The relationship between Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Lucy Mercer Rutherford remained one of the most carefully guarded secrets of his presidency. Their bond, described by Lucy as one of being “inexorably drawn to each other,” began in 1914 and lasted until his death in 1945.
Lucy Mercer first entered the Roosevelt household when Eleanor hired her as a social secretary in Washington. At 23, Lucy was known for her striking beauty, charm, and grace. She stood five feet nine inches tall with brown hair and blue eyes, and was described as a lady to her fingertips.
Franklin’s attention was soon captured. Their interactions began with polite exchanges as he left for work, but the relationship quickly deepened. By 1916, after the birth of the Roosevelts’ last child, the marriage had grown strained. Eleanor, exhausted by frequent pregnancies and the demands of motherhood, distanced herself from Franklin.
The affair was discovered in 1918 when Eleanor found love letters in Franklin’s luggage. She offered him a divorce, but Franklin’s mother, Sara Delano Roosevelt, threatened to cut off financial support. Political adviser Louis Howe also warned that divorce would end Franklin’s political career.
The affair ended, but the connection did not. Lucy married Winthrop Rutherford in 1920, a wealthy widower and prominent figure in New York society. The marriage provided her with stability and a role as stepmother to his children. She later gave birth to a daughter, Barbara, in 1922.
Franklin and Lucy did not see each other for more than two decades. During that time, Roosevelt contracted polio in 1921, which left him paralyzed from the waist down. He returned to politics, served as governor of New York, and was elected president in 1932.
Lucy’s husband suffered a stroke in early 1941 and a second one in June of that year, severely limiting his mobility and speech. Lucy sought specialist treatment for him in Washington and contacted Roosevelt for assistance. Despite his busy schedule, he remained in contact with her.
In June 1941, Franklin and Lucy reunited for the first time since 1918. Roosevelt was 59 and president. Lucy was 50 and immersed in family life. The meeting came as World War II loomed over the United States.
Their renewed relationship was kept discreet. White House records show Lucy visited Roosevelt multiple times under the pseudonym Mrs. Paul Johnson. She often dined alone with him and engaged in private conversations. These meetings were facilitated by Roosevelt’s daughter, Anna, who acted as his hostess and screened visitors.
Winthrop Rutherford died in March 1944. Lucy found herself in a state of loneliness, reflecting on their 24 years of marriage. Roosevelt’s health was also failing. He suffered from high blood pressure, fluid in the lungs, and heart failure, though the severity of his condition was kept from the public.
In April 1944, Roosevelt stayed at Bernard Baruch’s estate in South Carolina and met with Lucy, rekindling their friendship. Her visits to the White House continued over the following months, always arranged discreetly with Anna’s help. The press was never informed of Lucy’s identity during her stays.
Roosevelt returned to Warm Springs, Georgia, on March 30, 1945, seeking rest. His health was deteriorating, and strict rest protocols were imposed by his doctor. Lucy arranged for artist Elizabeth Shoumatoff to paint his portrait and traveled to Warm Springs with her on April 9.
On April 12, 1945, Shoumatoff began her portrait session with Roosevelt, capturing him in his cape. During the session, Roosevelt collapsed. Despite immediate medical attention, he passed away at approximately 3:30 p.m.
Lucy and Shoumatoff hastily left Warm Springs to avoid the arriving family. Shoumatoff later held a press conference but respected Lucy’s wish to remain unmentioned. Lucy destroyed all correspondence from Roosevelt, ensuring their relationship remained private during her lifetime.
Eleanor Roosevelt learned the full extent of her husband’s relationship with Lucy after his death. It was Polly Delano who informed her about the depth of the connection and Anna’s role in facilitating their meetings. Eleanor reportedly felt a profound sense of betrayal.
In a gesture of acknowledgment, Eleanor sent a small watercolor of FDR painted by Shoumatoff to Lucy after the president’s death.
Lucy Mercer Rutherford lived quietly after Roosevelt’s passing, rotating between her homes in Aiken, South Carolina, and Allamuchy, New Jersey. Her health declined, and she was eventually diagnosed with leukemia. She died on July 31, 1948, at the age of 57.
Her obituary in the New York Times reflected more on her husband and his first wife than on her own life. But this likely would not have troubled Lucy, who had always prioritized others over herself. She was buried next to her husband, finding her own peace in the tranquility of her final resting place.