book. Much of the information was very, very familiar FDR lore. His inner circle. His cocktail hour. His affection for Warm Springs. His time on the water. His fierce ambition. I hoped to feel that I understood both Ms. LeHand and her boss more after reading this biography, but it somehow seemed too familiar and a bit superficial.
The most illuminating information the book offered me (and I am not a history buff) was the depth of the cleft between Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt and the almost shocking lack of true feeling he (apparently) had for others.
Missy LeHand was credited with being one of the five most influential political forces in the Roosevelt administration. I appreciated this perspective but didn't feel that I completely understood how she developed her political acumen or the other skills that made her so valuable to Roosevelt. It was an interesting book, but i left wanting just a little bit more.
Net galley provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Missy LeHand spent her entire adult life working for Franklin Roosevelt and also living (for all intents and purposes as a member of the family) with the Roosevelts. Prior to reading this book my impression was that Ms. Lehand's relationship with FDR was both professional and intimately personal. Ms. Smith worked very hard at presenting a picture of Missy LeHand that would be fair and
"seemly." That said, it appears that either no one knows the depth of the personal relationship between the President and his Secretary, or the relationship is precisely what this author presented it to be: a symbiotic relationship on both the personal and professional level that was very close, but not likely sexual. Darn! I wanted some dish.
Perhaps that is what left me feeling a little less than satisfied with this book. Much of the information was very, very familiar FDR lore. His inner circle. His cocktail hour. His affection for Warm Springs. His time on the water. His fierce ambition. I hoped to feel that I understood both Ms. LeHand and her boss more after reading this biography, but it somehow seemed too familiar and a bit superficial.
The most illuminating information the book offered me (and I am not a history buff) was the depth of the cleft between Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt and the almost shocking lack of true feeling he (apparently) had for others.
Missy LeHand was credited with being one of the five most influential political forces in the Roosevelt administration. I appreciated this perspective but didn't feel that I completely understood how she developed her political acumen or the other skills that made her so valuable to Roosevelt. It was an interesting book, but i left wanting just a little bit more.
Net galley provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2017
I was surprised not to like this book more, given that I've always found Missy LeHand fascinating. She clearly played an essential, even indispensable, role in FDR's life, and their relationship doesn't resemble anything like a modern president's relationship with a personal secretary, as far as I'm aware. It's nice that she's getting her due with her own biography.
So it was disappointing to find that so much of this book was very familiar territory. A lot of it is the same information about FDR's life that shows up over and over in Roosevelt biographies. Yes, there are new details about Missy's life that I didn't know before, but nothing that gave me a substantially new or different or more nuanced understanding of her. And nothing that helped me feel like I really know her better.
Part of this might be that Missy's life is hard to know -- although she clearly loved FDR, we really don't have a smoking gun to answer the (inevitable) question of whether they were lovers. Sadly, a lot of their letters appear to have disappeared.
But the other issue is that we don't get much analysis here. I wanted more insight into questions like, how typical was FDR's relationship with his staff? Was it that unusual for a key staff person to essentially become a member of a politician's household, blurring the line between a professional and a personal staff? Eleanor did this too, but how common was it, really?
Like so many biographies, this one leans too heavily on providing "the facts" and too lightly on providing thoughtful insights. It's an enjoyable read, but not an illuminating one.
So it was disappointing to find that so much of this book was very familiar territory. A lot of it is the same information about FDR's life that shows up over and over in Roosevelt biographies. Yes, there are new details about Missy's life that I didn't know before, but nothing that gave me a substantially new or different or more nuanced understanding of her. And nothing that helped me feel like I really know her better.
Part of this might be that Missy's life is hard to know -- although she clearly loved FDR, we really don't have a smoking gun to answer the (inevitable) question of whether they were lovers. Sadly, a lot of their letters appear to have disappeared.
But the other issue is that we don't get much analysis here. I wanted more insight into questions like, how typical was FDR's relationship with his staff? Was it that unusual for a key staff person to essentially become a member of a politician's household, blurring the line between a professional and a personal staff? Eleanor did this too, but how common was it, really?
Like so many biographies, this one leans too heavily on providing "the facts" and too lightly on providing thoughtful insights. It's an enjoyable read, but not an illuminating one.
October 31, 2016
If you are fascinated by all things Roosevelt, as am I, then you know that FDR's right hand was a woman named Missy LeHand who served him faithfully for twenty years. I've always want to know more about Missy, but precious little has been written about her until. Kathryn Smith's deeply researched, beautifully written biography brings Missy LeHand to life. I wish I had known her.
September 11, 2016
3.5 stars. "The Gatekeeper" is the story of Marguerite "Missy" LeHand, who is probably best known for being FDR's secretary, right-handed woman, and rumored lover. This book seeks to shed light on Missy and the way that she affected the FDR presidency. I was drawn to this book by the promise of learning about a woman who history has seemed to forgotten in many ways.
I did enjoy this book but there wasn't as much new information as I had hoped for. A lot of the beginning of the book felt like very much a standard biography of FDR with some about Missy thrown in. Eventually the author began to shed light on what Missy's relationship with FDR and how she became a irreplaceable companion for him for so many years. Missy lived during a time where women are not always given opportunities in the workplace so it was amazing for her to see to have a career like she does with the White House. I loved hearing about this!
There are a couple places it's for the author made some generalized suppositions. For instance, when it came to why FDR never seemed to visit Missy after she falls ill. The author is honest about things she wasn't able to find out though which I also appreciated. I did love the pictures and letters she chose to include in the book. There were so many of them that I had never seen before! Overall, some of this book will feel familiar to those who know a lot about FDR's life but there are some interesting tidbits throughout the book.
I did enjoy this book but there wasn't as much new information as I had hoped for. A lot of the beginning of the book felt like very much a standard biography of FDR with some about Missy thrown in. Eventually the author began to shed light on what Missy's relationship with FDR and how she became a irreplaceable companion for him for so many years. Missy lived during a time where women are not always given opportunities in the workplace so it was amazing for her to see to have a career like she does with the White House. I loved hearing about this!
There are a couple places it's for the author made some generalized suppositions. For instance, when it came to why FDR never seemed to visit Missy after she falls ill. The author is honest about things she wasn't able to find out though which I also appreciated. I did love the pictures and letters she chose to include in the book. There were so many of them that I had never seen before! Overall, some of this book will feel familiar to those who know a lot about FDR's life but there are some interesting tidbits throughout the book.
May 10, 2021
Well-written and enjoyable. Not a lot of unknown information for those who have read a lot about the Roosevelts. It does set the record straight in a way, making it clear that Missy wasn't simply a "White House mistress" as some would say, but a critical member of FDR's staff who served him and the country selflessly.
November 27, 2016
I had eagerly awaited The Gatekeeper since I try to read everything in print about FDR, his family and administration. I was somewhat disappointed with this book because of several typos/punctuation errors (forgiveable in a self-published book, but not from a book publisher) and the fact that it's not as well-written or in-depth as I had hoped. Still, the author did a lot of research in putting The Gatekeeper together, and I must acknowledge her hard work.
June 22, 2024
I picked up the Kindle and Audible versions of this book on Kindle Unlimited so I could switch between the two. That worked well and I hope to find more nonfiction books on KU that offer both.
The Gatekeeper was a fairly light read, but it added to my growing knowledge about the Roosevelt administration, FDR in particular. The author carried the story forward rather well via the timeline of world events. I would have liked to have had more information on her perspective on those events and less on the endless drinking and smoking Missy and FDR indulged in.
The audio narration was good though the voice took a little getting used to.
The Gatekeeper was a fairly light read, but it added to my growing knowledge about the Roosevelt administration, FDR in particular. The author carried the story forward rather well via the timeline of world events. I would have liked to have had more information on her perspective on those events and less on the endless drinking and smoking Missy and FDR indulged in.
The audio narration was good though the voice took a little getting used to.
July 12, 2020
Excellent biography about FDR's secretary. A lot of the book felt more like a biography about FDR, but the author used all the information she could about the subject. There just wasn't a lot that Missy left behind.
September 1, 2018
nsight into FDR’s Inner Circle and a Powerful Unsung Woman’s Role
For 21 years, from 1920 to 1941, one woman was totally dedicated to Franklin D. Roosevelt and rose to a position of White House power and influence as a result. That woman was Missy LeHand, “The Gatekeeper”, who was a 20th Century Renaissance woman, invaluable to FDR both emotionally and practically speaking. Author Kathryn Smith rescues Missy from historical obscurity.
For a man confined by polio, Missy made up for the emotional distance of Eleanor and for FDR’s need of female companionship. Missy was always there, including during the “wilderness years” after he was first struck by polio and before he willed himself to continue in politics. She spent weeks at a time with him at a low point in his personal life, including as his sole female companion on his rickety houseboat Larooco, leading to rumor of a love affair which remains unproven.
Once FDR was ready to resume a political career, Missy was the person he trusted perhaps more than anyone, and she was always there — from the campaign trail, to Albany, to the White House, to Warm Springs, GA.
Most remarkably, as The Gatekeeper she had excellent political instincts and could speak her mind to the President. She served not only as his confidant and advisor but as a companion and hostess because Eleanor was rarely present. Yet she and Eleanor got along as Missy did with most of those competing for influence in FDR’s administration.
This is an engaging insight into the inner workings of FDR’s White House in the 1930s, and a very unusual sanctum it was. There were more triangles than in a geometry class, with much speculation but no proven confirmation of liaisons outside marriage by both FDR and Eleanor. Some rumors swirled around Eleanor’s bodyguard, the handsome State Trooper Earl Miller, a body builder who made Eleanor feel attractive and with whom Missy also flirted. Later speculation focused on the possibility of a lesbian affair involving Eleanor with reporter and traveling companion Lorena Hickok. Missy herself was romantically involved with William Bullitt, US ambassador to the Soviet Union and subsequently ambassador to France when the country fell to the Germans in 1940.
Love of FDR’s life was Lucy Mercer, whose letters Eleanor found in 1918. This lead to a breakdown of Eleanor’s marriage to FDR in all but name only. Behind Eleanor’s back, Lucy continued to have a connection with the President, including surreptitiously being invited to his 1933 inauguration and to clandestine meetings in the 1940s aided by FDR’s daughter, Anna. The final blow came when Lucy, not Eleanor, was present in Warm Springs when FDR died.
Missy was debilitated by a stroke in June 1941 and died in August 1944. Although FDR visited or wrote to her on several occasions, he was consumed by the demands of the war and he turned to other female companionship. This included Norwegian Crown Princess Martha who had fled from Nazi occupation of her country and camped out at the White House, usurping Missy’s place at the cocktail hour and showing that she was adept at flirting with the President. Grace Tully, more detached and businesslike, took on Missy’s administrative duties. Daisy Suckley, a distant cousin, became a companion and confidante, along with daughter Anna who became a backup hostess and companion in addition to serving as a co-conspirator to arrange meetings with Lucy Mercer.
If much of this review catalogues the group of women surrounding FDR and focuses not just on Missy herself, it is because Kathryn Smith’s portrait of Missy is a bit flat — and the reason I have not awarded five stars to the book. We know that Missy was extremely competent and extremely loyal, but her very role as someone so trusted perhaps left a documentary record that is lacking in the rich gossip that would make for a more engaging portrait of the subject of this biography.
Nevertheless, this book does throw a spotlight on someone who had unparalleled power in critical years of the Roosevelt presidency. In 1939, Harold Ickes, a Roosevelt loyalist, captured the importance of Missy’s role. “Missy…sees the issues that are involved and she is so close to the President that she is in a position to keep him steady at times when he needs advice. The President is the kind of a person who needs help of this sort from someone very close to him.”
We can only hope that every president has such a loyal and accomplished advisor.
For 21 years, from 1920 to 1941, one woman was totally dedicated to Franklin D. Roosevelt and rose to a position of White House power and influence as a result. That woman was Missy LeHand, “The Gatekeeper”, who was a 20th Century Renaissance woman, invaluable to FDR both emotionally and practically speaking. Author Kathryn Smith rescues Missy from historical obscurity.
For a man confined by polio, Missy made up for the emotional distance of Eleanor and for FDR’s need of female companionship. Missy was always there, including during the “wilderness years” after he was first struck by polio and before he willed himself to continue in politics. She spent weeks at a time with him at a low point in his personal life, including as his sole female companion on his rickety houseboat Larooco, leading to rumor of a love affair which remains unproven.
Once FDR was ready to resume a political career, Missy was the person he trusted perhaps more than anyone, and she was always there — from the campaign trail, to Albany, to the White House, to Warm Springs, GA.
Most remarkably, as The Gatekeeper she had excellent political instincts and could speak her mind to the President. She served not only as his confidant and advisor but as a companion and hostess because Eleanor was rarely present. Yet she and Eleanor got along as Missy did with most of those competing for influence in FDR’s administration.
This is an engaging insight into the inner workings of FDR’s White House in the 1930s, and a very unusual sanctum it was. There were more triangles than in a geometry class, with much speculation but no proven confirmation of liaisons outside marriage by both FDR and Eleanor. Some rumors swirled around Eleanor’s bodyguard, the handsome State Trooper Earl Miller, a body builder who made Eleanor feel attractive and with whom Missy also flirted. Later speculation focused on the possibility of a lesbian affair involving Eleanor with reporter and traveling companion Lorena Hickok. Missy herself was romantically involved with William Bullitt, US ambassador to the Soviet Union and subsequently ambassador to France when the country fell to the Germans in 1940.
Love of FDR’s life was Lucy Mercer, whose letters Eleanor found in 1918. This lead to a breakdown of Eleanor’s marriage to FDR in all but name only. Behind Eleanor’s back, Lucy continued to have a connection with the President, including surreptitiously being invited to his 1933 inauguration and to clandestine meetings in the 1940s aided by FDR’s daughter, Anna. The final blow came when Lucy, not Eleanor, was present in Warm Springs when FDR died.
Missy was debilitated by a stroke in June 1941 and died in August 1944. Although FDR visited or wrote to her on several occasions, he was consumed by the demands of the war and he turned to other female companionship. This included Norwegian Crown Princess Martha who had fled from Nazi occupation of her country and camped out at the White House, usurping Missy’s place at the cocktail hour and showing that she was adept at flirting with the President. Grace Tully, more detached and businesslike, took on Missy’s administrative duties. Daisy Suckley, a distant cousin, became a companion and confidante, along with daughter Anna who became a backup hostess and companion in addition to serving as a co-conspirator to arrange meetings with Lucy Mercer.
If much of this review catalogues the group of women surrounding FDR and focuses not just on Missy herself, it is because Kathryn Smith’s portrait of Missy is a bit flat — and the reason I have not awarded five stars to the book. We know that Missy was extremely competent and extremely loyal, but her very role as someone so trusted perhaps left a documentary record that is lacking in the rich gossip that would make for a more engaging portrait of the subject of this biography.
Nevertheless, this book does throw a spotlight on someone who had unparalleled power in critical years of the Roosevelt presidency. In 1939, Harold Ickes, a Roosevelt loyalist, captured the importance of Missy’s role. “Missy…sees the issues that are involved and she is so close to the President that she is in a position to keep him steady at times when he needs advice. The President is the kind of a person who needs help of this sort from someone very close to him.”
We can only hope that every president has such a loyal and accomplished advisor.
September 27, 2017
The Gatekeeper is the biography of Missy LeHand, one of the closest individuals to President Franklin Roosevelt for a number of years including his first two terms in office.
Missy LeHand is an interesting individual to me because of the amount of times her name has come up in the countless number of books I've read about FDR or the Roosevelts. Her name often gets mentioned as a background character, so it was of interest to me when I found out a biography was written about this woman who in some circles is considered the first President Chief of Staff.
So how does The Gatekeeper turn out?
It's a mixed result.
I've certainly learned more about Missy than I was previously aware of and certainly got a feel for the events that she was around at the time to experience. However, I felt like there wasn't enough space given to how Missy influenced these events as opposed to simply being in the room.
I've also would have appreciated a short look at the average day in the White House for her and FDR.
Obviously the author took on a monumental task considering the lack of diary or real look into how Missy felt about the events around her due to dying so young coupled with a desire for privacy. However, this lack of information ultimately makes there feel like something is missing when you read it.
Overall though, anyone interested in Missy or learning more about one of the most important individuals around FDR will want to give this a read.
Missy LeHand is an interesting individual to me because of the amount of times her name has come up in the countless number of books I've read about FDR or the Roosevelts. Her name often gets mentioned as a background character, so it was of interest to me when I found out a biography was written about this woman who in some circles is considered the first President Chief of Staff.
So how does The Gatekeeper turn out?
It's a mixed result.
I've certainly learned more about Missy than I was previously aware of and certainly got a feel for the events that she was around at the time to experience. However, I felt like there wasn't enough space given to how Missy influenced these events as opposed to simply being in the room.
I've also would have appreciated a short look at the average day in the White House for her and FDR.
Obviously the author took on a monumental task considering the lack of diary or real look into how Missy felt about the events around her due to dying so young coupled with a desire for privacy. However, this lack of information ultimately makes there feel like something is missing when you read it.
Overall though, anyone interested in Missy or learning more about one of the most important individuals around FDR will want to give this a read.
August 17, 2016
I'd like to thank Netgalley for an advance copy of this book for a fair review.
Being of a certain age and raised conservatively, it's far easier for me to dream of being a person like Missy LeHand than it is to be Hillary Clinton.
It would be fantastic to be taken in by the Roosevelts, to live in the White House and to live history first hand. If I had known about Missy LeHand as a child, I'm sure I would've dreamed of growing up to be like her. Imagine being the first person in America to learn of Hitler's invasion of Poland!
I've never read a biography of Franklin or Eleanor Roosevelt. This book makes me want to read more about both of them. Franklin is portrayed as remote but thoughtful. Eleanor seemed like a difficult person. She wanted to save the world but only if it could be saved her way and on her schedule.
Missy got to know many interesting characters who intersected with the Roosevelts. She had a romance but never marriage or children. Her life was her career.
Missy was able to navigate between the Roosevelts, all the advisors and the White House staff. Unfortunately, her life and career ended premature and abruptly.
I completely enjoyed learning about this forgotten woman and her life in the White House.
Being of a certain age and raised conservatively, it's far easier for me to dream of being a person like Missy LeHand than it is to be Hillary Clinton.
It would be fantastic to be taken in by the Roosevelts, to live in the White House and to live history first hand. If I had known about Missy LeHand as a child, I'm sure I would've dreamed of growing up to be like her. Imagine being the first person in America to learn of Hitler's invasion of Poland!
I've never read a biography of Franklin or Eleanor Roosevelt. This book makes me want to read more about both of them. Franklin is portrayed as remote but thoughtful. Eleanor seemed like a difficult person. She wanted to save the world but only if it could be saved her way and on her schedule.
Missy got to know many interesting characters who intersected with the Roosevelts. She had a romance but never marriage or children. Her life was her career.
Missy was able to navigate between the Roosevelts, all the advisors and the White House staff. Unfortunately, her life and career ended premature and abruptly.
I completely enjoyed learning about this forgotten woman and her life in the White House.
January 14, 2018
This biography was as informative as it was entertaining. Well written, well researched, balanced and a testament to the woman who was FDR's defacto "Chief of Staff". FDR's presidency re-defined America's chief executive for all future time. Missy LeHand was instrumental in helping FDR change the presidency and rescue a nation in distress. This book is a must-have for any library!
May 18, 2017
My boss recommended this book to me. First biography of FDR’s private secretary and ersatz Chief of Staff, a WOMAN, named Marguerite “Missy” LeHand. Very interesting. She came from a middle-class, Irish-American family from south Boston. The book makes a lot of the fact that she “only” went to school through high school but I would suggest that a lot of Americans “only” went to school through high school in that time period. (She was born in 1896.) The book also gives a great and very readable review of FDR’s presidency and that time period. Yet the reader is left feeling sad and lost for Missy; despite all she accomplished, she, like many people in politics, really had nothing left after she left that crazy circus life, and her early death (due to heart complications from childhood rheumatic fever) really underlined how much she had to personally give up in order to reach this level of professional success. Am super glad that her story is seeing the light of day, though, and found it a really fascinating read about an admirable woman. PS I *did* also believe that the author was unable to escape a glowingly, pro-FDR point of view when writing the book. She had her point of view, and that’s fine. PPS The author (I suspect not a Catholic?) also makes quite a point of calling Missy LeHand an Irish Catholic and also pointing to other Irish-Catholics in FDR’s orbit, as if to dispute the claim that FDR was anti-Irish and/or anti-Catholic. Each reader will have to research this on his or her own and can come to their own opinion!
July 1, 2021
This is an absorbing biography on the life of Missy LeHand, the longtime personal secretary of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. She was a woman who was devoted to the man she called FD. She used her influence to advise and influence FDR and was an unofficial Chief of Staff before that role was later to be made a part of the presidential Cabinet by Eisenhower. She was his office wife and the hostess to his events which was a role that Eleanor did not like. Many men of power sought her out as a channel to get to FDR as an unofficial gatekeeper of the back door into the Oval Office including Harry Hopkins, Harold Ickles, and Francis Cardinal Spellman. She was a fun-loving, hard-working, loyal constant companion to FDR who helped him through his polio crisis, governorship of New York, the Great Depression, and three terms of his presidency until a stroke sidelined her. In his will, FDR left her one-half of the income from his estate, telling his son, “She served me so well for so long and asked so little I return.” This book revealed the heart of a remarkable women and also gave a better insight into FDR and this fascinating period in our history.
June 8, 2024
Kathryn Smith's, The Gatekeeper:Missy LeHand, FDR and the Untold Story of the Partnership That Defined a Presidency ID a wonder book that discusses the life and her partnership with Franklin Roosevelt during his years as Governor of New York and during the first 3 terms of his presidency .
Anyone read on Franklin Roosevelt often hears about Marguerite (Missy)LeHand, hus private secretary, but this fine book pulls back the curtain and provides a fuller I understanding of this strong woman who fully entrenched herself in a world typically run by men.
Missy is an important person in Franklin Roosevelt's inner circle. She sacrificed herself to serve him and the country until felled by a devastating stroke, shortly before the United States entered World War II.
A great biography and short book, which is a must-read to gain a better understanding of both Missy and the inner workings behind the scene of the Roosevelt administration.
Anyone read on Franklin Roosevelt often hears about Marguerite (Missy)LeHand, hus private secretary, but this fine book pulls back the curtain and provides a fuller I understanding of this strong woman who fully entrenched herself in a world typically run by men.
Missy is an important person in Franklin Roosevelt's inner circle. She sacrificed herself to serve him and the country until felled by a devastating stroke, shortly before the United States entered World War II.
A great biography and short book, which is a must-read to gain a better understanding of both Missy and the inner workings behind the scene of the Roosevelt administration.
February 16, 2024
I realized I have done Missy LeHand a disservice by assuming the rumors about her being FDR's lover were true. The only real evidence is that one of FDR's sons say LeHand in her nightgown sitting on his father's lap which is no proof at all. The two were undoubtedly close friends but LeHand was also very good at her job as FDR's secretary, advisor, and de facto chief of staff.
The most interesting part of the book concerned the period right after FDR's third election as president which was a turning point in their relationship. He wasn't doing his job and LeHand pressed him about it. FDR liked having a woman near him who thought he hung the moon, and when LeHand stopped hero worshipping him, he looked to his old mistress and a royal refugee to fill that need. I have no doubt that shift in their dynamic contributed to her worsening health and final stroke.
The most interesting part of the book concerned the period right after FDR's third election as president which was a turning point in their relationship. He wasn't doing his job and LeHand pressed him about it. FDR liked having a woman near him who thought he hung the moon, and when LeHand stopped hero worshipping him, he looked to his old mistress and a royal refugee to fill that need. I have no doubt that shift in their dynamic contributed to her worsening health and final stroke.
March 28, 2018
An interesting and well researched biography about Marguerite "Missy" LeHand, the private secretary of Franklin D Roosevelt. Quite amazing that a woman held such an important position and had an incredibly powerful influence at that time. She must have been an amazing diplomat in the true sense of that word.
As usual, a strong and powerful woman is sidelined in historical records. Such a shame that Missy did not keep a personal diary as it would have been fascinating to see some of these historic moments from her point of view. In addition we would have obtained a deeper insight into her lively and humorous personality which I felt was only hinted at and not really brought to the surface by the author.
As usual, a strong and powerful woman is sidelined in historical records. Such a shame that Missy did not keep a personal diary as it would have been fascinating to see some of these historic moments from her point of view. In addition we would have obtained a deeper insight into her lively and humorous personality which I felt was only hinted at and not really brought to the surface by the author.
October 17, 2020
FDR said many times that "Missy is my conscience" This book tells the story of a woman who behind the scene was protecting him from outsiders and sometimes himself.
As a history major and biography reader, much of the story was familiar to me - seeing FDR through Missy's eyes was a new view of the FDR story. Incites from the behind the scene goings on add much to understanding how she helped FDR manage his heavy workload. She was one of Roosevelt’s closest advisors and confidants. Though she has been somewhat forgotten or marginalized through the years, this book shows what a superbly capable woman she was and how she played a key role in the administration until her stroke in 1941 at the age of 50.
If you enjoy reading about FDR this is a must read.
As a history major and biography reader, much of the story was familiar to me - seeing FDR through Missy's eyes was a new view of the FDR story. Incites from the behind the scene goings on add much to understanding how she helped FDR manage his heavy workload. She was one of Roosevelt’s closest advisors and confidants. Though she has been somewhat forgotten or marginalized through the years, this book shows what a superbly capable woman she was and how she played a key role in the administration until her stroke in 1941 at the age of 50.
If you enjoy reading about FDR this is a must read.
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