In late June 1941, Eleanor Roosevelt travels to Campobello Island with Mr. Lash, Tommy, and Earl for a brief respite as Germany’s invasion of Russia reshapes war planning. She reflects on past summers, Franklin Roosevelt’s absence due to the terrain, and her decision to lend the house to Mr. Lash’s student program.

Upon arrival, the housekeeper hands Eleanor an urgent telegram from A. Philip Randolph and Mary McLeod Bethune warning that the draft executive order banning discrimination in defense industries remains unsigned and unreachable at the White House. With no phone or electricity at the house, Eleanor walks to Mrs. Mitchell, the island telegrapher, to arrange a call to Franklin Roosevelt.

After brief small talk about Campobello and the invasion of Russia, Eleanor confronts Franklin Roosevelt about the unsigned order. She argues that although unprecedented, the step is overdue, noting that even his military advisers have accepted terms and that Randolph already dropped military desegregation from the demands.

Franklin Roosevelt reads the text of Executive Order 8802, which prohibits discrimination in defense industries on the basis of race, creed, color, or national origin and establishes the Fair Employment Practices Committee to monitor compliance and investigate complaints. Pressed by Eleanor to act immediately, he signs the order during the call.

Euphoric, Eleanor heads back toward the house, then returns to Mrs. Mitchell’s to telegraph Mary McLeod Bethune with the news, confident the action will avert the threatened March on Washington and advance the fight against employment discrimination.