Comments on: The Woman Behind the New Deal http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/30/the-woman-behind-the-new-deal/ Firedoglake weblog Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:30:23 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Ian Welsh http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/30/the-woman-behind-the-new-deal/#comment-1890662 Ian Welsh Fri, 01 May 2009 02:20:48 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/30/the-woman-behind-the-new-deal/#comment-1890662 <p>Sorry I missed this. What I know of Perkins comes from Schlessinger, and he certainly agreed with your take on how important she was, as I recall. Didn’t realize she wound up in a dorm room at the end of her life. Sad, but I hope (and expect) she was fine with it, having done what she had done.</p> Sorry I missed this. What I know of Perkins comes from Schlessinger, and he certainly agreed with your take on how important she was, as I recall. Didn’t realize she wound up in a dorm room at the end of her life. Sad, but I hope (and expect) she was fine with it, having done what she had done.

]]> By: Cujo359 http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/30/the-woman-behind-the-new-deal/#comment-1890592 Cujo359 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:58:56 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/30/the-woman-behind-the-new-deal/#comment-1890592 <p>Thanks for dropping by. Just sorry I arrived here so late.</p> Thanks for dropping by. Just sorry I arrived here so late.

]]> By: Phoenix Woman http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/30/the-woman-behind-the-new-deal/#comment-1890590 Phoenix Woman Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:54:42 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/30/the-woman-behind-the-new-deal/#comment-1890590 <p>Kirstin, welcome!</p> <p>RE: Her attitude toward the press — She also preferred to work behind the scenes, did she not? She no doubt saw what a lightning rod Mrs. Roosevelt was for FDR’s foes.</p> Kirstin, welcome!

RE: Her attitude toward the press — She also preferred to work behind the scenes, did she not? She no doubt saw what a lightning rod Mrs. Roosevelt was for FDR’s foes.

]]> By: Kirstin Downey http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/30/the-woman-behind-the-new-deal/#comment-1890589 Kirstin Downey Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:53:55 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/30/the-woman-behind-the-new-deal/#comment-1890589 <p>Thanks for the questions and for joining me today! I loved researching and writing the book, and very much enjoy discussing Frances Perkins. You might want to check out my website, <a href="http://www.kirstindowney.com," rel="nofollow">www.kirstindowney.com,</a> for more information about the book, the research and my work at the Washington Post. And thanks so much for inviting me today, Tula and Firedog!</p> Thanks for the questions and for joining me today! I loved researching and writing the book, and very much enjoy discussing Frances Perkins. You might want to check out my website, http://www.kirstindowney.com, for more information about the book, the research and my work at the Washington Post. And thanks so much for inviting me today, Tula and Firedog!

]]> By: aflcioblogger http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/30/the-woman-behind-the-new-deal/#comment-1890588 aflcioblogger Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:53:35 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/30/the-woman-behind-the-new-deal/#comment-1890588 <p>Interesting you mention that. I was wondering the same thing about Mary Harriman. It sounds like a model Boston marriage. (Goodness knows what Averell would have thought.) I was also curious about her relationship with the president of the Mineworkers (I’m blanking out on his name). Frances (I, like you, call her by her first name) was such an extraordinary person. I’d like to think she had some important and deep love other than in that terribly tragic marriage.</p> Interesting you mention that. I was wondering the same thing about Mary Harriman. It sounds like a model Boston marriage. (Goodness knows what Averell would have thought.) I was also curious about her relationship with the president of the Mineworkers (I’m blanking out on his name). Frances (I, like you, call her by her first name) was such an extraordinary person. I’d like to think she had some important and deep love other than in that terribly tragic marriage.

]]> By: Kirstin Downey http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/30/the-woman-behind-the-new-deal/#comment-1890587 Kirstin Downey Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:46:14 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/30/the-woman-behind-the-new-deal/#comment-1890587 <p>I guess I wonder if she was bisexual or not. She was truly in love with her husband, but he became ill with bipolar disorder. I’m not sure whether her subsequent relationship with Mary Harriman–Averell’s sister–was platonic or romantic. It was certainly a deep connection, and seems like more than a friendship.</p> I guess I wonder if she was bisexual or not. She was truly in love with her husband, but he became ill with bipolar disorder. I’m not sure whether her subsequent relationship with Mary Harriman–Averell’s sister–was platonic or romantic. It was certainly a deep connection, and seems like more than a friendship.

]]> By: LnCiel http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/30/the-woman-behind-the-new-deal/#comment-1890586 LnCiel Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:43:53 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/30/the-woman-behind-the-new-deal/#comment-1890586 <p>Kirstin,<br /> Can you tell us what kind of national health program Perkins wanted to enact?</p> Kirstin,
Can you tell us what kind of national health program Perkins wanted to enact?

]]> By: Kirstin Downey http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/30/the-woman-behind-the-new-deal/#comment-1890585 Kirstin Downey Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:43:39 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/30/the-woman-behind-the-new-deal/#comment-1890585 <p>Some of them remind me of Holocaust deniers. Anyone who has done any real research on the economic conditions of the late 1920s and early 1930s knows how dire the financial situation was then, not just here but in many parts of the world, including Germany and Italy. Each country was desperately trying to find its own way to some semblance of normalcy. Things were so bad that fascism and communism were viewed as real and viable alternatives. Frances Perkins and FDR really, truly believed in capitalism and its restorative capabilities. They developed programs that tide people over until the good times start rolling once again. It’s so strange that some of these ideologues are pretending the Rooseveltians were opposed to capitalism. They just weren’t crazy about out-of-control greed.</p> Some of them remind me of Holocaust deniers. Anyone who has done any real research on the economic conditions of the late 1920s and early 1930s knows how dire the financial situation was then, not just here but in many parts of the world, including Germany and Italy. Each country was desperately trying to find its own way to some semblance of normalcy. Things were so bad that fascism and communism were viewed as real and viable alternatives. Frances Perkins and FDR really, truly believed in capitalism and its restorative capabilities. They developed programs that tide people over until the good times start rolling once again. It’s so strange that some of these ideologues are pretending the Rooseveltians were opposed to capitalism. They just weren’t crazy about out-of-control greed.

]]> By: aflcioblogger http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/30/the-woman-behind-the-new-deal/#comment-1890584 aflcioblogger Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:42:26 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/30/the-woman-behind-the-new-deal/#comment-1890584 <p>What do you still not know about Frances Perkins that you wish you knew?</p> What do you still not know about Frances Perkins that you wish you knew?

]]> By: Kirstin Downey http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/30/the-woman-behind-the-new-deal/#comment-1890583 Kirstin Downey Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:37:17 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/30/the-woman-behind-the-new-deal/#comment-1890583 <p>She viewed things as they really were. She saw that all people were a combination of good and bad. She found ways to help people reach for their highest aspirations. Even someone who is corrupt in many ways can in the right circumstances also do something great. FDR could be petty, vindictive and shamelessly self-promotional, but he could also be far-sighted, progessive and altruistic. He was also politically brilliant, and together they racked up a huge list of accomplishments.</p> She viewed things as they really were. She saw that all people were a combination of good and bad. She found ways to help people reach for their highest aspirations. Even someone who is corrupt in many ways can in the right circumstances also do something great. FDR could be petty, vindictive and shamelessly self-promotional, but he could also be far-sighted, progessive and altruistic. He was also politically brilliant, and together they racked up a huge list of accomplishments.

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