Who's Buried in Grant's Tomb__ A Tour of Presidential Gravesites - Brian Lamb [57]
Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Hyde Park home
During his third term in the White House, Franklin Roosevelt grew increasingly fatigued. He’d been stricken with polio at age thirty-nine which left his lower body paralyzed. Though unable to walk without crutches, his energy had always seemed boundless. But by March 1945, Roosevelt felt the need to retreat to Warm Springs, Georgia—a spot dubbed the “Little White House”—for some much-needed rest.
Surrounded by friends, including his onetime mistress, Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd, Roosevelt soon seemed like his old self again. The group went for leisurely drives in the country by day and spent their evenings with long meals and conversation. On the morning of April 12, his guests thought FDR looked better than he had in weeks. Lucy Rutherfurd’s friend, Elizabeth Shoumatoff, was sketching the president’s portrait when he raised his hand and said, “I have a terrific headache.”
Those were his last words. FDR fell unconscious. He was carried to his bedroom by his valet and butler. The doctor came almost immediately, but nothing could be done. The president had suffered a massive brain injury. He died just before 3:30 that afternoon without regaining consciousness. For propriety’s sake, Lucy Rutherfurd and Elizabeth Shoumatoff made a hasty departure from the “Little White House.”
The First Lady was summoned back to the White House from a charity event she was attending. When she arrived, Press Secretary Steve Early and Dr. Ross McIntire told her that the president was dead. Soon after, Eleanor Roosevelt broke the news to Harry Truman that he was president.
At 7:00 p.m. that evening in Washington, D.C., Harry Truman took the oath of office. A few minutes later, Mrs. Roosevelt flew to Warm Springs. The next morning, Eleanor began the 800-mile trip back to Washington on the presidential train, her husband’s bronze coffin visible through the windows. Hundreds of thousands lined the route, crying and praying. When the train pulled into Union Station, a military procession escorted the late president’s body back to the White House. There, Eleanor was alone with her husband for the last time, placing her gold ring on his finger.
A simple funeral service was held in the East Room. The Roosevelt family was joined by the new president and his family, government leaders and heads of state. Mrs. Roosevelt remained stoic while others wept. Hymns were sung, including “Faith of Our Fathers,” the president’s favorite. The service ended with the famous line from FDR’s first inaugural: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
Before his death, Franklin Roosevelt indicated his wish to be buried at the family estate in Hyde Park, New York. His body was borne home for the last time on the presidential train. On arrival, the casket was placed on a caisson drawn by six horses, led by a riderless horse. The cortege was met at the gravesite by President Truman, the cabinet, numerous dignitaries, family, and friends. A military band played. Cannons were fired. A gun salute sounded. The longest-serving president was laid to rest beneath a monument listing only the dates of his birth and death.
Eleanor Roosevelt continued to lead an active life for nearly twenty years. She died of tuberculosis in 1962 and is buried next to her husband in Hyde Park. Franklin Roosevelt’s beloved Scottish terrier, “Fala,” is also buried near his master.
Touring the Tomb at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library and Museum in Hyde Park, New York
The Franklin D. Roosevelt Library and Museum is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. April through October, the site remains open until 6:00 p.m. Hours are subject to change and visitors are advised to call for