Eleanor Roosevelt

 

Eleanor Roosevelt, a prominent figure in American history, was not just any first lady. She was the wife of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States, and a renowned diplomat and humanitarian at the United Nations. Her influence and impact were felt far and wide, making her one of the most respected and powerful women of her time.

Born in New York City to a prestigious family, Eleanor faced early hardships with the loss of her parents at a young age. Raised by relatives, she learned the value of community service and compassion, traits that would shape her future endeavors. Despite the challenges she faced, Eleanor's resilience and determination propelled her to become a trailblazer for women's rights and social justice. Her legacy continues to inspire generations to this day.

At the age of 15, Eleanor decided to attend Allenswood, a girls' boarding school located just outside of London. It was here that she was greatly influenced by the French headmistress, Marie Souvestre. Souvestre's passion for intellectual pursuits, travel, and excellence in all areas except sports, ignited a similar fire within Eleanor. She later reminisced that her three years at Allenswood were the happiest of her life. Reluctantly, Eleanor returned to New York in the summer of 1902 to prepare for her debut into society that winter. Despite her family's expectations, she dedicated herself to community service, including teaching at a settlement house in Manhattan's Lower East Side.

Shortly after her return to New York, Eleanor's distant cousin Franklin Roosevelt began to court her. They were married on March 17, 1905, in New York City. Their marriage was marked by Franklin's love for fun, which contrasted with Eleanor's more serious nature. Eleanor often noted that Franklin sought enjoyment from others as she focused on her responsibilities. Over the next decade, Eleanor gave birth to six children, one of whom tragically died in infancy.

After Franklin secured a seat in the New York Senate in 1911, the family packed up and moved to Albany. Eleanor was thrust into the role of a political wife, attending functions and rubbing elbows with other government officials. When Franklin got a gig as assistant secretary of the navy in 1913, they relocated to Washington, D.C. Eleanor found the social obligations tiresome, but she soldiered on.

When the U.S. entered World War I in 1917, Eleanor jumped back into volunteer work with gusto. She visited wounded soldiers, pitched in at the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, and manned a Red Cross canteen. These activities gave her a sense of purpose and fulfillment. In her own words, she "ate it up.

In 1918, Eleanor made a heartbreaking discovery - her husband Franklin was having an affair with her social secretary, Lucy Mercer. This revelation left her shattered, as she confided in her friend and biographer Joseph Lash. Despite the betrayal, Franklin chose to stay in the marriage, unwilling to risk his political career and financial security. The relationship between the Roosevelts evolved into a polite and distant partnership, with both pursuing their own interests while maintaining a facade of respect and affection. However, the bond that once held them together had faded, as Franklin continued to be drawn to other charismatic women like Mercer. Tragically, Mercer was by his side when Franklin passed away in 1945 at Warm Springs, Georgia.

Franklin made a bid for vice president on the Democratic ticket in 1920, but unfortunately, it was unsuccessful. During this period, Eleanor's interest in politics grew, fueled by her determination to support her husband's political ambitions after he was struck by polio in 1921, as well as her passion for advocating important causes. She became involved with the Women's Trade Union League and the New York state Democratic Party. Joining the Legislative Affairs Committee of the League of Women Voters, she delved into studying the Congressional Record, honing her skills in evaluating voting records and debates.

When Franklin assumed the role of governor of New York in 1929, Eleanor saw an opportunity to balance her duties as a political hostess with her own burgeoning career and newfound independence. Despite maintaining her teaching position at Todhunter, a girls' school in Manhattan that she co-owned, she commuted regularly between Albany and New York City.

Eleanor Roosevelt was quite the trailblazer during her 12-year tenure as first lady. She wasn't afraid to ruffle feathers with her advocacy for liberal causes, which often made her just as controversial as her husband. One of her groundbreaking moves was holding regular press conferences at the White House specifically for women correspondents. This forced wire services to hire female reporters in order to stay in the loop on important news. Despite criticism and jokes from her detractors, Eleanor fearlessly traveled the country, acting as President Roosevelt's eyes and ears and reporting back on various issues and public opinion. She also penned a daily syndicated newspaper column, "My Day," starting in 1936. Known for her powerful speeches, Eleanor championed causes like child welfare, housing reform, and equal rights for women and minorities. Her impact on American politics and society was truly remarkable.

The First Lady made a bold statement by resigning from the Daughters of the American Revolution after they denied Marian Anderson the opportunity to perform at Constitution Hall in 1939.

In response to the DAR's discriminatory actions, Eleanor Roosevelt took a stand and organized a concert for Anderson at the Lincoln Memorial, attracting a crowd of 75,000 people. Additionally, when faced with segregated seating at a public meeting in Alabama, Eleanor defiantly placed her own folding chair in the center aisle to challenge the racist policy.

Her unwavering support for civil rights, youth empowerment, and economic equality helped to bring marginalized groups into the political sphere, giving them a voice and representation in government.

After President Roosevelt passed away in 1945, President Harry S. Truman selected Eleanor as a delegate to the United Nations (UN). She took on the role of chairman of the Commission on Human Rights from 1946 to 1951 and played a significant part in crafting and adopting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Throughout the last decade of her life, she remained active in the Democratic Party, supporting Democratic presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson in both the 1952 and 1956 elections.

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy appointed her as the chair of his Commission on the Status of Women, a role she continued until shortly before her passing. While initially hesitant about the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), believing it could strip women of necessary protective legislation, she eventually came to support it.

Roosevelt was an unstoppable globetrotter, journeying around the world multiple times and engaging with numerous countries and leaders. Even in her final days, she remained dedicated to writing, with her last "My Day" column published shortly before her passing in 1962 from a rare form of tuberculosis. She was laid to rest at Hyde Park, the family estate of her husband on the Hudson River, where the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library is located. Her legacy as first lady was so significant that it became a benchmark for all who followed in her footsteps.

Elizabeth Kilbride is a Writer and Editor with forty years of experience in writing with 12 of those years in the online content sphere. Author of 5 books and a Graduate with an Associate of Arts from Pheonix University in Business Management, then a degree in Mass Communication and Cyber Analysis from Phoenix University, then on to Walden University for her master’s in criminology with emphasis on Cybercrime and Identity Theft and is currently studying for her Ph.D. degree in Criminology, her work portfolio includes coverage of politics, current affairs, elections, history, and true crime. In her spare time, Elizabeth is also a gourmet cook, life coach, and avid artist, proficient in watercolor, acrylic, pen and ink, Gouache, and pastels. As a political operative having worked on over 300 campaigns during her career, Elizabeth has turned many life events into books and movie scripts while using history to weave interesting storylines. She also runs 6 blogs that range from art to life coaching, to food, to writing, and opinion or history pieces each week.