Sep 09, 2016 kathryn smith author of the gatekeeper. President franklin delano roosevelt, including a knickknack from eleanor roosevelts desk. President franklin delano roosevelt considered his savvy personal secretary, marguerite alice missy lehand, one of the. Kathryn smith is a journalist and writer with a lifelong interest in fdr and his circle. In each of these books missy lehand, fdrs personal secretary, is recognized with a paragraph, more often with merely a footnote. Kathryn smith, the gatekeeper atlanta history center. Missy lehand, fdr, and the untold sotry of the partnership that defined a presidency in. 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. The gatekeeper missy lehand, fdr, and the untold story of the partnership that defined a presidency by kathryn smith. Her curiosity about marguerite lehand arose when she read fleeting mentions of the enigmatic secretary in books about fdr and wondered, who was she. The gatekeeper by kathryn smith 2016 unabridged cd. The gatekeeper book by kathryn smith official publisher page. Kathryn smith will present from her book the gatekeeper.
The gatekeeper sheds new light on the most powerful woman. Missy lehand, fdr, and the untold story of the partnership that defined a presidency. After discovering that a contemporary work on lehand had never been written, smith took on the project herself. With only a high school education missy was hired as a personal secretary before fdr contracted polio.
She was a white house powerhouse ahead of her time, during perhaps americas most tumultuous time, but many people dont know her name. 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. From march 1933 until may 1941 missy assisted fdr and the family in every imaginable way. Jun 15, 2017 before writing the gatekeeper, kathryn smith was an editor at the anderson independentmail. On friday, september 23, at 7pm, kathryn smith presents 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. 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. Mar 18, 2018 kathryn smith discussed her book, the gatekeeper. 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. 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 fine biography and compelling personal story the wall street journal of arguably the most influential member o.
She has lived all her life in georgia and south carolina, and earned a. The gatekeeper is a long overdue tribute to one of the most significant female figures in american history. Authors mark powell, kathryn smith, and jennifer mcgaha present their books at the rose glen literary festival in sevierville, tennessee. Kathryn smiths the gatekeeper is a vivid, muchneeded life of one of the leastknown but most consequential figures in fdrs immediate circle, missy lehand. Missy lehand, fdr, and the untold sotry of the partnership that defined a presidency in character as missy lehand the gatekeeper is the. Program kathryn smith, the gatekeeper atlanta history center.
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. 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. In the gatekeeper, kathryn smith does full justice to the fascinating and heartbreaking life of missy lehand, who rose from a workingclass. Oct 04, 2016 in her book the gatekeeper, kathryn smith describes missys role this way. Kathyrn smith talked about her book the gatekeeper. 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. Marguerite alice lehand was fdrs personal secretary and is the subject of the gatekeeper. Before writing the gatekeeper, kathryn smith was an editor at the anderson independentmail. Anyone interested in roosevelt, the new deal or the path toward global war will want to snap it up.
Missy lehand, fdr, and the untold story of the partnership that defined a presidency, in which she looks at the life of marguerirte missy. 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. Missy lehand, fdr, and the untold story of the partnership that defined a presidency kathryn smith. Missy lehand, fdr and the untold story of the partnership that. The gatekeeper missy lehand, fdr, and the untold story of the partnership that defined a presidency by. 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 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. 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. 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. Roosevelt presidential library and museum is pleased to present an author talk and book signing with kathryn smith, author of the gatekeeper. A daughter of workingclass boston catholic parents, missy lehand 18981944 was an ambitious, high schooleducated, trained secretary when, in 1920, fdrs campaign chairman, charles. The gatekeeper ebook by kathryn smith official publisher. Missy lehand, fdr, and the untold story of the partnership that defined a presidency by kathryn smith. 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.
The book is called the gatekeeper and it was written by kathryn smith. 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. 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, at the rose glen literary festival in sevierville, tennessee. 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 missy lehand september, 1896 july 31, 1944 was private secretary to u. In each of these books missy lehand, fdrs personal secretary, is recognized with a. The gatekeeper celebrates a reallife american heroine yes. The gatekeeper book by kathryn smith official publisher. Far more than a secretary, missy fulfilled the crucial duties of. Kathryn smiths fdrera missy lehand novel, and her cancer. 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. President franklin delano roosevelt, including a knick.
Portions of this essay appeared in kathryn smiths recent book, the gatekeeper. Portions of this essay appeared in kathryn smith s recent book, the gatekeeper. The gatekeeper celebrates a reallife american heroine news. In her book the gatekeeper, kathryn smith describes missys role this way. Missy lehand, fdr and the untold story of the partnership that defined a presidency. With unprecedented access to missys family and original source materials, journalist kathryn smith tells the captivating and forgotten story of the intelligent, loyal. This is the first biography of missy lehand, personal secretary to franklin delano roosevelt. Read the gatekeeper missy lehand, fdr, and the untold story of the partnership that defined a presidency by kathryn smith available from rakuten kobo.
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