My Life

My Life - Oswald Mosley11- Roosevelt and American Industry.WE went to America in 1926 to study industry and to meet those who create it. Thiswas our main interest; American politics were then to me a secondary affair.Nevertheless, we were caught up immediately after our arrival in New York bypolitics and society, and although we soon extricated ourselves and were off on ourindustrial tour, it was interesting and hectic while it lasted. The chief contrast of thesefirst acquaintances was the difference which divided F. D. Roosevelt from his brilliantrelation, Alice Longworth. They moved in very different circles, and she wasoutspoken in her dislike of F.D.R. She remained very much the daughter of herfather—the former President Roosevelt—and reminded us of Lady Violet Bonham-Carter, Asquith's daughter, both in her abilities and in her prejudices F. D. Rooseveltwas in the opposite party and then on his way to becoming Governor of New York asa supporter of Al Smith, the attractive demagogue of 'Brown Derby' memory.The invitation to meet Franklin D. Roosevelt came out of the blue, for we neitherknew him nor had an introduction; he wrote to us at our hotel and invited us to hisapartment in New York. It was characteristic of the warmhearted, hospitableAmerican way of doing things to be direct and informal instead of waiting to beintroduced in our European fashion. Time is saved, and nothing is lost except falsedignity. In a European phrase of the eighteenth century, Roosevelt had enough dignityto be able to throw away a little of it.The meeting was both impressive and strange. He was alone in the room with his wife,seated on a chair from which he could not rise to greet us. He was completelyparalysed below the waist, and by all accounts in a worse condition at that time thanin his later years as President. What a contrast between this magnificent man with hisfine head and massive torso, handsome as a classic Greek and radiating charm, thoughcompletely immobile, and the exceptionally ugly woman, all movement and vivacitywith an aura of gentle kindness, but without even a reflection of his attraction. Howdid they come together? It was the first enigma which greeted us in America, and itremained a mystery until much later.We got on well from the start, and before we left he invited us to join him in hishouse-boat in Florida for a long fishing. We accepted gladly for apart from theprospect of an agreeable journey in his company, he had warned us that a period ofrepose and relaxation was indicated after the exertion of a Press-accompaniedindustrial tour which might try the physique of a Hercules. Mrs. Roosevelt excusedherself as she had other engagements at that time, and we never saw her again untilmany years later and in very different circumstances.We visited Roosevelt several times before leaving New York, and on all subsequentoccasions his mother was present. We saw in the older Mrs. Roosevelt some of thesplendid looks she had bequeathed to her son. She had much of his charm, combinedwith the distinguished manners of a hostess of the old school. F.D.R. himselfsometimes reminded me of the great hostesses of Europe, so solicitous of his guests,so active and imaginative in devising fresh amusements on the fishing trip. He had alively sense of fun; always active and vital, his company combined the dynamism ofAmerica with the manners of Europe. Life for him was clearly a paradise, but ademon had entered, the shadow of his affliction traversed the sunlight.163 of 424