This I Remember

This I Remember
	First edition (1949)
Author	Eleanor Roosevelt
Publisher	Harper & Brothers
Publication date	1949
Pages	387

Last updated October 08, 2022

This I Remember is a 1949 memoir by Eleanor Roosevelt, an American political figure, diplomat, activist and First Lady of the United States while her husband, Franklin D. Roosevelt, was President of the United States. This I Remember was one of four memoirs written by Roosevelt, the other three being: This Is My Story , On My Own, and The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt . It was received well by critics and was a commercial success.

Background

Eleanor Roosevelt was born on October 11, 1884, in New York City. A member of the prominent Roosevelt family, she grew up surrounded by material wealth, but had a difficult childhood, suffering the deaths of both of her parents and a brother before she was ten. Roosevelt was sent by relatives to the Allenswood School five years later. While there, Marie Souvestre, the founder of the school, influenced her. She wrote in This is My Story that "Whatever I have become had its seeds in those three years of contact with a liberal mind and strong personality." When she was eighteen, Roosevelt returned to New York and joined the National Consumers League. She married Franklin D. Roosevelt, her cousin, in 1905. They would have five children.^[1]

Eleanor was involved in her husband's political career as he won a seat in the New York State Senate in 1911 and traveled with him to Washington D.C. when he was made United States Secretary of War in Woodrow Wilson's cabinet. She became involved in volunteer work during World War I. In 1918, she discovered that Franklin was having an affair with Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd and resolved to develop her own life. She continued to help her husband in his political career but also began working in various reform movements, including the women's suffrage movement. As First Lady of the United States following Franklin's election as President of the United States in 1932, Eleanor "set the standard against which president's wives have been measured ever since", working to create opportunities for women, the establishment of the National Youth Administration, and championing civil rights for African-Americans. While Franklin was president she wrote 2,500 newspaper columns, 299 magazine articles, 6 books, and traveled around the country giving speeches.^[1]

Eleanor remained politically active after her husband's death, serving as the first United States Representative to the United Nations and chairing the United Nations Commission on Human Rights when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drafted. She later chaired John F. Kennedy's Presidential Commission on the Status of Women before her death in 1962. The American National Biography concludes that she was "perhaps the most influential American woman of the twentieth century".^[1]

Writing and publication

This I Remember picked up where This Is My Story left off, in the 1920s. It covered Eleanor's life up to Franklin's death in 1945.^[2] She signed a contract to write the book shortly after he died. Cynthia Harris wrote in her biography of Eleanor that "she saw the new book as a way to shed light on FDR's legacy as much as on her own life."^[3] The manuscript was completed in 1949^[4] and it was published in that same year^[5] by Harper & Brothers. The first edition of the book was 387 pages.^[6]

The Ladies' Home Journal had very profitably serialized her first memoir. While Eleanor offered them the rights for This I Remember, Bruce Gold, one of the editors, disliked the manuscript. He wrote that "You have written this too hastily—as though you were composing it on a bicycle while pedaling your way to a fire."^[7] She revised the memoir, but Gold was not satisfied and suggested bringing on a collaborator.^[8] In response, Eleanor left the Journal, taking it and her column to McCall's , which paid $150,000 (equivalent to $1,708,322in 2021) —before reading the draft—for serialization rights and offered to pay her more for the column.^[7] Herbert Hoover threatened to sue the journal for Eleanor's description of his actions during the Bonus March of 1931. She apologized.^[9] The book was a Book of the Month selection.^[8]

Reception

The book was described as "a tremendous critical and commercial success" in The Eleanor Roosevelt Encyclopedia.^[10] It received numerous reviews.^[11] The American Political Science Review called the book "frank and revealing" and concluded that it was a "very human account of what public life does to a man and his family."^[12] A review published in The Annals of the American Academy of Political & Social Science noted that This I Remember "is so simply told, so direct, unadorned, and sincere, that it adds greatly to our insight into the catastrophic sequence of world depression and total war."^[13] Elizabeth Janeway, writing in The New York Times wrote that

In this age of papier-mache memoirs turned out by ghost-writers at so much per yard, it is shockingly delightful to read a book which could have been written by absolutely no one else in the world than the great and important figure whose name is signed to it, which is flavorful, characteristic, and moving.

She concluded that "more than readable, this is a delightful book. If at times the style lapses in to banalities, the cliches are somehow peculiarly Mrs. Roosevelt's, warmed by her flavor."^[6]

Related Research Articles

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt Halsted was an American writer who worked as a newspaper editor and in public relations. Halsted also wrote two children's books published in the 1930s. She was the eldest child and only daughter of the U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt and assisted him as his advisor during World War II.

Lucy Page Mercer Rutherfurd was an American woman who was best known for her affair with US president Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Isabella Greenway was an American politician who was the first congresswoman in Arizona history, and as the founder of the Arizona Inn of Tucson. During her life she was also noted as a one-time owner and operator of Los Angeles-based Gilpin Airlines, a speaker at the 1932 Democratic National Convention, and a bridesmaid at the wedding of Eleanor and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

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My Day was a newspaper column written by First Lady of the United States Eleanor Roosevelt (ER) six days a week from December 31, 1935, to September 26, 1962. In her column, Roosevelt discussed issues including civil rights, women's rights, and various current events. This column allowed ER to spread her ideas, thoughts, and perspectives on contemporary events to the American public through local newspapers. Through My Day, Roosevelt became the first First Lady to write a daily newspaper column. Roosevelt also wrote for Ladies Home Journal, McCall's, and published various articles in Vogue and other women's magazines.

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This is My Story is a 1937 autobiographical memoir by Eleanor Roosevelt, an American political figure, diplomat, activist and First Lady of the United States while her husband, Franklin D. Roosevelt, was President of the United States. This is My Story was the first of four memoirs written by Roosevelt, the other three being This I Remember, On My Own, and The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt. It was very well received by critics and a financial success.

On My Own: The Years since the White House is a 1958 memoir by Eleanor Roosevelt, an American political figure, diplomat, activist and First Lady of the United States while her husband, Franklin D. Roosevelt, was President of the United States. On My Own was the third of four memoirs written by Roosevelt, the other three being: This Is My Story, This I Remember, and The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt.

The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt is a 1961 memoir by Eleanor Roosevelt, an American political figure, diplomat, activist and First Lady of the United States while her husband, Franklin D. Roosevelt, was President of the United States. The Autobiography was the fourth of four memoirs written by Roosevelt, the other three being: This Is My Story (1937), This I Remember (1949), and On My Own (1958). She combined those three into The Autobiography. The book was generally well received by critics, who particularly appreciated how the combined memoirs showed Eleanor's development.

Eleanor and Franklin: The Story of Their Relationship, Based on Eleanor Roosevelt's Private Papers is a 1971 biography of Eleanor Roosevelt written by Joseph P. Lash. Its companion volume, Eleanor: The Years Alone (1972), covers her life as a widower after Franklin D. Roosevelt's death.

Eleanor: The Years Alone is a 1972 biography of Eleanor Roosevelt written by Joseph P. Lash. It is a companion volume to Eleanor and Franklin (1971), which covers her life through the death of her husband, United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Eleanor: The Years Alone describes her life thereafter.

Louis Hyman Bean was an American economic and political analyst who is best known for predicting Harry S. Truman's victory in the 1948 presidential election.

References

1 2 3 Ward, Geoffrey C. (1999). "Roosevelt, Eleanor". American National Biography. doi:10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1500580. ISBN 978-0-19-860669-7 . Retrieved 2020-11-26.
↑ Beasley et al. 2001, p. 69.
↑ Harris 2007, p. 141.
↑ Harris 2007, p. 152.
↑ Harris 2007, p. xv.
1 2 Janeway, Elizabeth (1949-11-06). "Franklin And Eleanor Roosevelt" Mrs. Roosevelt Writes a Candid Story Of Dedication to Her Husband's Career". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved 2020-11-26.
1 2 Beasley et al. 2001, pp. 299–300.
1 2 Harris 2007, p. 153.
↑ Beasley et al. 2001, p. 244.
↑ Beasley et al. 2001, pp. 301.
↑
Reviews include:
- Gosnell, Harold F. (1950). "Review of This I Remember". The American Political Science Review. 44 (2): 496–497. doi:10.2307/1950301. ISSN 0003-0554. JSTOR 1950301. S2CID 148560505.
- Nichols, Jeannette P. (1950). "Review of This I Remember". The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 268: 212–213. doi:10.1177/000271625026800152. ISSN 0002-7162. JSTOR 1027939. S2CID 154962195.
- Schlesinger, Arthur Jr. (1949). "Review of This I Remember". The Saturday Review of Literature: 12–13. ISSN 0147-5932.
- Short, Clarice (1950). "Review of This I Remember". Western Humanities Review: 175–177. ISSN 0043-3845.
- Sheehan, Vincent (November 6, 1949). "Review of This I Remember". The New York Herald Tribune . ISSN 0746-2042.
↑ Gosnell, Harold F. (1950). "Review of This I Remember". The American Political Science Review. 44 (2): 496–497. doi:10.2307/1950301. ISSN 0003-0554. JSTOR 1950301. S2CID 148560505.
↑ Nichols, Jeannette P. (1950). "Review of This I Remember". The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 268: 212–213. doi:10.1177/000271625026800152. ISSN 0002-7162. JSTOR 1027939. S2CID 154962195.

Bibliography

Harris, Cynthia M. (2007). Eleanor Roosevelt : a biography. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press. ISBN 978-0-313-33166-4. OCLC 128236391.
Beasley, Maurine Hoffman; Shulman, Holly Cowan; Beasley, Henry R.; Press, Greenwood (2001). The Eleanor Roosevelt Encyclopedia. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-313-30181-0.

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[:0-1] 1 2 3 Ward, Geoffrey C. (1999). "Roosevelt, Eleanor". American National Biography. doi:10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1500580. ISBN 978-0-19-860669-7 . Retrieved 2020-11-26.

[FOOTNOTEBeasley_et_al.200169-2] Beasley et al. 2001, p. 69.

[FOOTNOTEHarris2007141-3] Harris 2007, p. 141.

[FOOTNOTEHarris2007152-4] Harris 2007, p. 152.

[FOOTNOTEHarris2007xv-5] Harris 2007, p. xv.

[:1-6] 1 2 Janeway, Elizabeth (1949-11-06). "Franklin And Eleanor Roosevelt" Mrs. Roosevelt Writes a Candid Story Of Dedication to Her Husband's Career". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved 2020-11-26.

[FOOTNOTEBeasley_et_al.2001299–300-7] 1 2 Beasley et al. 2001, pp. 299–300.

[FOOTNOTEHarris2007153-8] 1 2 Harris 2007, p. 153.

[FOOTNOTEBeasley_et_al.2001244-9] Beasley et al. 2001, p. 244.

[FOOTNOTEBeasley_et_al.2001301-10] Beasley et al. 2001, pp. 301.

[11] Reviews include:
Gosnell, Harold F. (1950). "Review of This I Remember". The American Political Science Review. 44 (2): 496–497. doi:10.2307/1950301. ISSN 0003-0554. JSTOR 1950301. S2CID 148560505.
Nichols, Jeannette P. (1950). "Review of This I Remember". The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 268: 212–213. doi:10.1177/000271625026800152. ISSN 0002-7162. JSTOR 1027939. S2CID 154962195.
Schlesinger, Arthur Jr. (1949). "Review of This I Remember". The Saturday Review of Literature: 12–13. ISSN 0147-5932.
Short, Clarice (1950). "Review of This I Remember". Western Humanities Review: 175–177. ISSN 0043-3845.
Sheehan, Vincent (November 6, 1949). "Review of This I Remember". The New York Herald Tribune . ISSN 0746-2042.

[mwzA] Gosnell, Harold F. (1950). "Review of This I Remember". The American Political Science Review. 44 (2): 496–497. doi:10.2307/1950301. ISSN 0003-0554. JSTOR 1950301. S2CID 148560505.

[mw3Q] Nichols, Jeannette P. (1950). "Review of This I Remember". The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 268: 212–213. doi:10.1177/000271625026800152. ISSN 0002-7162. JSTOR 1027939. S2CID 154962195.

[mw7g] Schlesinger, Arthur Jr. (1949). "Review of This I Remember". The Saturday Review of Literature: 12–13. ISSN 0147-5932.

[mw9Q] Short, Clarice (1950). "Review of This I Remember". Western Humanities Review: 175–177. ISSN 0043-3845.

[mw_A] Sheehan, Vincent (November 6, 1949). "Review of This I Remember". The New York Herald Tribune . ISSN 0746-2042.

[12] Gosnell, Harold F. (1950). "Review of This I Remember". The American Political Science Review. 44 (2): 496–497. doi:10.2307/1950301. ISSN 0003-0554. JSTOR 1950301. S2CID 148560505.

[13] Nichols, Jeannette P. (1950). "Review of This I Remember". The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 268: 212–213. doi:10.1177/000271625026800152. ISSN 0002-7162. JSTOR 1027939. S2CID 154962195.

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