Eleanor Roosevelt Writes to Harry Truman (1952)After her husband's presidency, Eleanor Roosevelt continually sent letters to Harry Truman about specific political issues. In one of her letters, she mentions the controversy surrounding the appointment of an ambassador to the Vatican. The United States can only have an ambassador if they sign the Concordat, which is a treaty between the Vatican and a secular government. But, The United States couldn't sign the agreement because it's not recognized as a Catholic nation. Having an ambassador in a non-catholic state would create even more controversy than before. She mentions that if the United States decided to have an ambassador to the Vatican, citizens with other ideologies would feel disrespected that their religion is not recognized. She states that "for us who take a firm stand on the separation of church and state, the recognition of a temporal power seems inconsistent." After receiving this message, Harry Truman sent a letter back explaining his appreciation for her stance on the issue, and hopes for a simple resolution without creating religious controversy within the nation. The majority of her letters to Harry Truman reinforces the separation of church and state and is a leading example for future political leaders.
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Bibliography:
Roosevelt, Eleanor. Letter. 29 Jan. 1952. Truman Library, trumanlibrary.org/
eleanor/1952.html. Accessed 24 Oct. 2017.
63-330. Eleanor Roosevelt with Fala at Val-Kill in Hyde Park, NY. 1947. 13 Jan.
2005. Flickr, www.flickr.com/photos/fdrlibrary/5693457934/in/
photolist-eE1frf-6dyHyV-6z8bAL-rGJaL9-93xi47-93xJnU-93ubMi-93xEaC-93sbKW-93xgB3-9
3xhZL-9RgXYQ-93xJLs-93xhXh-93tu58-93tS6M-9F4Dhc-9F7sFQ-9F7wyq-9F7wNN-9F4uke-9F7pf
w-9F4vEV-9F7twA-4WQoJC-9Kfygy-9REGPw-avGXb6-j3mu7j-ePxfmA-ePvGSy-diNks1-62z3UG-pi
uJ1R-j3dbXr-jdeJ8Q-K7kFnU-e3jkmD-jet33Y-69gbMy-69gbLE-gWWXRa-9cXAyP-6kQ1m8-6kTXPs
-6kPRF2-6kU9bh-6kPZKR-6kTXtC-6kPZG2/. Accessed 9 Jan. 2018.
Roosevelt, Eleanor. Letter. 29 Jan. 1952. Truman Library, trumanlibrary.org/
eleanor/1952.html. Accessed 24 Oct. 2017.
63-330. Eleanor Roosevelt with Fala at Val-Kill in Hyde Park, NY. 1947. 13 Jan.
2005. Flickr, www.flickr.com/photos/fdrlibrary/5693457934/in/
photolist-eE1frf-6dyHyV-6z8bAL-rGJaL9-93xi47-93xJnU-93ubMi-93xEaC-93sbKW-93xgB3-9
3xhZL-9RgXYQ-93xJLs-93xhXh-93tu58-93tS6M-9F4Dhc-9F7sFQ-9F7wyq-9F7wNN-9F4uke-9F7pf
w-9F4vEV-9F7twA-4WQoJC-9Kfygy-9REGPw-avGXb6-j3mu7j-ePxfmA-ePvGSy-diNks1-62z3UG-pi
uJ1R-j3dbXr-jdeJ8Q-K7kFnU-e3jkmD-jet33Y-69gbMy-69gbLE-gWWXRa-9cXAyP-6kQ1m8-6kTXPs
-6kPRF2-6kU9bh-6kPZKR-6kTXtC-6kPZG2/. Accessed 9 Jan. 2018.