If You Ask Me
by Eleanor Roosevelt

I cannot imagine that anyone would have wanted to use him; and I certainly would not have permitted it unless convinced that some real value to humanity would come of it.

As a rule, I think strikes that cause great loss and inconvenience to the general public are a mistake. Sometimes it is the fault of both management and union leadership when they occur; or sometimes it is the fault of some group within management or within labor that does not have a broad enough outlook or sufficient understanding of the real issues which are at stake. It seems to me that both labor and management are hurt when the kind of strike you mention occurs.

On certain occasions the flag is flown at my house in the country, but not all the time.

I have nineteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren scattered all over the country. On one or two occasions I have stayed at home when I did not wish to leave children alone in the house, but this has rarely occurred. I don't call myself a good grandmother babysitter because I really don't live close enough to my children and grandchildren to be of much use when they need someone to baby-sit.

Oh, yes, I am very conscious of the fact that women do not have complete equality even in the United States. I also am aware that many Oriental women think the customs and habits they have grown up with are preferable to the customs and habits of the West. Of course, in some ways there is no equality possible between the sexes except the equality of opportunity, which we in the West have made great strides toward achieving.

As a child I was sometimes called "Totty," and my father's pet name for me was "Little Nell"; but almost no one calls me by a nickname now. Occasionally a few very old friends call me "Lady"; but to most of my friends I'm afraid I am "Mrs. Roosevelt," and will remain so for the rest of my life. I would give much to inspire less respect and more sense of familiarity and warmth.

The New York police force is very good, I believe, but it is impossible in a city this size to have enough policemen constantly on hand in concentrated areas. When I lived in an apartment on East 62nd Street, the association for the improvement of that small area asked if any residents wanted more constant supervision than could be provided by the city police force. If so, we were asked to pay a small sum each month for this service. Since I lived alone, I was extremely glad to have this extra protection.

By writing and asking for it, although I'm afraid that it is impossible for me to make a practice of answering everyone's request.