If You Ask Me
by Eleanor Roosevelt

That is a personal question which everyone, I think, has to decide for herself. If you marry a man who has just returned from overseas, you will know you are going to have not only the usual period of adjustment which comes in every marriage, but the added adjustment which every man must make on his return to civilian life. If a woman truly loves a man, however, and fully understands what she is doing, she may feel that they can work out their new life better together than apart, but that is something they have to decide and no one can decide it for them.

No. I do not think that most Frenchmen prefer German occupation to the presence of Allied troops, particularly Americans. Naturally they had to make up their minds to considerable destruction of their towns and villages which, under the Germans, had not been destroyed. When they found themselves constantly worse off than they had been before liberation which they longed for, life took on a sad aspect; but by and large, I feel sure that the French as a whole are grateful that they are free again. I think we can make the effort to understand them better. That is always a good antidote to any prejudice. The only think we have done to deserve dislike anywhere in the world is to be rather satisfied with ourselves and therefore not very anxious to find out about other people.

I do not know why you set five dollars as the sum to be paid. I think everyone should pay an income tax, but there are some incomes so low that five dollars would be almost impossible to accumulate during the year, so I think everyone should pay a percentage of what he actually has earned during the year.

Certainly, if it is made strong by the nations who join.

I do not think at present that my opinion is of any value, as I have made no very intensive study of the question, but my feeling is that this part of Europe has been a bone of contention for a great many years and its internationalization would be a benefit to the whole of the European area and remove future causes of contention.

Yes. Early American.

Yes. I think much less attention should be paid by the advertising field to this age.

I think it advanced civilization in that it saved for us a great many young lives of a great many different nationalities which might otherwise have been lost in this period and therefore would have retarded the development of civilization. Whether in the future it is an aid to civilization depends on the scientists and our younger generation. Both groups know its potentialities for destruction.

Yes. I think for a woman it is much easier to adjust if she marries between the ages of twenty and twenty-five, and probably easier to begin to have children and adjust to a family life that includes old and young.

Very decidedly. I think it is absolutely vital for the good of future generations that nursery schools be made available to care for the children of working mothers during the entire day. The next generation will seriously suffer from both the physical and mental standpoints if this is not done.

That depends upon the President.

This is a very difficult question, as it involves the feeling that you have for your mother. If it is very close, and if you are devoted to her, I think you will find that you will be able to interpret the man you marry to her and change her point of view. It is always well to weigh the opinion of older people, because they have had more experience than you possibly can have. However, you are the one who is going to marry the man and live with him, and so ultimately it will have to be your decision. I would not hurry, however, and I would make every possible effort to bring about unity in the family, since the break between the home of the past and the one you hope to make is always a sad and upsetting experience.

I do, but that is one of the things that intelligent advocates of planned parenthood have stressed, and it is part of all better health conditions, since many women have not the strength to give to the older children when they have too short periods of recuperation. This is not always true, however, since we have all known women who could have a child every year and still give generously of heart and mind to all of them; but a woman's health must be the guide.

I think Sweden has been extremely fortunate. Germany in time would probably have invaded her, but they needed what she could produce and send to them more than they needed her as an enemy or a conquered nation. I doubt if it is mere geographical location, or even a desire and a determination to think and act peacefully. I think it is just the economics of a situation and the military developments which made it possible for her to remain neutral.

Yes.

I think that is one of the things which the U.S. Public Health Service has been asking to inaugurate for many years. Probably now the people as a whole, through their representatives, will be willing to accept the responsibility for this kind of work. In the past they haven't been willing to vote the money for such purposes, but have counted on private resources and foundations.