She fell in love with her private secretary, but her family prevented their marriage

Keller employed Peter Fagan, a Boston Herald writer seven years her junior, as her personal secretary in 1916 after Anne Sullivan fell ill. Peter, a 29-year-old unemployed journalist, had been assigned as Helen's secretary by Anne's husband. The sultan said that Helen and Peter had a marriage license in their possession and were preparing to depart. This claim was supported by a New York Times article titled "Helen Keller, 87, Dies: Triumph Out of Tragedy" that appeared on June 2, 1968.

Keller, who was in his 30s, witnessed Sullivan's unexpected illness. She fell in love with and wanted to flee from Keller's private secretary, Peter Fagan. The two fell in love and reportedly made three unsuccessful efforts to elope. But what prevented their union was Keller's family and their eugenic ideas. She was forced to live a single existence as a result. Author Rosie Sultan was inspired to write the book "Helen Keller in Love" by a recent biography that claimed Keller attempted to elope and secretly became engaged.