Early Political Career : Letters between Senator Gibson and Mrs. James Helm (1935)

In the year 1935, Eleanor Roosevelt was a busy woman; as the First Lady, she was dealing with political issues such as high unemployment rates, the New Deal, and her women only press conferences. Roosevelt supported strengthening women’s rights, and began organizing garden parties for women in political positions to attend. On April 2nd her secretary, Mrs. James Helm, wrote a letter to Senator Ernest Gibson, requesting the presence of a woman from his office. Senator Gibson responded to this letter with the information for Consuelo Northrop Bailey, who was invited to three such garden parties. The influence that these two powerful women may have had on each other is interesting to consider, and easy to believe possible.