Louis Howe, Stephen Early, and Marvin McIntyre

Louis Howe (1871-1936), FDR's political mentor and friend, with Stephen Early (1889-1951), FDR's White House Press Secretary, and Marvin McIntyre (1878-1943), one of FDR's presidential secretaries.

Louis was an Albany correspondent for the New York Herald and the New York Telegram when he met the young FDR, then a state senator. He served both unofficially and officially as FDR's top political adviser. In 1920, Howe began coaching Eleanor in the art of public speaking. After FDR contracted polio in 1921, Howe convinced Eleanor to join the League of Women Voters and to edit papers such as the Women's Democratic News to keep FDR's name and ideas before the public. When FDR was elected president in 1932, Howe served as "secretary to the president" and lived in the White House, always available to both Franklin and Eleanor. Howe encouraged Eleanor to hold press conferences. In 1935, he moved to the Navy Hospital due to ill health. He died on April 18, 1936.