The First Ladies
by Marie Benedict
Contents
Chapter 30
Overview
Eleanor, frustrated by Franklin Roosevelt’s reluctance to act on lynching, follows Hick’s counsel and meets Walter White at the NAACP. She discusses the Costigan–Wagner bill, invites White to the White House, and vows to join the NAACP, signaling public, actionable commitment that pressures the administration.
Summary
On January 8, 1934, Eleanor drives Mary McLeod Bethune to the NAACP offices in New York, determined to act against lynching despite Franklin Roosevelt’s resistance. Guided by Lorena Hickock’s advice and buoyed by Mary’s companionship, Eleanor keeps the initiative discreet while Secret Service agents shadow them amid public scrutiny of their interracial pairing.
At 69 Fifth Avenue, Mary introduces Eleanor to Walter White, whose white-passing appearance surprises Eleanor. Mary explains White’s use of passing to investigate lynchings, establishing his credibility and the urgency of their cause.
In Walter White’s office, they review the anti-lynching landscape. Eleanor demonstrates familiarity with the forthcoming Costigan–Wagner bill and the failures of local prosecutions and the filibustered Dyer Bill, recognizing that presidential support could be decisive for Senate action.
Eleanor refuses to promise Franklin Roosevelt’s backing but pledges her own. She invites Walter White to the White House to plan concrete steps and declares her intention to join the NAACP. White, astonished, accepts, and Eleanor positions herself publicly and practically on the anti-lynching front, escalating pressure on the administration.
Who Appears
- Eleanor RooseveltFirst Lady; defies FDR’s hesitation, meets Walter White, invites him to the White House, vows to join the NAACP.
- Mary McLeod BethuneEleanor’s ally; arranges and accompanies the NAACP meeting; vouches for Eleanor’s commitment.
- Walter WhiteNAACP leader; outlines anti-lynching strategy; surprised by Eleanor’s invitation and membership pledge.
- Franklin D. RooseveltPresident; his reluctance and potential endorsement loom over the bill’s fate.
- Lorena HickockEleanor’s close confidante; advises the meeting; her career hiatus is noted.