"Reconcilable Differences"

Barbara Perry, co-director of the Miller Center's Presidential Oral History Program, discusses her new book, Reconcilable Differences: The Unlikely Political Alliance of John F. Kennedy and Eleanor Roosevelt, on the relationship between John F. Kennedy and Eleanor Roosevelt. When John F. Kennedy began his pursuit of the presidency, one influential Democrat remained unconvinced: Eleanor Roosevelt. Skeptical of Kennedy, Roosevelt was far from an early supporter. Yet over time, the two forged an unexpected partnership that helped shape some of the defining initiatives of the early 1960s. Drawing on her latest research, Perry explores how Kennedy won Roosevelt's trust and how their collaboration advanced causes that Roosevelt had championed throughout her life—including women's rights, the Peace Corps, civil rights, and efforts to reduce Cold War tensions. Their relationship offers a compelling case study in political bridge-building across differences of generation, religion, gender, race, and family legacy.

This event is cosponsored by University of Virginia Press.

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