January 25, 1947

[welshTerrier2]

today is my folks' 60th wedding anniversary and i thought i'd do a little browsing to try to find news stories from the day they got married. among the most interesting events, Al Capone died on this day. but i also came across what appears to be a diary entry made by Eleanor Roosevelt ... it contained an interesting perspective of unity among liberals ... food for thought ...

source: http://www.gwu.edu/~erpapers/myday/displaydoc.cfm?_y=1947&_f=md000557

January 25, 1947

NEW YORK, Friday — I was sorry to see a headline in a paper the other day which seemed to indicate that Henry Wallace and I were at odds. I have always believed in Mr. Wallace's integrity and admired his ability, but that does not mean that you have to agree in the way in which you wish to work for your objectives.

I made it quite clear, when I attended the first meeting of the Americans for Democratic Action, that I was not an active member of any new organization. I am afraid I am too old and too busy to take on new activities. But all the members who attended that first meeting were asked to consider themselves a "committee of the whole" and, of course, I shall be glad to be helpful whenever it is possible.

I would like to see all progressive groups work together. But since some of us prefer to have our staffs and policy-making groups completely free of any American Communist infiltration if we can possibly prevent it, while others have not quite as strong a feeling on this subject, it is natural that there should be two set-ups. That does not mean that the force of all liberals may not go to some of the same objectives, and I certainly hope this will be the case.

In our democracy, I feel that Americans who believe in democracy should lead. While other beliefs must exist and I would fight for the rights of others to their own beliefs, I must work with those who hold to the fundamental beliefs which I consider sound and true.