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markpkessinger

(8,392 posts)
Fri Sep 19, 2014, 09:48 PM Sep 2014

A familiar name came up on "The Roosevelts"

Just finished watching the final episode of "The Roosevelts" (i watched all seven parts online). My ears perked up at the mention of FDR's cousin, Laura Delano, who was with him in the last days of his life at Warm Springs, Georgia, and to whom fell the task of providing the details of his death to Mrs. Roosevelt when she arrived there (including the fact that also with him had been her long-time nemesis, Lucy Rutherford Mercer).

In the 1990s, I met, on many occasions, Laura Delano, who by then was known as Laura Delano Adams Eastman (her last marriage, prior to her coming out as a lesbian, had been to the heir of the Eastman-Kodak fortune). She was a regular in attendance, along with her partner, Ms. Bunny Diehl (whom she would introduce as, "my partner, the formerly straight Miss Bunny Diehl&quot at the Sunday services of the Episcopal Chaplaincy of Fire Island Pines, over which my friend, Fr. Craig Bustrin, presided and for which I often played piano. She was a wonderful woman, who spoke in the same patrician accent as her famous cousin and carried herself with all of the dignity and refinement as one would expect. And yet, there was not the slightest hint of snobbery about her. She was very warm, VERY funny and never took herself too seriously!

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A familiar name came up on "The Roosevelts" (Original Post) markpkessinger Sep 2014 OP
The series just moves from strength to strength - just a remarkable 2 hours tonight. NRaleighLiberal Sep 2014 #1
As with many other points in history, intelligent, honorable people step forward. MissMarple Sep 2014 #3
well put. I am naturally optimistic but confess recent years test that. NRaleighLiberal Sep 2014 #7
someday there will be a series about the Bush family...yes THAT one lol nt msongs Sep 2014 #2
"The Godfather XVII" perhaps? markpkessinger Sep 2014 #5
One Question Oldtimeralso Sep 2014 #6
What A Wonderful Experience... ChiciB1 Sep 2014 #4
Me and my husband just finished watching episode 5 and were wondering... choie Sep 2014 #9
Don't Recall Hearing His Name... ChiciB1 Sep 2014 #12
Gen. Butler did NOT start the coup. He STOPPED it. navarth Sep 2014 #16
The series doesn't get into that . . . markpkessinger Sep 2014 #15
That is really a shame... choie Sep 2014 #17
It's a significant event, to be sure . . . markpkessinger Sep 2014 #19
I've got to see that series. nt navarth Sep 2014 #8
All seven episodes are available to watch online until Sept. 28 markpkessinger Sep 2014 #11
And They Have CD's You Can Buy ChiciB1 Sep 2014 #13
The way you describe Laura Delano... ReRe Sep 2014 #10
I'm envious. Very! MannyGoldstein Sep 2014 #14
I found a 2005 death notice in the NYT for Laura Delano Adams Eastman m-lekktor Sep 2014 #18
I haven't watched it, I'm waiting to watch it in its entirety justiceischeap Sep 2014 #20
They only hint at it . . . markpkessinger Sep 2014 #21
You don't have to wait . . . markpkessinger Sep 2014 #22
I'll have to see if it's on their Roku channel justiceischeap Sep 2014 #23
Wrong Laura Delano rooseveltcousin Mar 2020 #24

NRaleighLiberal

(60,004 posts)
1. The series just moves from strength to strength - just a remarkable 2 hours tonight.
Fri Sep 19, 2014, 09:59 PM
Sep 2014

All have been remarkable - the WW2 topic of tonight could have filled many hours, of course.

Watching the country rally, watching the brilliant political maneuvering - one wonders if this was just a unique point in history with unique people that couldn't be replicated if needed in today's climate.

MissMarple

(9,656 posts)
3. As with many other points in history, intelligent, honorable people step forward.
Fri Sep 19, 2014, 11:26 PM
Sep 2014

This has, more often than not, held true. It is because of our very complicated human nature. People step up all the time, it isn't always recorded. And it is hard to see if it happens around us.

I remain optimistic, we all should.

NRaleighLiberal

(60,004 posts)
7. well put. I am naturally optimistic but confess recent years test that.
Fri Sep 19, 2014, 11:33 PM
Sep 2014

but seeing the sort of hatred and opposition that FDR dealt with, and the darkness of that period of history, seeing how it eventually resolved does indeed give hope.

ChiciB1

(15,435 posts)
4. What A Wonderful Experience...
Fri Sep 19, 2014, 11:27 PM
Sep 2014

Yes, this documentary is simply "the best" and has me mesmerized by it's inclusiveness. Tomorrow, the sad end. I will miss watching!

choie

(4,107 posts)
9. Me and my husband just finished watching episode 5 and were wondering...
Fri Sep 19, 2014, 11:39 PM
Sep 2014

does the documentary discuss the attempted coup which was stopped by Smedley Butler?

ChiciB1

(15,435 posts)
12. Don't Recall Hearing His Name...
Fri Sep 19, 2014, 11:57 PM
Sep 2014

But when he was told that the Corporations & rich would leave the country he said "I will miss them."

Just looked up Butler and reading about him it sounds like HE wanted to START the coup, not stop it. Hadn't heard about him before.

navarth

(5,927 posts)
16. Gen. Butler did NOT start the coup. He STOPPED it.
Sat Sep 20, 2014, 12:34 AM
Sep 2014

Might need to read elsewhere. Sorry can't provide links at the moment.

This guy was a hero.

markpkessinger

(8,392 posts)
15. The series doesn't get into that . . .
Sat Sep 20, 2014, 12:31 AM
Sep 2014

. . . although they probably could have made an episode about that incident alone! But the focus was more on the events that specifically shaped TR, FDR and ER, and how they responded to them.

choie

(4,107 posts)
17. That is really a shame...
Sat Sep 20, 2014, 12:32 PM
Sep 2014

How can you not cover that? If only to educate Americans, most of whom know nothing about that event. That's very disappointing.

markpkessinger

(8,392 posts)
19. It's a significant event, to be sure . . .
Sat Sep 20, 2014, 09:11 PM
Sep 2014

. . . but I don't think it had all that much direct impact on FDR.

ChiciB1

(15,435 posts)
13. And They Have CD's You Can Buy
Fri Sep 19, 2014, 11:59 PM
Sep 2014

I wish I could splurge and buy them, but just can't. Documentary is fabulous, I will miss them, as Roosevelt said.

ReRe

(10,597 posts)
10. The way you describe Laura Delano...
Fri Sep 19, 2014, 11:44 PM
Sep 2014

... in her latter years reminds me very much of my Grandmother. Thank you so much for your memories.

 

MannyGoldstein

(34,589 posts)
14. I'm envious. Very!
Sat Sep 20, 2014, 12:05 AM
Sep 2014

I love brushes with history.

We used to spend time on Campobello island, where FDR had his summer mansion. While it *is* a mansion, it's quite a small one. Given how many folks it housed at once, there actually isn't much space - probably less, per person, than the average American home.

It struck me that to have such a house, FDR and family must have been warm people who greatly enjoyed the company of all. Sounds like Laura was made of the same stuff.

m-lekktor

(3,675 posts)
18. I found a 2005 death notice in the NYT for Laura Delano Adams Eastman
Sat Sep 20, 2014, 12:46 PM
Sep 2014

your post made me curious so i googled her name! she sounded interesting. lucky you to have hung out on Fire Island!

btw, what an excellent documentary!


http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E3DA1230F93BA1575AC0A9639C8B63

justiceischeap

(14,040 posts)
20. I haven't watched it, I'm waiting to watch it in its entirety
Sat Sep 20, 2014, 09:23 PM
Sep 2014

I'm curious if they've yet touched on Eleanor's rumored lesbianism.

24. Wrong Laura Delano
Mon Mar 16, 2020, 10:06 PM
Mar 2020

Laura Delano Franklin Adams Eastman, who you mention knowing, is NOT the Laura Delano who was with FDR in his last moments. Laura Delano Franklin Adams was born in 1926 and passed in 2005. The Laura "Polly" Delano who was with FDR was born 23 Aug 1885 and passed 27 Jan 1972. She was the daughter of Warren Delano III and Jennie Walters. She never married. Laura "Polly" Delano and FDR were first cousins. I am a Roosevelt cousin and have extensively researched our family tree. Also, FDR's friend's correct name is Lucy Page Mercer; she married Winthrop Chanler Rutherfurd on 12 Feb 1920. Her married last name is Rutherfurd, not Mercer.

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