Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years (1977 TV Movie)

Jane Alexander: Eleanor Roosevelt

Quotes 

• Franklin D. Roosevelt : It's not unusual for a father to want to take his eldest son into the family business.

  Eleanor Roosevelt : But you're not in business. A President who hires his own son is open to every sort of charge of playing favourites. And they'll make the son's life a hell. He'll be accused of the same thing - of giving favours - and worse, of selling them. Opportunists will woe him and use him and then make a joke of him behind his back.

  Franklin D. Roosevelt : I don't see why I should be deprived of the boy's help or the pleasure of having him with me, just because I'm the President.

  Eleanor Roosevelt : Is that the only consideration, your pleasure? How very selfish. Have you given any thought of what this would do to Jimmy? All the criticism, the gossip and malice and spite?

• Eleanor Roosevelt : It's hard to realize you can't meet the need of someone you care terribly for. It's even harder learning to accept what others can't give you. I remember one night, years ago, we sat in the living room at Hyde Park talking to Mama. She spoke straight to the point. She said, 'Do you still love Eleanor?', and he said 'Yes.' She said, 'But you're IN love with Lucy Mercer,' and he said 'Yes.' I knew if I stayed in that room another instant, I should be sick, all over Mama's expensive carpet. I kept thinking, 'All right. All right, you're not in love with me, well I'm not in love with you either. And I never will be from this moment on. If we stay together, for whatever reason, the children, your career, even if we spend the rest of our lives together, it can never be as it was. We can never be lovers again.'

• Eleanor Roosevelt : You're the closest friend he's ever had.

  Louis Howe : Franklin doesn't have friends. He has admirers, and advisors, cronies, companions, but no friends. Are you his friend?

  Eleanor Roosevelt : I want to be. I've tried. I'm not his confidant, I know that. I don't believe he confides in anyone. He keeps himself to himself, as the British say.

  Louis Howe : Then he doesn't even have a wife. Not really. Just a Mrs.