The Gatekeeper

Missy LeHand, FDR, and the Untold Story of the Partnership That Defined a Presidency

By: Kathryn Smith

Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne

The first biography of arguably the most influential member of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's administration, Marguerite "Missy" LeHand, FDR's de facto chief of staff, who has been misrepresented, mischaracterized, and overlooked throughout history...until now.

Widely considered the first female presidential chief of staff, Marguerite "Missy" LeHand was the right-hand woman to Franklin Delano Roosevelt - both personally and professionally - for more than 20 years. Although her official title as personal secretary was relatively humble, her power and influence were unparalleled. Everyone in the White House knew one truth: if you wanted access to Franklin, you had to get through Missy. She was one of his most trusted advisors, affording her a unique perspective on the president that no one else could claim, and she was deeply admired and respected by Eleanor and the Roosevelt children.

With unprecedented access to Missy's family and original source materials, journalist Kathryn Smith tells the captivating and forgotten story of the intelligent, loyal, and clever woman who had a front-row seat to history in the making. The Gatekeeper is a thoughtful, revealing, unsung-hero story about a woman ahead of her time, the true weight of her responsibility, and the tumultuous era in which she lived; a long overdue tribute to one of the most important female figures in American history.

©2016 Kathryn Smith (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

history intertwined with a compassionate story

I enjoyed this book. It combined historical facts with an insider's view to tell a compelling story about the complicated relationship of the Roosevelt's as well as the Presidency during very tumultuous times in the United States.

The Footnote of The American history.

It can be questioned, what America would be today, if Missy was not with FDR during all those years.

The Gatekeeper

It was an interesting picture of how FDR's secretary played an important part in his political and private life.

Beth

Every book I read about the Roosevelt family makes me love them more. This book adds depth to the complexity of FDR and Eleanor’s marriage, and confirms Missy’s integrity and innocence.

FDR's Closest Friend, Confidante & Chief of Staff

Smith tells the story of this remarkable woman with compassion balanced by recently uncovered facts.