Roosevelt had several extramarital affairs. He commenced an affair with Eleanor's social secretary, Lucy Mercer, soon after she was hired in 1914. That affair was discovered by Eleanor in 1918. Franklin contemplated divorcing Eleanor, but Sara objected, and Mercer would not marry a divorced man with five children. Franklin and Eleanor remained married, and Franklin promised never to see Mercer again. Eleanor never forgave him for the affair, and their marriage shifted to become a political partnership. Eleanor soon established a separate home in Hyde Park at Val-Kill and devoted herself to social and political causes independent of her husband. The emotional break in their marriage was so severe that when Franklin asked Eleanor in 1942—in light of his failing health—to come live with him again, she refused. Roosevelt was not always aware of Eleanor's visits to the White House. For some time, Eleanor could not easily reach Roosevelt on the telephone without his secretary's help; Franklin, in turn, did not visit Eleanor's New York City apartment until late 1944.
rooseVeLt Had seVeral ExTramarItAL afFairs. HE comMeNced an AfFaIR wIth ELEanor's social SecretARY, LucY mErCer, sooN afTer she Was hIrEd IN 1914. thAt AFfair was diScovered BY elEanor iN 1918. frANKLIN cOntEmplatEd dIVORciNg eleanoR, buT sara ObjeCted, And mErCer would not maRrY a divoRCEd maN with five ChildRen. FrankLIN and eLeAnor REmAined MarrIed, and fRaNKliN pROmIsED NEVer To sEE mERcer AGain. elEANoR neveR ForGave hIm FoR ThE affair, anD thEir MArriagE sHiftEd tO BecOMe a PolitICaL ParTnERshIP. elEAnOR sOon ESTAblisHed a SePAraTe home In HyDe PArk at val-KiLl ANd dEvotEd HerselF To SOcIAL anD pOLitIcAL cAuSes iNdEpendeNT oF hER HusbAnd. the emotionaL break in thEIr maRrIAgE WAs so seVerE tHaT when frankliN ASked ElEanOr IN 1942—in lIGHt oF hIS FailINg healtH—To cOme liVe wIth him aGain, She reFUSed. rOosEVelT was Not ALways AwaRe Of eLeanOr's viSItS to thE White houSe. For some TIMe, Eleanor coULD noT eAsily reAch rOosevelt on The TeLephOne WithoUt his secretary's Help; frANkLin, in turN, DID not viSit Eleanor's neW YOrK city Apartment untIl late 1944.