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Eleanor Roosevelt’s High Expectations Regarding Madame Chiang Kai-shek
by Tim Sheehan

Table of Contents | Introduction | Conclusion | Endnotes | Related Web Resources

The First Ladies’ Press Conference
Page 9 of 24

The First Lady held her own press conference with Madame Chiang Kai-shek on 24 February 1943. Eleanor Roosevelt controlled this event, comprised of female reporters. She defended Madame when reporters grilled the Generalissimo’s wife about meeting with the leaders of women’s organizations. ER claimed that because Madame is still recovering, she must “conserve her strength,” and “not see a great many people.” (44) Eleanor Roosevelt would only shield Madame Chiang for that one incident.

Throughout the remainder of the press conference, Eleanor Roosevelt held a firm grip on the topics discussed. During the middle of the press conference, Madame Chiang portrayed China’s poor as refusing charity. This depiction may have been Madame’s attempt to persuade the United States that the Chinese preferred money for munitions, not humanitarian relief. ER interrupted, asking Madame to tell the press about the spirit in China. Without allowing Madame to do so, ER continued with the following: “That they are not fighting for themselves alone but for a better world for everyone and that they worked with a determination which was missing where people lacked hope and vision.” After this rant, Madame Chiang responded, “You tell it better than I can.” (45)

At one point in the press conference, Eleanor Roosevelt put Madame on the hot seat. ER asked Madame the following regarding American pilots assisting China with defeating the Japanese.

I think they were credited with less actual accomplishments than they had accomplished and more loss, and I wonder if you feel that they did actually accomplish or were supposed to accomplish 297 missions. Can you tell me if you feel, Mme. [C.] if they have acquitted themselves well with a minimum of loss?

Madame got herself out of this jam by proclaiming American pilots as the best in the world.(46) This grilling on Eleanor Roosevelt’s part shows that she knew about the military situation in China. It could also have been payback on behalf of FDR.

In 1943, an equal rights amendment had been proposed for the United States. A reporter asked Madame Chiang about equal rights in China. Madame replied, “I feel strongly that since the men expect us to bear half of the responsibility it is up to them to give us equal privileges. I have never known brains to have any sex.” She continued by stating the following about women participating in peace conferences when the war ends:

I do not mean this as a dig, but statemen [sic] the world over so far have failed to keep peace[,] to maintain peace[.] [W]omen never have had a chance at peace conferences to see what they could do. Well, why not give women a chance[?](47)

Her comments surely touched all the female reporters, as well as Eleanor Roosevelt.

Madame’s remarks about women at peace conferences would have been a great way to end the press conference. Not so to Eleanor Roosevelt. She stated, “No one has asked Mme. C. about her orphanages.” (48) So Madame talked about how Chunking, China already had 30,000 children in its orphanages and couldn’t afford to house any more children. Madame Chiang coincidentally brought some pamphlets with her providing information about assisting this cause.(49)

Whereas it seems that Madame Chiang and Eleanor Roosevelt demonstrated teamwork at FDR’s press conference, they appear to be somewhat at odds with each other at ER’s press conference. ER did allow Madame to briefly discuss aid to China, the main purpose of her visit to the United States. Yet Madame seemed to be forced to talk about issues that ER deemed essential. Madame’s concern, at this time, involved rounding up as much money and munitions for China as she possibly could accumulate. She did not want to push Roosevelt’s humanitarian beliefs, even if it may have benefited the Chinese. ER did not seem too sensitive to Madame’s needs. She viewed Madame as one who should act as a leader for equal rights and for humanity; not solely for United States aid to China.

Eleanor Roosevelt only gave a one sentence opinion about her press conference with Madame. In her 26 February “My Day” column, she labeled it as “most successful,” but did not elaborate.(50) Other reports about this press conference did not receive prominent headline coverage. The New York Times placed their report on page 8, which focused mostly on Madame’s request for arms and refusal of food for China’s poor. Events in the European theater made the front page headlines of that paper.(51) Madame’s luster may have begun to dim in the eyes of Eleanor Roosevelt, and the American public at this time.

©2009-2012 Tim Sheehan tim@historynut.info

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This page last updated 1 January 2012