Frances Perkins’s family struggled with mental illness in a time when bipolar disease was not well understood. How might things have turned out differently for her, and for the country, if her husband’s illness could have been effectively treated?
She would have worried less and been reassured that he was receiving the help he needed. The author portrays a woman, though, who managed her political life and was able to achieve her main goals.
I felt early on that her husband was indeed a partner and strong one until his mental illness appeared. I like to think if he had been able to better control his illness they may have together been able to accomplish much more and quicker. He was her greatest supporter when well. Perhaps together they could have provided a more balanced life for their daughter
I wonder what more this phenomenal woman might have accomplished had she not had all the additional challenges of worrying about and providing care for her husband and eventually her daughter as well. The stress alone, not to mention career choices, and decisions she had to make to be sure she could continually provide for them both had to color any choice she made. Add to all this, the constant mental gymnastics she had to do to keep Paul’s condition private and keep her own emotions in check when dealing with him, a teenager and all the assaults on her character as a politician but primarily as a woman and a mother. Her ability to accomplish all she did astounds me and yet, I imagine she was capable of even more had her personal life and our society been more conducive to allowing her to succeed.
Advances in the treatment of bipolar disease have improved the quality of life for many people and their families. It is so difficult to know how her life might have been different. It is possible that she may have taken positions with a lower profile. The U.S. benefited from her persistent efforts to provide a safety net for people.
It was noted in the book that she learned from her husband and he was apparently a bit of a genius in his own right. If he had not been mentally ill and been there at Perkins’ side as she was fighting for this legislation, I think she might have been able to accomplish more and accomplish it faster.