Sunday Talks: On Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a talk by Roosevelt Campobello International Park staff

The extraordinary life of this country’s 32nd president will be explored in a free presentation on the history made by Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the music he loved, on Sunday, August 25 at 2 pm, at Eastport Arts Center. The program will be brought to Eastport for this one-time-only performance by the educational services staff of Roosevelt Campobello International Park.

Roosevelt spent much of his leisure time on Campobello Island. According to the park’s manager of visitor services, Bruce Thomson, the presentation will point out FDR’s connection to the island and how it affected his personal and political development. In particular, it will highlight the impact of the former president’s connection with Native Americans he met on Campobello, which led Roosevelt to include Native self-governance in his New Deal.

“We’ll start with piano music highlighting FDR’s favorite songs then we’ll talk about his life achievements, some unknown stories that people perhaps don’t know, and about his childhood,” Thomson said. “We think there are lessons in it for all of us.”

The talk is part of a series of Sunday talks that will be offered with free admission at Eastport Arts Center through October. Donations will be gratefully accepted, and will be used to help sustain programs like these. 

Upcoming in the series, which runs through October, is a ‘Tea with Eleanor,’ focused on the social activism of Eleanor Roosevelt, also offered by Roosevelt Campobello International Park educational staff, on Sunday, September 8 at 2 pm.

Eastport Arts Center is at 36 Washington Street, Eastport, and at www.eastportartscenter.org, and is handicapped-accessible.