Notes on Lorena Hickok and Her Relationship with Eleanor Roosevelt

Journalist Background

• Name: Lorena Hickok, often referred to as "Hick".
• Date of Birth: 1893 in rural Wisconsin.
• Early Life: Grew up in a violent household; escaped at age 14 to work as a maid before completing high school with help from a relative.
• Initial Journalism Career:
  • Started at Battle Creek Evening News.
  • Progressed to Milwaukee and Minneapolis, attempting college but faced restrictions.
  • Mentored by Thomas J. Dillon at the Tribune, learning about journalism and life.

Relationship with Eleanor Roosevelt

• Overview: Hickok had a profound, intimate friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt, leading to her departure from reporting to join the Roosevelt Administration.
• Timeline: Became close friends in the early 1930s; spent significant time together, especially post-FDR's election in 1932.
• Correspondence: Their letters were filled with emotional exchanges, showcasing deep affection.

Career Development

• Health: Diagnosed with diabetes in 1926; condition influenced her career.
• Major Assignments:
  • Initially covered Eleanor Roosevelt during FDR’s presidential campaign.
  • Eleanor encouraged Hickok to join the administration due to her inability to remain objective while reporting on her.
• Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA):
  • Worked under Harry Lloyd Hopkins, traveling across the U.S. to report on severe poverty during the Great Depression.
  • Described by a TIME journalist as a "rotund lady with a husky voice," but acknowledged as a proficient reporter.
• Post-FERA Work:
  • Took a role promoting the 1939 World’s Fair.
  • Later moved to Washington, D.C., working for the Democratic National Committee.

Life at the White House

• Duration: Lived at the White House for five years at Eleanor's invitation.
• Later Life: After FDR’s death, moved to Hyde Park to continue her work with Eleanor.
• Collaborative Work:
  • Wrote "Ladies of Courage," profiling extraordinary women.
  • Authored biographies for children and Eleanor’s life story titled "Reluctant First Lady."

Legacy

• Historiographical Debate: The exact nature of her relationship with Eleanor Roosevelt invites speculation, but it's important to recognize Hickok's significant contributions and her commitment to journalism and social justice during a tumultuous era.