Since we live in a culture that demeans and criminalizes LGBT's the possibility that Eleanor Roosevelt, amongst other celebrities, had an affair with a woman has been vociferously denied. But from the excerpts below it is clear to any woman that has been in a same sex relationship that these two women were in love in the most intense way.
It is difficult for many historians wanting to share the truth about those in the past that see evidence of same sex relationships. Our entire culture assumes one is heterosexual by default. And it takes extrordinary evidence to the contrary to prove a same sex relationship existed.
March 5, 1933
ER to Hick, written on the first evening after FDR's inauguration...
Hick my dearest--
I cannot go to bed tonight without a word to you. I felt a little as though a part of me was leaving tonight. you have grown so much to be a part of my life that it is empty without you, even though I'm busy every minute.
[details of day deleted]
Oh! darling. I hope on the whole you will be happier for my friendship. I felt I had brought you so much discomfort and hardship today & almost more heartache than you could bear & I don't want to make you unhappy--All my love I shall be saying to you over thought waves in a few minutes.
Good night my dear one
Angels guard thee
God protect thee
My love enfold thee
All the night through
Always yours
ER
March 7, 1933
ER to Hick...
Hick darling,
All day I've thought of you & another birthday I will be with you, & yet tonite you sounded so far away & formal. Oh! I want to put my arms around you. I ache to hold you close. Your ring is a great comfort to me. I look at it and think she does love me, or I wouldn't be wearing it.
[Date not provided]
ER to Hick
I wish I could lie down beside you tonight & take you in my arms.
[Date not provided]
Hick writing to ER after a long separation...
Only eight more days . . . Funny how even the dearest face will fade away in time. Most clearly I remember your eyes, with a kind of teasing smile in them, and the feeling of that soft spot just north-east of the corner of your mouth against my lips. . . .