The Gatekeeper: Missy LeHand, FDR, and the Untold Story of the Partnership That Defined a Presidency

The first biography of arguably the most influential member of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's administration, Marguerite &quot;Missy&quot; LeHand, FDR's de facto chief of staff, who has been misrepresented, mischaracterized, and overlooked throughout history ... until now.<br><br>Widely considered the first female presidential chief of staff, Marguerite &quot;Missy&quot; LeHand was the right-hand woman to Franklin Delano Roosevelt - both personally and professionally - for more than twenty years. Although her official title as personal secretary was relatively humble, her power and influence were unparalleled. Everyone in the White House knew one truth: If you wanted access to Franklin, you had to get through Missy. She was one of his most trusted advisors, affording her a unique perspective on the president that no one else could claim, and she was deeply admired and respected by Eleanor and the Roosevelt children.<br> <br>With unprecedented access to Missy's family and original source materials, journalist Kathryn Smith tells the captivating and forgotten story of the intelligent, loyal, and clever woman who had a front-row seat to history in the making. <i>The Gatekeeper</i> is a thoughtful, revealing unsung-hero story about a woman ahead of her time, the true weight of her responsibility, and the tumultuous era in which she lived - and a long overdue tribute to one of the most important female figures in American history.