If You Ask Me
by Eleanor Roosevelt

As a matter of fact, I never made that statement. During the days of Prohibition, I was asked on the radio about youngsters', particularly girls', drinking. I said I thought it wiser for families to let their young people see wine and liquor at home, and before they let them go out with other young people, it was well for a girl to know how much she could drink—otherwise, she might get into real trouble. I happen to have been one of the people who rejoiced when Prohibition came in. I felt that if liquor was not available, many weak people would be saved. But I found, as time went on, that people were getting just as much, if not more, liquor, and that much of it was far more dangerous than the original liquor had been. What seemed to me even more serious was that our very best citizens were becoming lawbreakers. It seemed to me that no law ignored by such a large percentage of the people should be kept on the books. I am deeply sad and ashamed that we in our country have more women alcoholics than any other nation in the world. I did not know this, and I am appalled, because I think that women are, if anything, more unattractive than men when they have had too much to drink. To have our women unable to control an appetite such as that for liquor is a very bad influence in our homes.

I don't think any book should be banned by a censor. We should try to educate the public so that it will not buy books that have no literary value. Immorality is a fact. We cannot deny its existence, but if a book becomes distasteful because of the way immorality is depicted, then people should refuse to buy it. I think an educated public is quite capable of doing its own censoring.

I never intercede by asking that something difficult be done. I frequently send letters to the proper person, who may investigate and find out whether anything should be done. I never make any requests beyond enclosing the letter and saying I hope it will be possible to look into the situation.

I think a woman's obligation is always to her husband. But if she is a wise woman, she will make her children feel that they, too, have an obligation to their father. Then there will be no conflicts, because they will be one family with mutual interests all of them respect.

I feel that the Senate has a right to use its discretionary power as regards any appointment the President is required to send it for confirmation. But I regret the situation in which the Senate felt it necessary to deny the President his choice for a member of his cabinet. The President is choosing a member of his official family, and I think he is entitled to have people he trusts and believes in. Whether the rest of us do or do not agree with the President's choice should not, I believe, carry weight.

If we look back on the early days of our history, we will find that many girls married at fifteen or sixteen. Their duties were arduous, and they often lived where they had few people to help them through difficulties. Yet they met life and lived it and helped their husbands settle a great country. If a girl is ready for marriage at eighteen, then I think it is quite all right for her to be married.