August 30, 2014
Hyde Park … lots of choices. Tour and lunch at the Culinary Institute of America perhaps. Franklin D. Roosevelt homestead … just like mommie ordered. Or, FDR's or Eleanor's retreats … nice and private for that special rendezvous. So many choices - so little time. We decided on the FDR homestead and his retreat Top Cottage. Eleanor would have to wait for another trip.
We started at the the visitors' center and checked out the floor mosaic of the estate while we waited for the docent to arrive for the tour. Other than gasping for breath every time he walked a ways or climbed any steps, he was well informed and provided interesting details of life at the homestead. One thing was certain … he was definitely no stand up comic.
Before I go any further, I just have to say it …"Don't think for a minute that the Roosevelt's were not rich … rich … rich." If you doubt me, take a look at the stables.
What I find fascinating is that from a man, reared in the bosom of luxury … the proverbial silver spoon … we get the WPA, CCC, social security, bank controls, etc. Was it a matter of the man rising to the situation to do whatever necessary to pull the country out of the depression and to face WWII head-on. Or, did the tragedy of his personal health provide him insight into what it is like to be down and out and empathy for the "little" man.
Whatever the reason, FDR gave us the New Deal. Not the horse, New Deal, in his stable, but the programs …the revamping of the politics of the country, the mutation of which permeates our government to this day. 
Roosevelt's mother was particularly fond of roses and had impressive rose gardens on the grounds. Even though most of the roses were past the blooming stage, there were plenty of other flowers to brighten up the garden areas. 
Plenty of color for the tourists … or is this paparazzi from the tabloids stalking me?
Both FDR and Eleanor are buried in the garden area. 
Just outside the Presidential Library, the first Presidential library I believe, were gifts from both the Japanese (cherry trees) and from Germans (sculpture formed from pieces of the Berlin wall). Both gifts spoke symbolically of freedom and peace. Our docent commented that this seemed ironic that these came from Japan and Germany. I kinda felt that was off base. It seems to me that it is never ironic when anyone speaks for freedom and peace … no matter the history.
Our tickets also entitled us to see Top Cottage, FDR's retreat. Thanks to the docent at Top Cottage the white elephant in the room was finally introduced . Yes, FDR came to Top Cottage for special meetings and just to get away from it all (mommie included). And as everyone seemed to already know but nobody admitted, to meet "the other woman". 
We were told that the royal family visited the Roosevelt's at Springwood. A special meal was prepared for the King and Queen and quests at Top Cottage. That meal included hot dogs. Even though, it is not my habit to eat hot dogs, Anne and I, in tribute to the royal family, left the grounds during lunch and headed to the nearest hot dog van and and had us a royal feast, with chili.
It was a great visit. I gave Eleanor a little kiss (I just can't resist that overbite) and hit the road for our next adventure.
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