Franklin roosevelts longtime loyal personal secretary earns a muchneeded, balanced portrait. With only a high school education missy was hired as a personal secretary before fdr contracted polio. In the gatekeeper, kathryn smith does full justice to the fascinating and heartbreaking life of missy lehand, who rose from a workingclass. Portions of this essay appeared in kathryn smith s recent book, the gatekeeper. Rotarian kathryn smith of the greater anderson rotary club will be speaking in pawleys island on. Kathryn smiths the gatekeeper is a vivid, muchneeded life of one of the leastknown but most consequential figures in fdrs immediate circle, missy lehand. Marguerite alice missy lehand september, 1896 july 31, 1944 was private secretary to u. Missy lehand, fdr and the untold story of the partnership that defined a presidency. Missy lehand, fdr, and the untold sotry of the partnership that defined a presidency in character as missy lehand the gatekeeper is the. This is the first biography of missy lehand, personal secretary to franklin delano roosevelt. Missy lehand, fdr, and the untold story of the partnership that defined a presidency, at the rose glen literary festival in sevierville, tennessee. Kathryn smiths fdrera missy lehand novel, and her cancer.
The gatekeeper ebook by kathryn smith rakuten kobo. Kathryn smith is a journalist and writer with a lifelong interest in fdr and his circle. Missy lehand, fdr and the untold story of the partnership that. According to lehands biographer, kathryn smith, in the gatekeeper, she eventually functioned as white house chief of staff, the only woman in american history to do so. Until now, marguerite alice missy lehand 18961944 has been something of an enigmatic and illdefined historical personality, standing as she did in the shadow of franklin roosevelt, arguably the. Jun 15, 2017 before writing the gatekeeper, kathryn smith was an editor at the anderson independentmail.
The gatekeeper kathryn smith 9781501114960 netgalley. Three years and hundreds of hours of research later, she had her answer. Missy lehand, fdr, and the untold story of the partnership that defined a presidency kathryn smith. The book is called the gatekeeper and it was written by kathryn smith. Read about her gilded age girlhood, hijinks on the french riviera with the lost generation, explorations on three continents, purchase of historic medway plantation, work for the oss the. From march 1933 until may 1941 missy assisted fdr and the family in every imaginable way. Kathryn smith, the gatekeeper president franklin delano roosevelt considered his savvy personal secretary, marguerite alice missy lehand, one of the most vital, and certainly one of the most loyal, members of his inner circle. Roosevelt presidential library and museum is pleased to present an author talk and book signing with kathryn smith, author of the gatekeeper. Her curiosity about marguerite lehand arose when she read fleeting mentions of the enigmatic secretary in books about fdr and wondered, who was she.
President franklin delano roosevelt, including a knick. Portions of this essay appeared in kathryn smiths recent book, the gatekeeper. Sep 23, 2016 she was a white house powerhouse ahead of her time, during perhaps americas most tumultuous time, but many people dont know her name. Missy lehand, fdr, and the untold story of the partnership that defined a presidency, in which she looks at the life of marguerirte missy. Before writing the gatekeeper, kathryn smith was an editor at the anderson independentmail. After discovering that a contemporary work on lehand had never been written, smith took on the project herself. The gatekeeper missy lehand, fdr, and the untold story of the partnership that defined a presidency by. With unprecedented access to missys family and original source materials, journalist kathryn smith tells the captivating and forgotten story of the intelligent, loyal. Kathyrn smith talked about her book the gatekeeper. The gatekeeper is a thoughtful, revealing unsunghero story about a woman ahead of her time, the true weight of her responsibility, and the tumultuous era in.
Kathryn smith of anderson, author of the gatekeeper, keeps many books, photos about u. The gatekeeper 2016 by kathryn smith i would venture to guess that there have been thousands of books written about franklin d. Sep 04, 2018 kathryn smith of anderson, author of the gatekeeper, keeps many books, photos about u. She has lived all her life in georgia and south carolina, and earned a. The gatekeeper is a thoughtful, revealing unsunghero story about a woman ahead of her time, the true weight of her responsibility, and the tumultuous era in which she livedand a long overdue tribute to one of the most important female figures in american history. President franklin delano roosevelt considered his savvy personal secretary, marguerite alice missy lehand, one of the. The gatekeeper is a thoughtful, revealing, unsunghero story about a woman ahead of her time, the true weight of her responsibility, and the tumultuous era in which she lived. The gatekeeper celebrates a reallife american heroine yes. Program kathryn smith, the gatekeeper atlanta history center. The fabulous life of gertrude sanford legendre, heiress, explorer, socialite, spy is the biography of a singular woman who lived a 20 th century life full of fun, adventure, derringdo and drama. Authors mark powell, kathryn smith, and jennifer mcgaha present their books at the rose glen literary festival in sevierville, tennessee. Kathryn smith, journalist, community activist cofounder of the cancer association of anderson in south carolina and now missy lehand biographer with the gatekeeper.
The gatekeeper is a thoughtful, revealing unsunghero story about a woman ahead of her time, the true weight of her responsibility, and the tumultuous era in which she lived. The gatekeeper is a long overdue tribute to one of the most significant female figures in american history. In her book the gatekeeper, kathryn smith describes missys role this way. The fine biography and compelling personal story the wall street journal of arguably the most influential member o. The gatekeeper book by kathryn smith official publisher. Although the boss and his devoted factotum were often thrown together intimately over 20 years to tackle his correspondence and brainstorm on speeches and personnel, they were probably not lovers, asserts fdr historian, journalist, and native georgian smith a necessary war, 20 in her lively study. Kathryn smith will present from her book the gatekeeper. The gatekeeper ebook by kathryn smith official publisher. Get it today with same day delivery, order pickup or drive up. In each of these books missy lehand, fdrs personal secretary, is recognized with a paragraph, more often with merely a footnote. Until now, marguerite alice missy lehand 18961944 has been something of an enigmatic and illdefined historical personality, standing as she did in the shadow of franklin roosevelt.
Far more than a secretary, missy fulfilled the crucial duties of. Missy lehand, fdr, and the untold story of the partnership that defined a presidency. The gatekeeper celebrates a reallife american heroine news. The gatekeeper by kathryn smith 2016 unabridged cd. With unprecedented access to missys family and original source materials, journalist kathryn smith tells the captivating story of the brilliant woman who had a frontrow seat to history in the making. Sep 09, 2016 kathryn smith, the gatekeeper widely considered the first female presidential chief of staff, marguerite missy lehand was the righthand woman to franklin delano roosevelt both personally and professionally for more than twenty years. Kathryn smith, the gatekeeper widely considered the first female presidential chief of staff, marguerite missy lehand was the righthand woman to franklin delano roosevelt both personally and professionally for more than twenty years. Anyone interested in roosevelt, the new deal or the path toward global war will want to snap it up. Mar 18, 2018 kathryn smith discussed her book, the gatekeeper. In each of these books missy lehand, fdrs personal secretary, is recognized with a. Kathryn smith s the gatekeeper is a vivid, muchneeded life of one of the leastknown but most consequential figures in fdrs immediate circle, missy lehand.
Read the gatekeeper missy lehand, fdr, and the untold story of the partnership that defined a presidency by kathryn smith available from rakuten kobo. Sep 09, 2016 kathryn smith author of the gatekeeper. Missy lehand, fdr, and the untold story of the partnership that defined a presidency by kathryn smith jun 6, 2017 4. The gatekeeper sheds new light on the most powerful woman. Kathryn smith, the gatekeeper atlanta history center. The gatekeeper missy lehand, fdr, and the untold story of the partnership that defined a presidency by kathryn smith. The gatekeeper book by kathryn smith official publisher page.
Missy lehand, fdr, and the untold story of the partnership that defined a presidency by kathryn smith. She was a white house powerhouse ahead of her time, during perhaps americas most tumultuous time, but many people dont know her name. Missy lehand, fdr, and the untold sotry of the partnership that defined a presidency in. Missy lehand, fdr, and the untold partnership that defined a presidency by kathryn smith is the first biography of president roosevelts constant companion for twenty years in the office and out, the first female chief of staff. On friday, september 23, at 7pm, kathryn smith presents the gatekeeper. President franklin delano roosevelt, including a knickknack from eleanor roosevelts desk. Missy lehand, fdr and the untold story of the partnership that defined a presidency is the first biography of the woman who is arguably the most influential member of franklin delano roosevelts administration. Marguerite alice lehand was fdrs personal secretary and is the subject of the gatekeeper. Oct 04, 2016 in her book the gatekeeper, kathryn smith describes missys role this way. Kathryn is an accomplished speaker, having given more than 200 talks about marguerite lehand, the roosevelts and other american history topics at venues including the fdr library.
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