The lede interestingly points out that this power couple’s symbiotic relationship was/is something well-known.

It also says that some less noble details about there relationship aren’t really surprising either.

The play on words here, though maybe not intended, is interesting. Intricacies of relationships and extramarital affairs were never reported on. They weren’t “news,” at least until Gary Hart.

To show that the what makes their story relevant is not that they formed a partnership, but how it was formed, how they sustained it and what they did within that partnership. Many people already know they had a splendid partnership, but only few would know how they managed to sustain their relationship.

It immediately lets the reader know that the review won’t be about things that’s considered commonly known. The paragraph gets all the things most people have read about the couple out of the way to set up for the actual review.

The good things about Eleanor and FDR’s relationship are well known and the author is letting us know that he will be discussing some lesser known details about their marriage.

It is a writing technique of stating the obvious to later depart from it by revealing unusual, hidden. Chosen first sentence here sets the stage for the story of what was behind the scenes.

To let us know, that we are not here for the ordinary background story. It’s a hint to know there will more interesting details, than of what we already know

The lead probably wants to establish what we already know, or should know, in order to introduce a new element and something we maybe DON’T know.It forms a kind of ‘turn’ in the writing.

The two paragraphs show how Eleanor’s love of politics was spurred by a man she initially found repulsive.

This paragraph is designed to introduce Louis Howe and illustrate his influence in Eleanor’s later interest in politics. It shows that through Howe’s likeminded love for community, Eleanor was able to come around to politics and see it in a more appealing light.

Paragraphs are designed in such a way that the evolution of the thought of the subject is revealed. From lack of interest in politics, Eleanore found herself excelling as a public figure. Same way her attitude towards Howe changed.

The significance is to show how (considering FDRs health) it was her responsibility to aid him by involving herself in politics something that presidents wives normally don’t do.

This paragraph serves almost as a parallel foil to the previous. It compares Eleanor’s struggle with something, and the person who helped her overcome it, in comparison to FDR’s struggle and who helped him. Eleanor was able to involve herself in politics when it wasn’t expected, showing the faith he had in her, the way that Eleanor had faith in FDR.

It shows that to have a successful community people must stick together and support each other. People also have to understand each other and embrace others for who they are. if you can do that in a marriage, it can be successful; and if you can do that as a community you can have a united community.

They were capable of overcoming the complications of their marriage and sustain close friendship and support for each other. Eleanor could have destroyed his political career if she divorced Roosevelt, or she could have made a big public scandal out of his affair. She chose not to, and managed to remain a loyal friend not only to Franklin, but his surrounding.

When both had hard times they would look out for each other, it was not a competition, but a union between them. That helped them grow in their personal lives, as well as their political lives.

It wasn’t perfect, with wavering faith at times, but it was something that was worked on time after time and made strong. As a couple they most likely understood the struggles of others because of their own and knew just how much people deserved a second chance. They cared about one another and they cared about the world and that was enough for them to spur change.