Podcast Summary: "Plan Your Trip to the FDR Library and Museum"

All Of It (WNYC) | Host: Kusha Navadar (in for Alison Stewart) | Guest: William Harris, Director of the FDR Presidential Library and Museum
Date: August 30, 2024

Overview

This episode of “All Of It” invites listeners to discover the cultural and historical significance of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, NY. Host Kusha Navadar, filling in for Alison Stewart, speaks with William Harris, the library's director, to discuss its history, impact, and why it makes a rewarding day trip for history buffs and curious visitors alike. The conversation explores the origins of presidential libraries, FDR’s motivations and innovations, critical examinations of presidential legacies, and how these institutions balance preservation, public education, and evolving perspectives on American leadership.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Unique Legacy of the FDR Library

• FDR as Pioneer:
  The FDR Library was the first presidential library to be established—containing not only Roosevelt's documents, but also his personal effects and the only one used by a sitting president (02:05).

• Personal Collection:
  FDR “was a collector himself. He collected rare books...loved naval history and Ship models” and his administration generated “17 million pages of documents” (05:21, Harris).

• A Gift to the American People:
  On giving the library and its materials to the public:

  “He gave all of that to the American people.” (07:35, Harris)

• Precedent for Future Presidents:
  Prior to FDR, presidential documents were either lost, donated much later, or kept in families:

  “He shifted the entire paradigm of public ownership of presidential materials.” (06:20, Harris)

2. Shaping the Tradition of Presidential Libraries

• Establishing Norms:
  While skeptics initially viewed the concept as “a one man ego show, as a boondoggle,” historians and the new National Archives recognized the public value (07:35, Harris).

• The Expansion of Presidential Libraries:
  Every president since FDR has followed suit, partly out of necessity due to the sheer quantity and complexity of records:

  “There would have been no way they could manage them.” (08:30, Harris)

• Director’s Experience:
  Harris notes his involvement with the transition of the Nixon Library into the National Archives, and work on Bush and Clinton libraries (10:08).

3. What Makes a Presidential Library Great?

• Imprints and Evolution:
  The most effective libraries “leave the president’s imprint” but also “trust history to sort itself out” as scholarship continues (11:41, Harris).

• Balancing Legacy and Complexity:

  “These institutions evolve over time...personal topics become less sensitive and complexities can be addressed as time passes.” (10:46, Harris)

4. Visitor Experiences and Notable Features

• Interactive Exhibits:

  • Sitting at a replica kitchen table and listening to FDR explain Social Security via radio, highlighting how he addressed the nation directly:

    “The experience of hearing his voice through the radio...he speaks at such a high level, it's a real contrast to where we are.” (12:17, Susan, caller)

  • FDR’s pioneering use of radio (Fireside Chats) helped American families personally engage with presidential messaging (13:09, Harris).

• The Setting:

  “The property itself is absolutely breathtaking...the top of the Hudson Valley.” (14:12, Matthew, caller)

  • The Roosevelt estate covers 1,300 acres, with his home, burial place, and the library all interconnected (14:40, Harris).

• Broad Historical Coverage:

  “There's so much history...it's not just about the Roosevelts. There's a lot going on in the world, and it’s a lot to take in.” (17:22, Kristin, caller)

• Highlights Beyond the Roosevelts:

  • Temporary exhibits (e.g., Madeleine Albright’s brooches, Black American Civil Rights and the Roosevelts) keep the museum experience fresh and diverse (19:06, Harris).

5. Discussing FDR’s Complex Legacy

• Civil Rights, New Deal, and Accountability:
  Harris explains their approach to difficult history, notably FDR’s failure to support an anti-lynching bill:

  “What we wanted to do was shift the focus...to voices and the people who were fighting and challenging the system...These are tough stories...leaders are complex.” (16:03, 19:46, Harris)

  • Contextualizing decisions within political realities, without excusing failures, fosters nuanced public conversation (19:46, Harris).

6. Behind the Scenes: Operations and Funding

• Why Presidents Are Buried at Their Libraries:
  It’s a personal choice, often reflecting deep connections to the place:

  “It shows the president's connection with these places, too, that they view themselves as, you know, that's part of them, part of their legacy.” (22:32, Harris)

• Funding Model:
  Core operations are federally funded (National Archives), augmented by ticket sales and private fundraising through the Roosevelt Institute (22:59, Harris).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Evolution of Presidential Libraries:

  “To the extent that they trust, frankly, history to sort itself out, that those stories will be told...and to just have some faith in the American people in that regard.” (11:41, Harris)

• FDR’s Vision:

  “He recognized that his administration was fundamentally changing America...so the library can be viewed...as something important.” (05:21, Harris)

• Personal Touch:

  “I'm gonna say his office, just because I love that he worked in there. And it's down the hall from my office. And he picked out my paint color, which I dislike a lot. But that personal touch that he's in there...” (23:30, Harris)

• On Bringing History to Life:

  “We’re not running a campaign for FDR for another term in office. We’re really trying to help people understand and make decisions of their own about participation in our democratic system.” (19:46, Harris)

• Surprising Guests:

  “We hosted FDR...no, I’m sorry, go ahead...Cardi B. Would you have expected that?” (21:46, Harris)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:05] Introduction to the FDR Library’s significance
• [05:21] Why FDR preserved and donated his collections
• [07:35] Listener engagement, skepticism, and the precedent for future presidents
• [10:08] Harris’s work with other presidential libraries
• [12:17] Listener Susan describes the kitchen table and Social Security exhibit
• [14:12] Matthew highlights the site’s natural beauty
• [16:03]/[19:46] Discussion of FDR, the New Deal, civil rights, and museum storytelling choices
• [22:32] Why presidents are sometimes buried at their libraries
• [22:59] Funding of presidential libraries
• [23:30] Harris’s favorite piece in the library (FDR’s office)

Conclusion

This episode offers a lively, multifaceted look at the FDR Presidential Library and Museum—from its origins and educational mission to moving visitor experiences and the evolving examination of presidential legacies. Listeners are encouraged to visit not just to learn about FDR and Eleanor, but to appreciate the broader sweep of American history, the complexities of leadership, and the ways in which museums grapple honestly with the past. The episode combines expert insights, audience testimonials, and stories from inside the archives to underscore the enduring value and relevance of presidential libraries.