Becoming Madame Secretary, Stephanie Dray, author; Cassandra Campbell, narrator
This is a well-written and researched novel, penned by an author that has given us a book that is both entertaining and informative. It clearly describes the political environment that existed in the time of Frances Perkins. Perkins lived through a time when women did not have the right to vote, own property, smoke in public, etc. Yet, she, with her indomitable and charitable spirit became the first woman appointed to a cabinet position as she became Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Secretary of Labor and remained in that position for the 12 years of his Presidency. In that position, with his support, she was a tireless and stalwart supporter of civil rights, women’s rights, a decent wage, a shorter work week, safety in the workplace, the end of child labor, and other social programs that would help the aged, disabled, infirm and indigent, including the institution of Social Security. She worked for women’s suffrage and was front and center in that effort as well. Although she bravely stood for all these admirable positions at a time when it was not first and foremost on many of the minds of the powerful and influential, she achieved great success because of her personal effort and persistence. Her efforts were not without the negative political outcry that would defy her and attempt to shame and destroy her.
The other side of the coin, however, is the disastrous result her efforts have had on our financial stability, today. As the years have passed, the cost of the social programs has ballooned and has encouraged many people to take undue advantage of our system and what it offers. Still, credit should be given where credit is due. She initiated and worked to successfully bring about many changes to the workplace and social environment that were absolutely necessary, especially after the tragic Triangle Factory fire.
At times, I admired Perkins greatly because she always seemed to put the country and the needs of others first. At other times, however, I felt the opposite way. I felt that it was selfish to always put her family’s needs on the backburner without considering the effect it was having on their emotional stability and well-being. Since it is a novel based on the history and information the author garnered from what little documentation exists, plus her imagination, and not one based solely on facts, I tried to temper my judgment. The idea, though, that the author, FDR and Perkins supporters and Perkins herself seemed to believe that there was simply no one else to do the job as well as she could, seemed contrived, since no one is indispensable.
Her deep friendships, like that with Mary Harriman Rumsey, or her relationship with her own husband Paul Wilson and her daughter Susanna, seemed often to depend on their ability to help her advance her own position, causes and opportunities. They stepped in, acquiesced to her needs and supported her when the occasion demanded their fealty, rarely if ever voicing an objection. Still, because the author supports the idea that she attracted the attention of many suitors, friends, and activists like her, I must assume that she had the many fine qualities that gave rise to her success in a world dominated by men. She, indeed, broke through the glass ceiling in spite of the many men, and even women, who were resentful, disrespectful and/or remained suspicious and belligerent toward her, obviously objecting to her accomplishments.
On some rare occasions, the author intimates that it was the Republicans who were responsible for the failure of some social program, and my political vantage point made me feel that the conclusion was disingenuous and false. Also, since our difficulties in passing a successful budget and cutting spending to reduce our debt today can be traced back to the expansion and explosion of the costs of those progressive programs promoted largely by Democrats as time passed, I did have mixed feelings about her achievements. Yes, there were and are still many people in need, but there is also terrible abuse that exists in the very programs they promoted as they have expanded, exploded and inflated our government’s budget. Because of the resistance of the left-leaning political leaders, the problem seems out of control and irremediable. Unfortunately, Perkins and her supporters did not provide safeguards to prevent corruption from growing in the very world they sought to reform.
On the positive side, Frances Perkins was the quintessential philanthropist, when as a young, single woman, she risked putting herself into poverty as she supported the needs of others so much more disadvantaged than she was and, indeed, put her own money into the effort. It is a fact that women and children were worked mercilessly in death traps for ridiculously low wages and in terrible working conditions. Shame on those who supported such behavior. So, she was definitely a necessary change agent at a time when change was absolutely necessary. I was forced to wonder if these wonderfully strong and kind women, like Frances (Faye) Perkins, Jane Adams and Florence Kelly, truly understood the ramifications of their good works, however, since many of their programs and accomplishments have been exploited. Still, nothing excuses the men that were pompous who abused the women and children, and others they looked down upon, so the time was right and their cause was righteous. Sadly, their programs have grown beyond their original purpose and have brought the country to a point of divisiveness as political parties refuse to adjust their spending and/or the rules that govern these services. Their hearts are in the right place, but their purse is empty. The end result of some of these programs has been to encourage the growth of politicians, criminals and gangs that work to exploit the system.
At times, I thought that Perkins was portrayed as Pollyanna, or overly emotional, or even self-centered, but I was happy that this very left-wing, politically progressive woman was able to promote programs for the disadvantaged. Perhaps to advance politically, one simply must choose to forge forward, doing what is necessary, often behaving in ways for which one would condemn others.