Daisy Chain

DAISY CHAIN is a novel of the women in Franklin Delano Roosevelts presidency. As seen through the eyes of his cousin, Daisy Suckley, FDR's women hailed from all walks of life, inspired his social agenda and were his greatest strength. As divided as they were united, these women redefined female roles and in the process, helped to forge a nation. Following the 1929 Stock Market crash, Daisy, a forty-year-old spinster, is the sole wage-earner for her family, paying for Wilderstein, their home on the Hudson River Valley. A chance invitation for a car drive with her cousin, the newly elected Franklin Roosevelt, leads to an affair. The First Lady, Eleanor, is a wife in name only, living separately from her husband. Laura Polly Delano, FDRs cousin, tells Daisy about his past, explaining his long running relationship with Missy LeHand, a poor Irish girl, now his Super Secretary, and his affair with the disgraced Lucy Mercer, formerly in Eleanors employ. As marriage is not an option, Daisy continues their clandestine affair, until he asks her to join him on a political trip. She refuses, knowing the consequences of being seen as a mistress, and when he leaves, she endures a miscarriage and illness alone. Her employer having recently died and, Daisy asks outright for paid work. FDR is happy to make her his private secretary, but Daisy insists their relationship must now be professional -- she has too much to lose if things came out. Reluctantly, FDR accepts. Entering the White House, Daisy is thrown into a political world with every move watched by FBI, who consider her a Republican spy. She meets the invalided Missy, and liaises with Grace Tully, Missys replacement. Visited by Frances Perkins, a senior member of FDRs Cabinet, Daisy is asked to support Eleanors agenda against Franklin. Torn, Daisy witnesses terrible arguments between Franklin and Eleanor. Trying to ease tensions and improve FDRs personal image, she gives Franklin a Scottie dog, Fala, which becomes a hit with the press. But Europe is gripped by war, and America is reluctantly dragged in. Between visits from foreign Heads of State such as Churchill, Daisy is one of the few to witness FDRs deteriorating health. Daisy tries to get medical help but is pushed aside when Lucy Mercer, newly widowed, arrives back on the scene. Angry phone calls with Eleanor precipitate a collapse. In this charged atmosphere, his subsequent death gives rise to an explosive showdown between the women.