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INFO VINE * The History of Human Rights Activist Eleanor Roosevelt *
Valley of the Sun Casual Club :: WORDS , FACTS , DATES , GAMES & TRIVIA & HISTORY :: INFORMATION VINE
Page 1 of 1
INFO VINE * The History of Human Rights Activist Eleanor Roosevelt *
by Paul Fri 23 Feb 2024, 5:20 am
The History of Human Rights Activist Eleanor Roosevelt
Photo Courtesy: [Afro Newspaper/Gado/Archive Photos/Getty Images]
The chances are good that you have heard of Eleanor Roosevelt before. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's wife served as the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She was a diplomat who powerfully and defiantly voiced support for the Civil Rights Movement. Eleanor received numerous awards, such as the one pictured below, and amassed 48 honorary degrees in her lifetime. How much do you know about the history of human rights activist Eleanor Roosevelt? Read on to find out!
On May 21, 1935, Americans were surprised to see Eleanor Roosevelt tour a coal mine. She chose to wear a grey coat and a miner's hard hat instead of the new pair of overalls provided for her. Mine officials and representatives of the United Mine Workers accompanied Roosevelt on her two-and-a-half-mile trip into the Neffs, Ohio, coal mine. She spent more than an hour and a half visiting with the 400 miners about wages, working conditions, safety precautions, and mining methods. Many believe that the journey into the heart of the coal mine made Roosevelt the first woman to go underground in Appalachia.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
Roosevelt's journey was partially in response to a scathing feature in a New York magazine cartoon printed on June 3, 1933. The caricature of Eleanor Roosevelt implied that it was doubtful the diplomat would ever venture into a mine. The First Lady replied to the jab by doing just that and writing an article in response. "In Defense of Curiosity" is called "one of the earliest and most effective arguments on behalf of the rights of women in the modern era."
In the photo below, Eleanor Roosevelt is depicted standing behind her grandmother, daughter, and aunt. She lived with her grandmother, Mary Livingston Ludlow Hall, from 1892 until 1899. Those years were a dark time in Eleanor's life that she later recalled left her feeling insecure and starved for affection. The results carried over into many of the former First Lady's later years. She wrote, "My grandmother's life had a considerable effect on me, for even when I was young, I determined that I would never be dependent upon my children by allowing all my interests to center in them."
Photo Courtesy: [Bettman/Bettman/Getty Images]
Eleanor's aunt, Elizabeth Livingston Mortimer, was the daughter of Valentine Gill Hall Jr. and Mary Livingston Ludlow. Elizabeth was two years younger than Eleanor's mother, Anna Rebecca Roosevelt. Along with their five siblings, both sisters grew up with strict Victorian-era expectations thrust upon them. Hall was an American socialite, banker, and business partner to "the most extensive Wool dealers in the country." Their place among New York's wealthiest families, along with gender roles of the day, helped shape Eleanor's future.
On March 17, 1905, Eleanor married Franklin D. Roosevelt, her father's fifth cousin. Her groom's former headmaster at Groton School, Endicott Peabody, officiated. The ceremony occurred at one of Franklin's mother's family's properties in Newburgh, Algonac. The event made front-page news because President Theodore Roosevelt walked his niece down the aisle. When asked his opinion on two Roosevelt's marrying, the President said, "It is a good thing to keep the name in the family."
Photo Courtesy: [Corbis/Corbis Historical/Getty Images]
In the summer of 1905, the Roosevelts were finally able to go on an official honeymoon. They spent three months touring Europe together. Directly following their spring wedding, Eleanor and Franklin spent a week at his family's Hyde Park estate. Afterward, they moved to an apartment in New York.
Eleanor suffered a traumatic event when she was only two years old. Four years after Bram Stroker, author of Dracula, crossed the Atlantic on the SS Britannic, the young girl boarded the ill-fated vessel. On May 19, 1887, Eleanor's aunt and parents boarded the SS Britannic with her. The White Star Liner SS Celtic collided with the toddler's ship, forcing the passengers to evacuate into lifeboats. Eleanor was terrified of boats and the sea for the rest of her life after the shipwreck.
Photo Courtesy: [Walter Nurnberg/SSPL/Getty Images]
The White Star Line ocean liner SS Britannic was the first of three ships in its series. The Britannic and her sister ship, the Germanic, were in service for nearly three decades. The ocean liner, built at Harland & Wolff in Belfast, had a series of accidents prior to the one involving Eleanor. On March 8, 1876, the first incident occurred when a fire broke out on the forward holds. Two years later, the SS Brittanic sank the tug boat, Willie. On March 31, 1881, she rammed and sank the schooner, Julia. She ran aground in fog off the coast of Ireland four months later.
Eleanor attended a banquet in New York held in April 1945. Former New York state senator James Michael Mead and Julian Park sat at her table on either side of her. The activist was no stranger to high society functions. In fact, Eleanor was presented to society officially on December 14, 1902. New York City's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel was the location of the debutante ball held for the special occasion.
Photo Courtesy: [Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Archive Photos/Getty Images]
The young Eleanor spent much of 1903 participating in dinners, parties, dances, and other high society events. On New Year's Eve in 1902, Eleanor's uncle, President Theodore Roosevelt, invited her to attend a party at the White House. Her future husband, Franklin Roosevelt, was also a guest and later joined everyone at the theater. While Franklin attended law school in New York, the pair spent time mingling at the functions.
Eleanor Roosevelt was indeed a one-of-a-kind First Lady. Before beginning his first term, she sought to help her husband, President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The powerhouse did not wish to waste time in an endless cycle of social gatherings. Instead, she offered to serve as her husband's administrative assistant. However, Franklin refused his wife's request to help him.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettman/Bettman/Getty Images]
Not one to sit idly by, Eleanor decided to take action. Two days after the presidential inauguration day in 1933, Roosevelt became the only First Lady ever to hold a press conference. The activist created her agenda to reduce the White House budget by a quarter, pare down the social calendar, and keep an eye out for the President. Then, Eleanor invited female reporters to have a weekly "get together" with her at the White House. The press members met with Eleanor in the former Monroe Room, which had been converted into her drawing-room. The dynamo turned the Lincoln bedroom into her study and refused Secret Service protection when she greeted her "special guests."
On October 23, 1942, the First Lady met with King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in London. The Royal couple greeted Roosevelt at Paddington Station in the swirling mists of a heavy fog that had rolled in. Previously, Eleanor had welcomed the King and Queen in the Union Station in Washington during one of their visits to the United States. On June 8, 1939, the trio officially became acquainted when President Franklin D. Roosevelt invited King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to visit the United States.
Photo Courtesy: [Smith Collection/Gado/Archive Photos/Getty Images]
The First Lady and the Queen both shared a love of writing. Eleanor sent a letter to Queen Elizabeth saying, "Ever since England was forced into the war, I have wanted to write and tell you how constantly you and the King are in my thoughts. Since meeting you, I think I can understand a little better what a weight of sorrow and anxiety must be yours. We can but pray for a just peace, and my warm sympathy is with you."
Unlike the cold and foggy trip to London, it was a humid, 94-degree day when the Royals arrived at Washington's Union Station. While the shy First Lady was initially anxious about meeting the monarch, the women shared common values and became good friends. Eleanor took Elizabeth on a sightseeing ride, which was witnessed by crowds of onlookers more prominent than the American had ever seen in Washington, D.C.
In 1960, John F. Kennedy asked Eleanor Roosevelt to support his run for the presidency. She declined, in part because his civil rights record was "mediocre." Despite that, JFK persisted in winning Eleanor's favor after he won the election. John F. Kennedy's Executive Order 10980 was signed on December 14, 1961. The Director of the United States Women's Bureau at the time, Esther Peterson, proposed a new commission to further women's rights. Kennedy requested the appointment of Roosevelt to chair. It was the last public position the former First Lady held.
Photo Courtesy: [Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Archive Photos/Getty Images]
Eleanor maximized her position as chair to further her civil rights activism and lift all women up. Activist Pauline "Pauli" Murray became a lawyer, author, and the first African-American woman to be ordained as an Episcopal priest. Roosevelt secured a valuable position on the President's Commission on the Status of Women writing the draft of their findings for Murray. The group's final report, called "American Women," was issued on what would have been the former First Lady's 79th birthday -- October 11, 1963. Eleanor's ideals lived on, setting in motion events in congress that led to greater equality for women.
One essential issue Eleanor Roosevelt sought to improve was housing conditions for all Americans. For most of her life, Roosevelt never had a place of her own, which profoundly impacted her. After spending part of her childhood living with her grandmother, she was sent away to a boarding school. Then, her mother-in-law called the shots on every abode Eleanor stayed in other than the White House and the State House. So, to give other women the ability to create a house for themselves moved Roosevelt on many levels. On May 12, 1959, Eleanor posed for the photo below while inspecting a housing project in Washington, D.C.
Photo Courtesy: [Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Archive Photos/Getty Images]
The women's activist spent her life forging the way for self-sustaining communities and affordable housing. In 1933, "Arthurdale" was created in West Virginia as a social experiment. With aid from the Subsistence Homesteads Division and Roosevelt, unemployed local miners and farmers were given new opportunities to thrive. At the time, 80 percent of rural housing in America was without indoor plumbing. Eleanor helped ensure the residents of Arthurdale enjoyed such a comfort, though.
Former United States Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes said, "Well, if Eleanor Roosevelt has her way, how will one be able to tell the rich from the poor?" She keenly replied, "Well, in matters of such simple dignity and decency, we should not have to tell the rich from the poor." She fought for that sentiment until the end of her life.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously addressed the nation through his "fireside chats" radio programs. They aired between 1933 and 1944, and his wife's radio commentaries began on July 9, 1934. Her record-breaking 28 radio spots that year were more than any other First Lady. Roosevelt refused payment for her talks and donated all of the sponsorship earnings to charity.
Photo Courtesy: [NBC/NBCUniversal/Getty Images]
During one of Roosevelt's 1941 NBC broadcasts, she was photographed with Pan-American Coffee chairman Enrico Penteado. Eleanor strategically used the radio as a medium to spread her activism. Her pilot program covered the First Lady's opinion about the need for censorship in movies children viewed. In 1935, one of the most popular airings was titled "It's A Woman's World." Audiences loved Eleanor's unique approach to empowering people, no matter where they lived.
Eleanor Roosevelt was no stranger to making special public appearances. On April 22, 1933, the highest number of dog show contestants to ever gather in the capital assembled at the Washington Auditorium. The First Lady brought her house guest, Miss Ishbel MacDonald, to observe the competition. As an extra honor, the diplomat presented ribbons like the one awarded to Frank Rothenberger and "Rasco," depicted below. Roosevelt showed affection and support for those in attendance, and an article appeared in the Evening Star detailing the occasion.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
The First Lady was familiar with the scene. She entered the family's Scottish terrier, "Meggie," and German shepherd, "Major," in previous contests. After her husband won his first presidential election, Eleanor gladly offered to escort Meggie and Major on the six-hour trip to their new home. She said, "Someone will have to take the dogs and the car to Washington, and I shall enjoy doing it myself. I love to drive."
The Roosevelts had several dogs over the years. FDR's Scottish terrier, "Fala," was the most famous. Another was a predecessor of today's English Setter, a Llewellyn Setter named "Winks." "Tiny," an Old English Sheepdog; "President," a Great Dane; and "Blaze," a Bullmastiff all belonged to the family.
Eleanor Roosevelt lobbied for the U.S. to join the United Nations, and she became its first delegate as a result. From 1945 to 1952, she served as United States Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly. In 1946, the preliminary United Nations Commission on Human Rights came about with Roosevelt at its helm. She stayed on the following year when the Commission became permanent. Among the most memorable things she did through that role was co-create the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). She referred to it as "the international Magna Carta of all men everywhere" while giving a public speech on September 28, 1948.
Photo Courtesy: [Keystone/Stringer/Hulton Archive/Getty Images]
This photo was taken of the former First Lady attending a conference at the U.N. headquarters in 1946. Her dedication to her role did not go unnoticed. The State Department’s Office of Special Political Affairs called Roosevelt's work successful in "helping forge international support in the General Assembly for nearly all American proposals."
Anna Eleanor and Curtis Dall, affectionately dubbed "Sistie" and "Buzzie," were media darlings during the Great Depression. While their famous grandparents, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, worked toward national economic relief efforts, the "First Grandchildren" brought struggling Americans a sense of comfort and entertainment. The siblings lived at the White House from September 1933 to November 1935. Then, "Sistie" and "Buzzie" stayed at the famous place from Christmas 1936 through the Inauguration in 1937 and then again during Christmas 1939. Anna Roosevelt's children had their final stay living with their grandparents while not at boarding school, from 1944 through 1945.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
Eleanor Roosevelt adored her grandchildren and had a play area built on the south lawn of the White House for them. She had a swing set, a slide, and a jungle gym installed. Anna's children loved having their grandmother push them on the swings or simply spend time having fun together. Eleanor also arranged and hosted birthday parties for "Sistie" and "Buzzie" at the White House. Their party invitations are available for viewing through the FDR Library.
Numerous volunteer jobs throughout Washington, D.C., occupied Eleanor Roosevelt's time. She worked for two private organizations -- the Navy Relief Society and the American Red Cross. The First Lady made good use of her radio programs, calling for people to aid the Red Cross. Roosevelt also joined the wives of other notable officials to prepare sandwiches and coffee, then distributed the refreshments to service members.
Photo Courtesy: [Hulton Archive/Stringer/Hulton Archive/Getty Images]
Since the first year of the Red Cross' existence, Eleanor served as the honorary vice-chair. Her unique viewpoint allowed her to observe and recommend ways the organization could improve. Roosevelt publicly led blood drives and fundraising during the war. While traveling abroad, the First Lady stopped by Red Cross units to ensure they were well-stocked for the troops.
During and after her time as the First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt dedicated time to advocating for the well-being of American service members. While touring U.S. Army hospitals in New Caledonia, FDR's wife stopped to check on Sergeant F.R. Le Claire of Willimantic, Connecticut. He lost a foot as a result of a grenade explosion at Munda. Roosevelt's visits provided a measure of comfort and support to injured troops such as Le Claire.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
The Navy Chaplain requested that Eleanor would provide emotional support to the troops. She was tasked with investigating and reporting on the condition of sailors returning from war suffering from mental health conditions. Roosevelt was appalled by the lack of professionalism and inadequate supplies found at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, where the naval members were treated. First, she enlisted the Navy Red Cross to build and furnish a recreation center at St. Elizabeth's. Then, the Wilson Administration's Interior Secretary listened to Eleanor's pleas, performed an investigation, and initiated Congressional plans to increase the facility's budget.
FDR's mother, Sara Ann Delano Roosevelt, was nicknamed "the worst mother-in-law in history" by some scholars. Throughout nearly four decades, the matriarch made Eleanor's life miserable at every turn. When the couple became engaged on November 22, 1903, Sara began her campaign to dominate every aspect of her son's and daughter-in-law's married life. Her first act was to force Franklin to promise not to make the engagement public for a year. Then, she whisked him off on a Caribbean cruise, stating the distance was to help him rethink his choice in partner.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
Sara Roosevelt tightly controlled the family's finances for years, limiting the couple's ability to make many decisions that she disapproved of. Their homes were purchased, designed, and run by Sara without any input from Franklin or Eleanor. She went so far as to have their New York townhouse built next to her own home, complete with sliding doors installed connecting both structures. FDR's mother came and went from their place as she pleased, ensuring things met her satisfaction.
Eleanor already struggled with confidence in her maternal abilities, but Sara's antics were the tipping point. Years earlier, the matriarch had declared that Franklin was not a Roosevelt at all but a Delano. Similarly, she told her grandchildren, "Your mother only bore you; I am more your mother than your mother is." Her in-law continued to overshadow Eleanor's relationship with her children until the youngest, Franklin Jr. and John, were in their late childhood to early teenage years.
In 1916, the Roosevelt family posed for the family portrait below. While in Washington D.C., Franklin and Eleanor sat in the middle of Elliott, Franklin Jr., James, John, and Anna. One child, however, was missing. Sadly, the couple lost a child seven years earlier when he was about eight months old. The first Franklin Jr. caught the flu along with his then-two-year-old brother James and then-three-year-old sister Anna. Although Franklin Jr. recovered, he was left weakened by the illness. A doctor later diagnosed the infant with a heart murmur and endocarditis before he passed away that November.
Photo Courtesy: [Corbis/Corbis Historical/Getty Images]
There are mixed accounts of how Eleanor raised her children. She once considered herself "ill-suited to motherhood." She wrote, "It did not come naturally to me to understand little children or to enjoy them." However, as her youngest children grew up and Eleanor gained more independence from her controlling mother-in-law, her perspective changed. Roosevelt's self-confidence and abilities as a mother improved with time, and her children enjoyed a more playful side of Eleanor.
From early years, Eleanor had a love for horses. She described herself as a shy girl, and the animals helped her relax and have fun. As an adult, Roosevelt's favorite horse was named "Dot." On February 2, 1937, the First Lady spoke of her equine companion fondly in her "My Day" column. Eleanor and Dot shared three rides that day, and the latter learned a new trick.
When returning to the stable, the rider had two sugar lumps waiting. Dot would "shake hands" with Eleanor to receive the first treat. The horse presented each front leg to her in turn. Then, Dot learned to give Roosevelt a "kiss" for the other morsel, putting her nose up to the diplomat's face. Onlookers delighted in the exchange.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
One employment opportunity President Franklin D. Roosevelt created to help end the Great Depression was The Pack Horse Library Project. His wife adored the idea and took the reins of both the project and her horse. Eleanor wanted to help benefit women and children. So, she joined others on horseback as they traveled down the Appalachians in the coal mine regions of Kentucky. The Pack Horse Librarians distributed books throughout a 20-mile circuit per rider. At the time, many of the coal mining families there were without running water, electricity, schools, and roads. The project was a welcome form of education and entertainment to those it served.
In 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt learned that "the Darling of the Depression," or "America's Darling," Shirley Temple, was scheduled to be nearby. So, he requested to meet her in person. Before the visit, Eleanor dropped by the set of Little Miss Broadway where Shirley was performing. Despite being advised by publicity staff not to keep Roosevelt for long, the child star took the First Lady by the hand and led the activist to her bungalow. Once there, a stunned George Murphy, Shirley's co-star in the film, was asked to entertain her and the President's wife with his comic impressions.
Photo Courtesy: [ullstein bild Dtl./ullstein bild/Getty Images]
The First Lady invited "America's Darling" and her parents to a picnic at her Val-Kill cottage. The Roosevelts' grandchildren, "Sistie" and "Buzzie," joined the gathering. While Eleanor was bent over the grill preparing Shirley's favorite food, lamb chops, something unexpected happened. The Secret Service agents present could not figure out why Mrs. Roosevelt had suddenly jumped. The child star's mother, Gertrude, however, knew the reason.
Temple carried her cherished slingshot in her pocket nearly everywhere she went. When the little girl thought no one was looking, she loaded it with a pebble aimed at Roosevelt's bottom. Years later, Shirley filled in the rest of the story. When the family returned to the hotel that evening, Mrs. Temple took matters into her own hands. Her daughter received the same sting Eleanor had felt earlier that day.
On March 15, 1934, Roosevelt traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico. While inspecting living conditions there, the levels of squalor and disease horrified her. At one point, Eleanor stopped at a spot in the center of "La Perla," requesting that the photographer document the swarm of flies buzzing around the putrid puddle of water. It mattered to the First Lady "to show really what it is like." Afterward, the activist found local welfare workers and brainstormed possible relief efforts with them.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
Roosevelt's humanitarian efforts earned her the nickname "First Lady of the World" by President Harry S. Truman. Gallup's List of Most Widely Admired People of the 20th Century ranked the diplomat ninth in 1999. Eleanor Roosevelt's contributions to global human rights have been widely celebrated throughout her lifetime and long after. Her memory has been honored through plays, films, books, statues, awards presented in the activist's name, and more.
Since the colonial era, the United States had a strained relationship with Great Britain. Until King George VI and Queen Elizabeth accepted President Franklin D. Roosevelt's invitation to visit the country, no British Monarch had done so. The couple's stay marked a significant turning point in developing political and social ties between Great Britain and America. With WWII looming, the alliance was imperative to establish.
Photo Courtesy: [PhotoQuest/Archive Photos/Getty Images]
In 1939, Eleanor Roosevelt, King George VI, Sara Delano Roosevelt, Queen Elizabeth, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt posed for the picture above. Later, they enjoyed a picnic on the front porch of Eleanor's Val-Kill cottage. The meal included baked ham, smoked turkey, and baked beans. When Eleanor served the Royal couple hot dogs that she and Franklin grilled, the King asked what they were called. The First Lady replied, "Hot dogs! It's the only food I know how to cook!"
Eleanor's hospitality and sincerity are said to have helped cement the positive relationship between Great Britain and the United States. The traditional American dishes and quiet picnic at the cottage left a lasting impression on the King and Queen. King George VI told the First Lady at the end of the evening, "You have given us a delightful time. Until now, I had never tasted smoked turkey. I must also confess I shall never, never forget my first hot dog!"
Did you know that Helen Keller was a good friend of Eleanor Roosevelt's? After her husband Franklin was diagnosed with polio in 1921, Eleanor spent the rest of her life rallying aid for those with any form of physical impairment. On February 19, 1933, Keller sent a letter to Roosevelt expressing how proud she was of the activist's support for those with disabilities. Keller highly praised Roosevelt's usage of her radio platform for reaching and informing more people about the topic.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
Helen wrote to Eleanor requesting that the First Lady wear a corsage to the inaugural ceremony or evening ball. Keller explained that the gesture would serve as "a token of the affectionate regard of the blind of America." After Roosevelt's reply with her favorite colors, Max Schling made a suitable bouquet for the occasion.
On May 20, 1955, Eleanor Roosevelt and Helen Keller took the photo above while conversing. The pair attended a banquet in Keller's honor before supporting others in Japan, the Philippines, India, Pakistan, and Burma. The First Lady was the final speaker among other notables such as then-President Eisenhower and the ambassadors to the honoree's destination countries. Helen could decipher what the speaker was saying by placing her fingers on another's lips.
FDR had a career in politics long before he became the United States president. He served two terms on the New York State Senate between 1910 and 1912. Eleanor accompanied her husband on the campaign trail for the vice-presidency eight years later. In 1920, she viewed addressing crowds and directly responding to the public herself as a taboo boundary to cross.
Photo Courtesy: [Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/Getty Images]
The women's division of "Friends for Roosevelt," a launch committee for FDR's candidacy, was headed by Eleanor. She used her writing and editing skills to create most of his campaign materials. Eleanor posed in front of a Trans World Airlines plane the following year in Kansas City, Missouri. She traveled with her husband for the Franklin Roosevelt Electoral Campaign and became the fourth woman in history to vote for her husband's election as president successfully. The First Lady continued to draw the line at attending public events alongside FDR for his 1936, 1940, and 1944 presidential campaigns without giving speeches herself.
To Eleanor, the sun rose and set on her father, Elliot Bulloch Roosevelt. Their close relationship was the opposite of that between the girl and her mother. Mr. Roosevelt spoke kindly to Eleanor and encouraged her to follow her dreams. The activist's aid to miners might have originated out of love for her deceased father. Elliot had spent time working in mine development in Abingdon, Virginia. He was also a sportsman and a junior partner in a real estate firm.
Some believe that Elliot Roosevelt's alcoholism and narcotic addiction began due to his "nervous sickness." There is debate as to whether or not that illness might have been epilepsy, but no known diagnosis was made public. Mr. Roosevelt made his third trip overseas between 1890 and 1891, along with his wife and children. During the voyage, his well-being took a turn for the worse, and the family had him committed to an asylum in France. Older brother Theodore Roosevelt had Elliot admitted into the Keeley Center in Dwight, Illinois, the following year for addiction treatment.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
The photo above depicts then-six-year-old Eleanor with her father and brothers, Elliot Jr. and Hall. The siblings shared a half-brother Elliot Sr. fathered with Catherine "Katy" Mann, a family employee. Little is known about the child other than Theodore Roosevelt acknowledged him as a nephew and set up a financial trust. It is also unclear how often Eleanor corresponded with her half-sibling, but she did write to him at least once, in the months before his death around April 1941. Before he died following a seizure in 1894, Mr. Roosevelt asked Eleanor to stand in as a mother figure to Hall. His older sister followed that plea until Gracie "Hall" Roosevelt's life ended in September 1941.
On October 21, 1925, Eleanor Roosevelt demonstrated the voting machine below at the Hotel Commodore in New York. The activist participated in the Women's Art and Industries Exhibit. Eleanor's views had changed radically from what they were five years earlier. In 1920, after women won the right to vote, Roosevelt refused to cast a ballot. When asked about the incident, she replied, "I took it for granted that men were superior creatures and knew more about politics than women did."
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
From 1920 through 1928, Eleanor participated in the League of Women Voters. While initially having opposing views, Roosevelt still wanted to educate women on candidates and political issues. Eleanor chaired a Legislation Committee, researching pending congressional bills. While writing a report on her findings, Roosevelt worked with Elizabeth Read and her life partner, Esther Lape. The trio became lifelong friends who supported each other's activism efforts.
Photo Courtesy: [Afro Newspaper/Gado/Archive Photos/Getty Images]
The chances are good that you have heard of Eleanor Roosevelt before. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's wife served as the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She was a diplomat who powerfully and defiantly voiced support for the Civil Rights Movement. Eleanor received numerous awards, such as the one pictured below, and amassed 48 honorary degrees in her lifetime. How much do you know about the history of human rights activist Eleanor Roosevelt? Read on to find out!
Miners' Rights
On May 21, 1935, Americans were surprised to see Eleanor Roosevelt tour a coal mine. She chose to wear a grey coat and a miner's hard hat instead of the new pair of overalls provided for her. Mine officials and representatives of the United Mine Workers accompanied Roosevelt on her two-and-a-half-mile trip into the Neffs, Ohio, coal mine. She spent more than an hour and a half visiting with the 400 miners about wages, working conditions, safety precautions, and mining methods. Many believe that the journey into the heart of the coal mine made Roosevelt the first woman to go underground in Appalachia.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
Roosevelt's journey was partially in response to a scathing feature in a New York magazine cartoon printed on June 3, 1933. The caricature of Eleanor Roosevelt implied that it was doubtful the diplomat would ever venture into a mine. The First Lady replied to the jab by doing just that and writing an article in response. "In Defense of Curiosity" is called "one of the earliest and most effective arguments on behalf of the rights of women in the modern era."
Victorian Women
In the photo below, Eleanor Roosevelt is depicted standing behind her grandmother, daughter, and aunt. She lived with her grandmother, Mary Livingston Ludlow Hall, from 1892 until 1899. Those years were a dark time in Eleanor's life that she later recalled left her feeling insecure and starved for affection. The results carried over into many of the former First Lady's later years. She wrote, "My grandmother's life had a considerable effect on me, for even when I was young, I determined that I would never be dependent upon my children by allowing all my interests to center in them."
Photo Courtesy: [Bettman/Bettman/Getty Images]
Eleanor's aunt, Elizabeth Livingston Mortimer, was the daughter of Valentine Gill Hall Jr. and Mary Livingston Ludlow. Elizabeth was two years younger than Eleanor's mother, Anna Rebecca Roosevelt. Along with their five siblings, both sisters grew up with strict Victorian-era expectations thrust upon them. Hall was an American socialite, banker, and business partner to "the most extensive Wool dealers in the country." Their place among New York's wealthiest families, along with gender roles of the day, helped shape Eleanor's future.
Wedding Day
On March 17, 1905, Eleanor married Franklin D. Roosevelt, her father's fifth cousin. Her groom's former headmaster at Groton School, Endicott Peabody, officiated. The ceremony occurred at one of Franklin's mother's family's properties in Newburgh, Algonac. The event made front-page news because President Theodore Roosevelt walked his niece down the aisle. When asked his opinion on two Roosevelt's marrying, the President said, "It is a good thing to keep the name in the family."
Photo Courtesy: [Corbis/Corbis Historical/Getty Images]
In the summer of 1905, the Roosevelts were finally able to go on an official honeymoon. They spent three months touring Europe together. Directly following their spring wedding, Eleanor and Franklin spent a week at his family's Hyde Park estate. Afterward, they moved to an apartment in New York.
Shipwrecked as a Toddler
Eleanor suffered a traumatic event when she was only two years old. Four years after Bram Stroker, author of Dracula, crossed the Atlantic on the SS Britannic, the young girl boarded the ill-fated vessel. On May 19, 1887, Eleanor's aunt and parents boarded the SS Britannic with her. The White Star Liner SS Celtic collided with the toddler's ship, forcing the passengers to evacuate into lifeboats. Eleanor was terrified of boats and the sea for the rest of her life after the shipwreck.
Photo Courtesy: [Walter Nurnberg/SSPL/Getty Images]
The White Star Line ocean liner SS Britannic was the first of three ships in its series. The Britannic and her sister ship, the Germanic, were in service for nearly three decades. The ocean liner, built at Harland & Wolff in Belfast, had a series of accidents prior to the one involving Eleanor. On March 8, 1876, the first incident occurred when a fire broke out on the forward holds. Two years later, the SS Brittanic sank the tug boat, Willie. On March 31, 1881, she rammed and sank the schooner, Julia. She ran aground in fog off the coast of Ireland four months later.
High Society
Eleanor attended a banquet in New York held in April 1945. Former New York state senator James Michael Mead and Julian Park sat at her table on either side of her. The activist was no stranger to high society functions. In fact, Eleanor was presented to society officially on December 14, 1902. New York City's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel was the location of the debutante ball held for the special occasion.
Photo Courtesy: [Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Archive Photos/Getty Images]
The young Eleanor spent much of 1903 participating in dinners, parties, dances, and other high society events. On New Year's Eve in 1902, Eleanor's uncle, President Theodore Roosevelt, invited her to attend a party at the White House. Her future husband, Franklin Roosevelt, was also a guest and later joined everyone at the theater. While Franklin attended law school in New York, the pair spent time mingling at the functions.
Press Conferences
Eleanor Roosevelt was indeed a one-of-a-kind First Lady. Before beginning his first term, she sought to help her husband, President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The powerhouse did not wish to waste time in an endless cycle of social gatherings. Instead, she offered to serve as her husband's administrative assistant. However, Franklin refused his wife's request to help him.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettman/Bettman/Getty Images]
Not one to sit idly by, Eleanor decided to take action. Two days after the presidential inauguration day in 1933, Roosevelt became the only First Lady ever to hold a press conference. The activist created her agenda to reduce the White House budget by a quarter, pare down the social calendar, and keep an eye out for the President. Then, Eleanor invited female reporters to have a weekly "get together" with her at the White House. The press members met with Eleanor in the former Monroe Room, which had been converted into her drawing-room. The dynamo turned the Lincoln bedroom into her study and refused Secret Service protection when she greeted her "special guests."
Collaborations with the King and Queen
On October 23, 1942, the First Lady met with King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in London. The Royal couple greeted Roosevelt at Paddington Station in the swirling mists of a heavy fog that had rolled in. Previously, Eleanor had welcomed the King and Queen in the Union Station in Washington during one of their visits to the United States. On June 8, 1939, the trio officially became acquainted when President Franklin D. Roosevelt invited King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to visit the United States.
Photo Courtesy: [Smith Collection/Gado/Archive Photos/Getty Images]
The First Lady and the Queen both shared a love of writing. Eleanor sent a letter to Queen Elizabeth saying, "Ever since England was forced into the war, I have wanted to write and tell you how constantly you and the King are in my thoughts. Since meeting you, I think I can understand a little better what a weight of sorrow and anxiety must be yours. We can but pray for a just peace, and my warm sympathy is with you."
Unlike the cold and foggy trip to London, it was a humid, 94-degree day when the Royals arrived at Washington's Union Station. While the shy First Lady was initially anxious about meeting the monarch, the women shared common values and became good friends. Eleanor took Elizabeth on a sightseeing ride, which was witnessed by crowds of onlookers more prominent than the American had ever seen in Washington, D.C.
Eleanor Roosevelt and JFK
In 1960, John F. Kennedy asked Eleanor Roosevelt to support his run for the presidency. She declined, in part because his civil rights record was "mediocre." Despite that, JFK persisted in winning Eleanor's favor after he won the election. John F. Kennedy's Executive Order 10980 was signed on December 14, 1961. The Director of the United States Women's Bureau at the time, Esther Peterson, proposed a new commission to further women's rights. Kennedy requested the appointment of Roosevelt to chair. It was the last public position the former First Lady held.
Photo Courtesy: [Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Archive Photos/Getty Images]
Eleanor maximized her position as chair to further her civil rights activism and lift all women up. Activist Pauline "Pauli" Murray became a lawyer, author, and the first African-American woman to be ordained as an Episcopal priest. Roosevelt secured a valuable position on the President's Commission on the Status of Women writing the draft of their findings for Murray. The group's final report, called "American Women," was issued on what would have been the former First Lady's 79th birthday -- October 11, 1963. Eleanor's ideals lived on, setting in motion events in congress that led to greater equality for women.
Housing Projects
One essential issue Eleanor Roosevelt sought to improve was housing conditions for all Americans. For most of her life, Roosevelt never had a place of her own, which profoundly impacted her. After spending part of her childhood living with her grandmother, she was sent away to a boarding school. Then, her mother-in-law called the shots on every abode Eleanor stayed in other than the White House and the State House. So, to give other women the ability to create a house for themselves moved Roosevelt on many levels. On May 12, 1959, Eleanor posed for the photo below while inspecting a housing project in Washington, D.C.
Photo Courtesy: [Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Archive Photos/Getty Images]
The women's activist spent her life forging the way for self-sustaining communities and affordable housing. In 1933, "Arthurdale" was created in West Virginia as a social experiment. With aid from the Subsistence Homesteads Division and Roosevelt, unemployed local miners and farmers were given new opportunities to thrive. At the time, 80 percent of rural housing in America was without indoor plumbing. Eleanor helped ensure the residents of Arthurdale enjoyed such a comfort, though.
Former United States Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes said, "Well, if Eleanor Roosevelt has her way, how will one be able to tell the rich from the poor?" She keenly replied, "Well, in matters of such simple dignity and decency, we should not have to tell the rich from the poor." She fought for that sentiment until the end of her life.
Radio Broadcasting
President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously addressed the nation through his "fireside chats" radio programs. They aired between 1933 and 1944, and his wife's radio commentaries began on July 9, 1934. Her record-breaking 28 radio spots that year were more than any other First Lady. Roosevelt refused payment for her talks and donated all of the sponsorship earnings to charity.
Photo Courtesy: [NBC/NBCUniversal/Getty Images]
During one of Roosevelt's 1941 NBC broadcasts, she was photographed with Pan-American Coffee chairman Enrico Penteado. Eleanor strategically used the radio as a medium to spread her activism. Her pilot program covered the First Lady's opinion about the need for censorship in movies children viewed. In 1935, one of the most popular airings was titled "It's A Woman's World." Audiences loved Eleanor's unique approach to empowering people, no matter where they lived.
Dog Lover
Eleanor Roosevelt was no stranger to making special public appearances. On April 22, 1933, the highest number of dog show contestants to ever gather in the capital assembled at the Washington Auditorium. The First Lady brought her house guest, Miss Ishbel MacDonald, to observe the competition. As an extra honor, the diplomat presented ribbons like the one awarded to Frank Rothenberger and "Rasco," depicted below. Roosevelt showed affection and support for those in attendance, and an article appeared in the Evening Star detailing the occasion.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
The First Lady was familiar with the scene. She entered the family's Scottish terrier, "Meggie," and German shepherd, "Major," in previous contests. After her husband won his first presidential election, Eleanor gladly offered to escort Meggie and Major on the six-hour trip to their new home. She said, "Someone will have to take the dogs and the car to Washington, and I shall enjoy doing it myself. I love to drive."
The Roosevelts had several dogs over the years. FDR's Scottish terrier, "Fala," was the most famous. Another was a predecessor of today's English Setter, a Llewellyn Setter named "Winks." "Tiny," an Old English Sheepdog; "President," a Great Dane; and "Blaze," a Bullmastiff all belonged to the family.
United Nations Representative
Eleanor Roosevelt lobbied for the U.S. to join the United Nations, and she became its first delegate as a result. From 1945 to 1952, she served as United States Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly. In 1946, the preliminary United Nations Commission on Human Rights came about with Roosevelt at its helm. She stayed on the following year when the Commission became permanent. Among the most memorable things she did through that role was co-create the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). She referred to it as "the international Magna Carta of all men everywhere" while giving a public speech on September 28, 1948.
Photo Courtesy: [Keystone/Stringer/Hulton Archive/Getty Images]
This photo was taken of the former First Lady attending a conference at the U.N. headquarters in 1946. Her dedication to her role did not go unnoticed. The State Department’s Office of Special Political Affairs called Roosevelt's work successful in "helping forge international support in the General Assembly for nearly all American proposals."
Grandkids
Anna Eleanor and Curtis Dall, affectionately dubbed "Sistie" and "Buzzie," were media darlings during the Great Depression. While their famous grandparents, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, worked toward national economic relief efforts, the "First Grandchildren" brought struggling Americans a sense of comfort and entertainment. The siblings lived at the White House from September 1933 to November 1935. Then, "Sistie" and "Buzzie" stayed at the famous place from Christmas 1936 through the Inauguration in 1937 and then again during Christmas 1939. Anna Roosevelt's children had their final stay living with their grandparents while not at boarding school, from 1944 through 1945.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
Eleanor Roosevelt adored her grandchildren and had a play area built on the south lawn of the White House for them. She had a swing set, a slide, and a jungle gym installed. Anna's children loved having their grandmother push them on the swings or simply spend time having fun together. Eleanor also arranged and hosted birthday parties for "Sistie" and "Buzzie" at the White House. Their party invitations are available for viewing through the FDR Library.
The Navy Relief Society and the Red Cross
Numerous volunteer jobs throughout Washington, D.C., occupied Eleanor Roosevelt's time. She worked for two private organizations -- the Navy Relief Society and the American Red Cross. The First Lady made good use of her radio programs, calling for people to aid the Red Cross. Roosevelt also joined the wives of other notable officials to prepare sandwiches and coffee, then distributed the refreshments to service members.
Photo Courtesy: [Hulton Archive/Stringer/Hulton Archive/Getty Images]
Since the first year of the Red Cross' existence, Eleanor served as the honorary vice-chair. Her unique viewpoint allowed her to observe and recommend ways the organization could improve. Roosevelt publicly led blood drives and fundraising during the war. While traveling abroad, the First Lady stopped by Red Cross units to ensure they were well-stocked for the troops.
Checking on the Troops
During and after her time as the First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt dedicated time to advocating for the well-being of American service members. While touring U.S. Army hospitals in New Caledonia, FDR's wife stopped to check on Sergeant F.R. Le Claire of Willimantic, Connecticut. He lost a foot as a result of a grenade explosion at Munda. Roosevelt's visits provided a measure of comfort and support to injured troops such as Le Claire.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
The Navy Chaplain requested that Eleanor would provide emotional support to the troops. She was tasked with investigating and reporting on the condition of sailors returning from war suffering from mental health conditions. Roosevelt was appalled by the lack of professionalism and inadequate supplies found at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, where the naval members were treated. First, she enlisted the Navy Red Cross to build and furnish a recreation center at St. Elizabeth's. Then, the Wilson Administration's Interior Secretary listened to Eleanor's pleas, performed an investigation, and initiated Congressional plans to increase the facility's budget.
Drama Mama-in-law
FDR's mother, Sara Ann Delano Roosevelt, was nicknamed "the worst mother-in-law in history" by some scholars. Throughout nearly four decades, the matriarch made Eleanor's life miserable at every turn. When the couple became engaged on November 22, 1903, Sara began her campaign to dominate every aspect of her son's and daughter-in-law's married life. Her first act was to force Franklin to promise not to make the engagement public for a year. Then, she whisked him off on a Caribbean cruise, stating the distance was to help him rethink his choice in partner.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
Sara Roosevelt tightly controlled the family's finances for years, limiting the couple's ability to make many decisions that she disapproved of. Their homes were purchased, designed, and run by Sara without any input from Franklin or Eleanor. She went so far as to have their New York townhouse built next to her own home, complete with sliding doors installed connecting both structures. FDR's mother came and went from their place as she pleased, ensuring things met her satisfaction.
Eleanor already struggled with confidence in her maternal abilities, but Sara's antics were the tipping point. Years earlier, the matriarch had declared that Franklin was not a Roosevelt at all but a Delano. Similarly, she told her grandchildren, "Your mother only bore you; I am more your mother than your mother is." Her in-law continued to overshadow Eleanor's relationship with her children until the youngest, Franklin Jr. and John, were in their late childhood to early teenage years.
Family Portrait
In 1916, the Roosevelt family posed for the family portrait below. While in Washington D.C., Franklin and Eleanor sat in the middle of Elliott, Franklin Jr., James, John, and Anna. One child, however, was missing. Sadly, the couple lost a child seven years earlier when he was about eight months old. The first Franklin Jr. caught the flu along with his then-two-year-old brother James and then-three-year-old sister Anna. Although Franklin Jr. recovered, he was left weakened by the illness. A doctor later diagnosed the infant with a heart murmur and endocarditis before he passed away that November.
Photo Courtesy: [Corbis/Corbis Historical/Getty Images]
There are mixed accounts of how Eleanor raised her children. She once considered herself "ill-suited to motherhood." She wrote, "It did not come naturally to me to understand little children or to enjoy them." However, as her youngest children grew up and Eleanor gained more independence from her controlling mother-in-law, her perspective changed. Roosevelt's self-confidence and abilities as a mother improved with time, and her children enjoyed a more playful side of Eleanor.
A Girl and Her Horse
From early years, Eleanor had a love for horses. She described herself as a shy girl, and the animals helped her relax and have fun. As an adult, Roosevelt's favorite horse was named "Dot." On February 2, 1937, the First Lady spoke of her equine companion fondly in her "My Day" column. Eleanor and Dot shared three rides that day, and the latter learned a new trick.
When returning to the stable, the rider had two sugar lumps waiting. Dot would "shake hands" with Eleanor to receive the first treat. The horse presented each front leg to her in turn. Then, Dot learned to give Roosevelt a "kiss" for the other morsel, putting her nose up to the diplomat's face. Onlookers delighted in the exchange.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
One employment opportunity President Franklin D. Roosevelt created to help end the Great Depression was The Pack Horse Library Project. His wife adored the idea and took the reins of both the project and her horse. Eleanor wanted to help benefit women and children. So, she joined others on horseback as they traveled down the Appalachians in the coal mine regions of Kentucky. The Pack Horse Librarians distributed books throughout a 20-mile circuit per rider. At the time, many of the coal mining families there were without running water, electricity, schools, and roads. The project was a welcome form of education and entertainment to those it served.
Eleanor Roosevelt, Shirley Temple, and a Slingshot
In 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt learned that "the Darling of the Depression," or "America's Darling," Shirley Temple, was scheduled to be nearby. So, he requested to meet her in person. Before the visit, Eleanor dropped by the set of Little Miss Broadway where Shirley was performing. Despite being advised by publicity staff not to keep Roosevelt for long, the child star took the First Lady by the hand and led the activist to her bungalow. Once there, a stunned George Murphy, Shirley's co-star in the film, was asked to entertain her and the President's wife with his comic impressions.
Photo Courtesy: [ullstein bild Dtl./ullstein bild/Getty Images]
The First Lady invited "America's Darling" and her parents to a picnic at her Val-Kill cottage. The Roosevelts' grandchildren, "Sistie" and "Buzzie," joined the gathering. While Eleanor was bent over the grill preparing Shirley's favorite food, lamb chops, something unexpected happened. The Secret Service agents present could not figure out why Mrs. Roosevelt had suddenly jumped. The child star's mother, Gertrude, however, knew the reason.
Temple carried her cherished slingshot in her pocket nearly everywhere she went. When the little girl thought no one was looking, she loaded it with a pebble aimed at Roosevelt's bottom. Years later, Shirley filled in the rest of the story. When the family returned to the hotel that evening, Mrs. Temple took matters into her own hands. Her daughter received the same sting Eleanor had felt earlier that day.
World Traveler
On March 15, 1934, Roosevelt traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico. While inspecting living conditions there, the levels of squalor and disease horrified her. At one point, Eleanor stopped at a spot in the center of "La Perla," requesting that the photographer document the swarm of flies buzzing around the putrid puddle of water. It mattered to the First Lady "to show really what it is like." Afterward, the activist found local welfare workers and brainstormed possible relief efforts with them.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
Roosevelt's humanitarian efforts earned her the nickname "First Lady of the World" by President Harry S. Truman. Gallup's List of Most Widely Admired People of the 20th Century ranked the diplomat ninth in 1999. Eleanor Roosevelt's contributions to global human rights have been widely celebrated throughout her lifetime and long after. Her memory has been honored through plays, films, books, statues, awards presented in the activist's name, and more.
A Royal Picnic at Hyde Park
Since the colonial era, the United States had a strained relationship with Great Britain. Until King George VI and Queen Elizabeth accepted President Franklin D. Roosevelt's invitation to visit the country, no British Monarch had done so. The couple's stay marked a significant turning point in developing political and social ties between Great Britain and America. With WWII looming, the alliance was imperative to establish.
Photo Courtesy: [PhotoQuest/Archive Photos/Getty Images]
In 1939, Eleanor Roosevelt, King George VI, Sara Delano Roosevelt, Queen Elizabeth, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt posed for the picture above. Later, they enjoyed a picnic on the front porch of Eleanor's Val-Kill cottage. The meal included baked ham, smoked turkey, and baked beans. When Eleanor served the Royal couple hot dogs that she and Franklin grilled, the King asked what they were called. The First Lady replied, "Hot dogs! It's the only food I know how to cook!"
Eleanor's hospitality and sincerity are said to have helped cement the positive relationship between Great Britain and the United States. The traditional American dishes and quiet picnic at the cottage left a lasting impression on the King and Queen. King George VI told the First Lady at the end of the evening, "You have given us a delightful time. Until now, I had never tasted smoked turkey. I must also confess I shall never, never forget my first hot dog!"
Eleanor Roosevelt and Helen Keller
Did you know that Helen Keller was a good friend of Eleanor Roosevelt's? After her husband Franklin was diagnosed with polio in 1921, Eleanor spent the rest of her life rallying aid for those with any form of physical impairment. On February 19, 1933, Keller sent a letter to Roosevelt expressing how proud she was of the activist's support for those with disabilities. Keller highly praised Roosevelt's usage of her radio platform for reaching and informing more people about the topic.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
Helen wrote to Eleanor requesting that the First Lady wear a corsage to the inaugural ceremony or evening ball. Keller explained that the gesture would serve as "a token of the affectionate regard of the blind of America." After Roosevelt's reply with her favorite colors, Max Schling made a suitable bouquet for the occasion.
On May 20, 1955, Eleanor Roosevelt and Helen Keller took the photo above while conversing. The pair attended a banquet in Keller's honor before supporting others in Japan, the Philippines, India, Pakistan, and Burma. The First Lady was the final speaker among other notables such as then-President Eisenhower and the ambassadors to the honoree's destination countries. Helen could decipher what the speaker was saying by placing her fingers on another's lips.
The Franklin Roosevelt Electoral Campaign
FDR had a career in politics long before he became the United States president. He served two terms on the New York State Senate between 1910 and 1912. Eleanor accompanied her husband on the campaign trail for the vice-presidency eight years later. In 1920, she viewed addressing crowds and directly responding to the public herself as a taboo boundary to cross.
Photo Courtesy: [Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/Getty Images]
The women's division of "Friends for Roosevelt," a launch committee for FDR's candidacy, was headed by Eleanor. She used her writing and editing skills to create most of his campaign materials. Eleanor posed in front of a Trans World Airlines plane the following year in Kansas City, Missouri. She traveled with her husband for the Franklin Roosevelt Electoral Campaign and became the fourth woman in history to vote for her husband's election as president successfully. The First Lady continued to draw the line at attending public events alongside FDR for his 1936, 1940, and 1944 presidential campaigns without giving speeches herself.
Elliott Bulloch Roosevelt
To Eleanor, the sun rose and set on her father, Elliot Bulloch Roosevelt. Their close relationship was the opposite of that between the girl and her mother. Mr. Roosevelt spoke kindly to Eleanor and encouraged her to follow her dreams. The activist's aid to miners might have originated out of love for her deceased father. Elliot had spent time working in mine development in Abingdon, Virginia. He was also a sportsman and a junior partner in a real estate firm.
Some believe that Elliot Roosevelt's alcoholism and narcotic addiction began due to his "nervous sickness." There is debate as to whether or not that illness might have been epilepsy, but no known diagnosis was made public. Mr. Roosevelt made his third trip overseas between 1890 and 1891, along with his wife and children. During the voyage, his well-being took a turn for the worse, and the family had him committed to an asylum in France. Older brother Theodore Roosevelt had Elliot admitted into the Keeley Center in Dwight, Illinois, the following year for addiction treatment.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
The photo above depicts then-six-year-old Eleanor with her father and brothers, Elliot Jr. and Hall. The siblings shared a half-brother Elliot Sr. fathered with Catherine "Katy" Mann, a family employee. Little is known about the child other than Theodore Roosevelt acknowledged him as a nephew and set up a financial trust. It is also unclear how often Eleanor corresponded with her half-sibling, but she did write to him at least once, in the months before his death around April 1941. Before he died following a seizure in 1894, Mr. Roosevelt asked Eleanor to stand in as a mother figure to Hall. His older sister followed that plea until Gracie "Hall" Roosevelt's life ended in September 1941.
Women's Voting Rights
On October 21, 1925, Eleanor Roosevelt demonstrated the voting machine below at the Hotel Commodore in New York. The activist participated in the Women's Art and Industries Exhibit. Eleanor's views had changed radically from what they were five years earlier. In 1920, after women won the right to vote, Roosevelt refused to cast a ballot. When asked about the incident, she replied, "I took it for granted that men were superior creatures and knew more about politics than women did."
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
From 1920 through 1928, Eleanor participated in the League of Women Voters. While initially having opposing views, Roosevelt still wanted to educate women on candidates and political issues. Eleanor chaired a Legislation Committee, researching pending congressional bills. While writing a report on her findings, Roosevelt worked with Elizabeth Read and her life partner, Esther Lape. The trio became lifelong friends who supported each other's activism efforts.
Last edited by Paul on Fri 23 Feb 2024, 5:22 am; edited 1 time in total
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Re: INFO VINE * The History of Human Rights Activist Eleanor Roosevelt *
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The Wiltwyck School for Boys
As a former teacher, Eleanor Roosevelt was especially moved by the plight of the Wiltwyck School for Boys. The building opened for juvenile delinquents in 1936 and sat across the Hudson River from her family's home. The non-punitive structure had a high success rate treating troubled boys from the streets of New York.
Unfortunately, in 1942, Wiltwyck nearly closed from lack of funding. Roosevelt stepped up and helped reorganize the school, joined its board, and donated funds for the boys' well-being until she passed away in 1962. Because Eleanor had been generous monetarily over the years, the school remained open until 1981.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
The new campus the activist helped fund allowed its inhabitants to enjoy their presents from the Roosevelts in a spacious and supportive environment. Eleanor loved passing out Christmas presents every year to each child at the Wiltwyck School. Her daughter-in-law, Faye Emerson Roosevelt, stood by and helped pass out presents in the photo above.
Activism for African Americans
Not everyone was happy about the First Lady's fight for the rights of African Americans. The KKK put a bounty of $25,000 out for her assassination -- equal to nearly $410,000 today. Eleanor refused to back down from what she believed in or be persuaded otherwise. During a civil rights meeting in Alabama, African Americans sat on one side while Caucasians sat on the other. Roosevelt's actions spoke louder than words when she pulled out a chair for herself and sat directly in the center of the aisle.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
There were times when President Franklin D. Roosevelt's ideas clashed with his wife's, and funding for Howard University was among them. Eleanor made appeals, but the Washington, D.C. research university's budget was cut to its lowest levels. The school was at the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, a topic the First Lady was passionate about. To recognize Mrs. Roosevelt's persistent contributions, she was named a Howard University Trustee. Eleanor was also bestowed honorary membership into their historically African American sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha.
Pictured above, Roosevelt congratulated 21 students and three staff members before the group set sail on the SS Stavangerfjord. Among those shaking hands with the former First Lady were James Butcher, Dr. Anne Cooke, and Owen Dodson. The Howard University members were scheduled to perform three plays in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
White Top Mountain
The Virginia "Ridge Runners" entertained Roosevelt when she visited the area her father Elliot had cherished. The White Top Mountain area had been his home, and Eleanor fulfilled his lifelong wish for her to meet his friends there. The group of singers and banjo players gave his daughter a tour of the sites he had loved the most after their performance.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
From 1931 through 1939, the Whitetop Mountain community hosted the White Top Folk Festival. Eleanor Roosevelt attended the 1933 festival performances of Appalachian folk music. In 1937, no event was held, and the area flooded before anything could be scheduled for 1940. Roosevelt's beloved Whitetop Mountain is now a conservation area.
The President's Charity Birthday Ball
Public relations consultant Henry L. Doherty created the National Committee for Birthday Balls for FDR. On January 30, 1934, the first celebration was held at the Shoreham Hotel. During the cake-cutting ceremony, Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, Wilton Lambert, Anna Roosevelt, General William Horton, and Ray Baker gathered around the First Lady. Eleanor served the cake while wearing her traditional white fur and gown seen during his Presidential Inaugural Balls in 1933, 1937, and 1941.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
During the 1934 Birthday Ball, 600 celebrations occurred across 4,376 communities in Franklin D. Roosevelt's honor. The annual event raised nearly a million dollars each time. In 1938, the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis was launched by FDR to aid others suffering from polio. From that year on, proceeds from the President's Charity Birthday Ball were split among the Warm Springs, local communities sponsoring the events, and the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis.
Mother and Daughter
On May 3, 1906, Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt welcomed their first child, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, into the world. Mrs. Roosevelt was 22 when her daughter was born at 125 East 36th Street in New York City. In 1944, Anna moved into the White House with her ailing father at his request. She stood in for her mother's role as First Lady when Eleanor was busy with other political issues and philanthropic activities.
Photo Courtesy: [Corbis/Corbis Historical/Getty Images]
Anna Roosevelt followed in her parents' footsteps, becoming a writer, newspaper editor, and public relations specialist. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy appointed the oldest Roosevelt sibling to the Citizen's Advisory Council on the Status of Women. Then, Anna served as the vice-chairman of the President's Commission for the Observance of Human Rights in 1968.
Triple Betrayal
Since early childhood, Eleanor's life had been filled with adversity and pain. None of it prepared her for the betrayal she would face starting one fateful day in 1918. FDR had returned from a trip to Europe where he had fallen ill to pneumonia in both lungs. His wife offered to help him unpack his suitcase while he rested. When she opened it, a packet of love letters between Franklin and her social secretary, Lucy Mercer, were discovered inside. Their exchanges revealed that the pair discussed the possibility of Roosevelt leaving his wife for Mercer.
Heartbroken, Eleanor offered Franklin a divorce. Sara threatened to cut her son out of the family's finances if he ended his marriage, even though she disliked Eleanor. She argued that it would ruin Franklin's political career, and his advisor, Louis Howe, agreed. Instead, FDR promised Eleanor to end all communications with Lucy. After his death in 1945, their daughter Anna carried the burden of relaying his confession to Eleanor that he'd broken that promise for nearly two decades.
Photo Courtesy: [Bachrach/Archive Photos/Getty Images]
Three years later, Eleanor served as Franklin's nurse night and day after he fell ill with polio. She also acted as his eyes and ears once his strength returned marginally, traveling to commitments for him and reporting back. Earlier that year, FDR had hired Marguerite "Missy" LeHand, pictured above, as his personal secretary. The pair shared a relationship until the mid-1940s when Missy became partially paralyzed with limited speaking abilities. While his wife was away on business, LeHand was taken in as his "constant companion" and given a bedroom on the third floor of the White House.
Franklin's third affair was speculated to be with the Crown Princess Märtha of Norway while she was staying at the White House. President Roosevelt invited her to stay after the Norwegian government sent the Crown Princess and her children away to escape the German invasion in 1940. Crown Princess Märtha accepted Roosevelt's invitation against her father-in-law's advice, while her husband, Crown Prince Olav, joined his father. The President's aides began calling the Princess "the President's girlfriend," and newspapers printed articles linking the pair romantically.
Twice during her life, LeHand experienced ailments connected with Roosevelt's other infidelities. In 1927, "Missy" had a "medically unexplained" nervous breakdown. She was reportedly upset over romantic letters between him and Lucy Mercer, eerily similar to what happened in 1918. Then in 1941, LeHand collapsed during a White House dinner party from the stroke previously mentioned. It is believed that stress and anxiety over FDR's new romance with Crown Princess Märtha triggered her collapse. The Princess "had replaced her as FDR's favorite companion, occupying the seat next to him that had long been LeHand's in automobile rides."
Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr.
The Roosevelt family and President John F. Kennedy shared many moments in history. JFK appointed the fifth child of FDR and Eleanor, Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr., as the United States Under Secretary of Commerce. Then, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Franklin Jr. as the first chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He served on the Commission from 1965 to 1966. The lawyer and businessman also ran for Governor of New York twice, showing his father's same political aptitude.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
Franklin Jr. was born on August 17, 1914. The family agreed that among all the Roosevelt siblings, he was the one who most closely resembled their father's looks and behavior. Like FDR, the young Roosevelt went on to graduate from Groton School. As a reward for doing well in his education, President and Mrs. Roosevelt gifted their son with a vacation trip to Europe. Eleanor accompanied him in the photo above as he boarded the SS Washington, which would take him from New York to his destination.
James Roosevelt II
On December 23, 1907, Eleanor and Franklin's second child was born. James Roosevelt II became an official Secretary to the President for his father and sat beside FDR during his Infamy Speech following the Attack on Pearl Harbor. Years later, from 1955 to 1965, he served five terms representing California as a member of the United States House of Representatives. James II was Eleanor's last surviving child when he passed away in 1991.
Photo Courtesy: [Hulton-Deutsch/Corbis/Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Getty Images]
During World War II, the First Lady and her family served the United States in many capacities. Her oldest son joined the newest Marine Corps commando force, the Marine Raiders, in January 1942 and became second-in-command of the 2nd Raider Battalion under Evans Carlson. The pair were acquainted near FDR's Warm Springs, Georgia, home while Carlson commanded the Marine detachment there.
James Roosevelt II was surrounded in the photo above by his fellow Marines while he went over attack plans with officers Ivans F. Calson and M.C. Plumley. He was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service. He was also presented with the Silver Star and multiple battle stars for his service.
Family Time at Campello
One of the Roosevelts' favorite places to spend time together was their summer home on Campobello Island. Eleanor saw tea time as an essential part of each day and continued her traditions while at the cottage. Her family had participated in the practice while growing up, and the First Lady saw that her children enjoyed it. While not traveling, Eleanor was notorious for serving tea promptly at 3:00 each afternoon; whether at Campobello, in the Governor's Mansion in Albany, or at the White House. When they stayed at their summer escape, the children were called to meals and tea times with their mother's birchbark bullhorn.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
Elliot, Eleanor, Franklin Jr., John, Anna, and their dog "Chief" stopped for a picture on the cottage's porch while visiting one summer. Today, guests can travel to Roosevelt Campobello International Park, a symbol of friendship between the U.S. and Canada. While there, visitors can enjoy the Tea with Eleanor program and be treated to tales of the former First Lady while sampling some of her favorite tea and cookies. Afterward, a tour is given of the cottage, complete with her family photos still hanging on the wall from those special trips.
The National Consumer's League
In 1898, socially prominent women created the National Consumer's League to protect and support mill workers. Eleanor Roosevelt joined the League as an investigator into "sweatshops," alongside her friend Helen Cutting. Throughout her life, the First Lady had a track record of collaborating with other influential women, such as Ellen Wilkinson and Minerva Bernadine depicted below, to accomplish great things for those in need. Working with those in the NCL gave her a unique firsthand look at the appalling conditions at the tenement apartments where the milliners lived and worked. Then, the activist used her various media platforms to spread the word about the crowded, unsanitary, and hazardous conditions she observed.
Photo Courtesy: [Keystone/Stringer/Hulton Archive/Getty Images]
Roosevelt's first investigations were of mills expected to produce thousands of artificial flowers for use on hats and other clothing. She found that the workers were paid an insignificant amount for the tedious demands of the job, remaining in poverty. Eleanor informed the public about the National Consumer League's "White Label" campaign in her press releases. Manufacturers or producers displaying the "Consumer's White Label" endorsement were found to have fair pay and safe working conditions.
A Girl Called "Granny"
Eleanor's mother, Anna, was described as "a celebrated beauty." However, the older Roosevelt's words towards her little daughter contained no charm. Anna openly called Eleanor "Granny" in front of other people. The socialite also told her child, "You have no looks. See to it that you have manners."
Photo Courtesy: [Hulton Archive/Hulton Archive/Getty Images]
Life did not improve for young Eleanor when she was sent to live with her equally cruel grandmother, Mary Livingston Ludlow Hall. The elder referred to her granddaughter as "the ugly duckling" to others, a crushing blow to Roosevelt's already diminished self-confidence. The comments and comparisons followed Eleanor into adulthood. She grew to be five feet and 11 inches tall, tying with Michelle Obama as the tallest First Lady of all time.
Teddy Roosevelt
Eleanor's uncle, former President Theodore Roosevelt, was one of the most celebrated men of his time. She grew up with her father's older brother playing a vital role in their family. "Teddy" often stepped in and supported Eleanor when her father was unable to. The 26th U.S. president took on financial responsibilities and served as a source of stability in her often rocky childhood.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
Theodore Roosevelt spent long hours in his office, shown above. Eleanor's uncle served as assistant secretary of the Navy from 1896 through 1898. His work expanded the U.S. Navy and successfully ended the Russo-Japanese War. In 1906, Roosevelt received the Nobel Peace Prize for his accomplishments.
Anna Hall Roosevelt
Anna Rebecca Hall Roosevelt was known as a popular debutante and powerful figure among New York City's social elite. She was a highly competitive tennis player but never rose to the rank of a champion as her brothers Valentine III and Edward had. Despite Anna's comments that Eleanor's looks were an embarrassment to the family, her daughter lauded the matriarch as the most beautiful woman she'd ever seen. Anna did share one thing with Eleanor, though -- her love of horses.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
New York's high society members were shocked when Anna Roosevelt died suddenly in 1892. Regardless of having an excellent health record, the socialite contracted diphtheria, causing her death at the age of 29. The following year, the same illness claimed the life of her four-year-old son, Elliot Jr. Eleanor and her brother Hall were the sole surviving members of the family when their father passed away two years after his wife.
Allenswood Boarding Academy
Marie Souvestre, the headmistress of Allenswood Boarding Academy, was credited as "the first great influence" on Eleanor's educational and emotional development. Unlike much of the girl's family, Souvestre was vocal about the potential she saw. Between 1898 and 1902, the school did not offer history, geography, and philosophy courses. However, the French founder took Roosevelt under her wing, giving personal instruction and teaching Eleanor to speak her native language fluently.
Although the girl wanted to remain at Allenswood, her grandmother demanded that she return home for her social debut. Roosevelt kept in touch with Souvestre until her role model passed away in 1905. From that year on, Marie's portrait was displayed prominently on her protégé's desk as a source of comfort and inspiration. Every time the activist moved to a new place, she brought her collection of her mentor's letters too.
Photo Courtesy: [Corbis/Corbis Historical/Getty Images]
While attending the London-based Academy, Eleanor joined her classmates in a group photo. She was seated in the second row, second from the left. When asked what the happiest day of her life was in an interview, Eleanor said it was when she made her school's field hockey team. Her time at Allenswood's shaped Roosevelt's decision to become a school teacher at New York's Todhunter School for Girls as an adult.
It is also speculated that the activist's lifelong love of violets stemmed from a tradition at the Academy. Students were encouraged to give each other books and violets to show appreciation. Eleanor was spotted carrying a bouquet of violets while attending her husband's presidential inaugurations in 1933 and 1937.
Val-Kill
Despite her fear of ships and the sea after nearly drowning, Eleanor always loved swimming at Val-Kill. Its name means "waterfall-stream" in Dutch, and the haven gave Roosevelt a measure of autonomy from her mother-in-law. The stone cottage in Hyde Park, New York, is preserved as part of the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site. The U.S. Congress created it in honor of the former First Lady's life and numerous accomplishments.
Photo Courtesy: [Corbis/Corbis Historical/Getty Images]
Franklin encouraged his wife to create and co-own a furniture factory called Val-Kill Industries on the property. Eleanor, along with her friends Marion Dickerman and Nancy Cook, did just that from 1927 until 1936. The business made colonial-era reproductions. After it succeeded, Val-Kill Industries moved to a four-story factory building. The strategy was one of many ways the Roosevelts provided employment opportunities during the Great Depression.
Hyde Park, New York
Eleanor's husband was born in Hyde Park, New York, at the family's Springwood estate. The town borders the Hudson River and serves as the stage for much of the couple's life together. The former First Lady's Val-Kill cottage is situated about two miles east of Springwood. Roosevelt was known for hosting many events at their New York property over the years. For example, the activist supported the non-profit organization Encampment for Citizenship. Eleanor insisted on holding the workshops for the summer programs in Hyde Park.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
Franklin and Eleanor shared a passion for grilling and picnics. On September 4, 1934, Nancy Cook joined the couple for a meal at Hyde Park. Fittingly, the Culinary Institute of America was built in the Roosevelts' cherished New York town on May 22, 1946. The four-year college specializes in the field of baking and pastry arts.
"My Day"
News reporters Marjorie Shules and Emma Bugbee joined Helen Warden, then-president of the Newspaper Women's Club, while Eleanor typed. For 27 years, Roosevelt wrote a newspaper column she called "My Day." The articles were published six days a week from 1935 until 1962. Despite her many travels, Eleanor only missed deadlines for the week following her husband's death in 1945.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
Americans loved the offbeat articles, ranging in topics from Prohibition to horses. Eleanor asked the public to let her know what worried them most, promising to cover the subjects. More than 300,000 letters flooded in within a few short months. Roosevelt's insights encouraged others to step out of their comfort zones and work towards their dreams.
Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt Flew Over the White House
Did you know that Amelia Earhart convinced Eleanor Roosevelt to apply for a pilot's license? In 1933, the two trailblazers attended a State Dinner, where they bonded immediately. The pair headed up in the sky wearing their dinner dresses, ditching the event. Earhart flew Roosevelt from D.C. to Baltimore, pointing out the White House as Amelia's plane passed over it.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
That night, Eleanor agreed to take flying lessons on the condition that Amelia was her instructor. Sadly, the first female to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean vanished while attempting to break another record. President Franklin D. Roosevelt instructed the U.S. Navy to conduct a search and rescue mission for Earhart, but neither she nor her plane was ever found. True to her word, Roosevelt never accepted flight instructions from anyone else. When reporters asked for the First Lady's thoughts regarding the aviator's mysterious disappearance, she remarked, "I am sure Amelia's last words were, 'I have no regrets.'"
Lorena "Hick" Hickok
Eleanor befriended many women who were shrouded in controversy. Lorena "Hick" Hickok, America's best-known female reporter by 1932, possibly caused the biggest sensation. Both historians and the activist's extended family are divided on the extent of the pair's relationship.
While Lorena was primarily working in New York and Eleanor was in Washington, D.C., Roosevelt wrote daily letters to Hickock that were often 15 pages long. They wrote 3,360 letters to each other that contained romantic musings, among other things. Hickock's widely-known preference for women further fueled speculation. Some scholars argue that Eleanor was not attracted to females but was merely friends with those who were. Nancy Cook, Marion Dickerman, Esther Lape, and Elizabeth Fisher Read, along with "Hick," were open about their sensuality when it was taboo for people of the same gender to be in love.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
Lorena Hickok and Eleanor Roosevelt were often seen together at the theater or opera. They met in 1928 when the AP asked Hickock to interview Roosevelt. A close friendship formed in 1932 when the reporter was assigned to cover the presidential election. Eleanor voiced her increasing discomfort over what it would be like to be the First Lady to her confidant, and "Hick" is largely credited with giving the diplomat the push she needed to embrace the role with less trepidation.
During the 1933 inauguration ceremony, Eleanor wore a sapphire ring Hickok had given her -- possibly the ring shown on her little finger above. In turn, Roosevelt gifted Lorena with a car the latter named "Bluette." The reporter drove it to investigate the conditions of western Pennsylvania's coal-mining districts. Although the two drifted apart over the coming years as the role of First Lady required more of Eleanor's time, they remained friends until Roosevelt died in 1962. Lorena Hickok willed her papers to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park before passing away in 1968.
Political Society
Franklin once said that his wife's "political sagacity" began when the couple moved into the governor's mansion in Albany, New York. To build her interest in politics, Eleanor attended legislative sessions. As the First Lady of New York from 1929 until 1933, Roosevelt had to be careful to avoid potential conflicts of interest. Eleanor spent time at the Todhunter School and Val-Kill Industries when she was not doing political work.
Photo Courtesy: [Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Archive Photos/Getty Images]
Before their time in Albany, Eleanor established herself as a public figure in New York. During the 1920s, she was a guest on radio shows and wrote articles for magazines such as Good Housekeeping. In 1924, the activist became further associated with organizations when she joined the bi-partisan Women's City Club board. The Democratic Women's Committee appointed Roosevelt as the vice-president and finance chairman. FDR's political standing was elevated by his wife's influential connections, which helped lead to his future campaign victories.
Commercial Queen
You might be surprised to learn that the First Lady starred in television commercials. Eleanor met with famous Hollywood A-listers such as Lucille Ball and worked with other actors and actresses to garner support for war-related causes. Comedian Jack Benny performed alongside Roosevelt in a short motion picture shown across America for charity. She was also a guest on the game show What's My Line.
Photo Courtesy: [CBS/CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images]
As with funds from the comedy skit she participated in, the activist donated the money she earned from television commercials. Eleanor Roosevelt advertised an assortment of products that included hot dogs and mattresses. When she promoted Good Luck Margarine in 1959, her sponsorship launched margarine's popularity, and it became an established American spread. The former First Lady distributed 6,000 care packages for families in need using the $35,000 the company paid for her support of their brand.
Published Author
Throughout her 41-year career, spanning from 1921 until 1962, Roosevelt racked up an impressive amount of published writings. Her name appeared in the byline of well over 100 magazines, newspapers, and other publications. Eleanor contributed to books other authors wrote and completed her own works. She toured the country as a keynote speaker promoting her new releases. The photo below was taken on April 12, 1954, while the former First Lady signed a copy of her book India and the Awakening East.
Photo Courtesy: [PhotoQuest/Archive Photos/Getty Images]
The Ladies Home Journal published Roosevelt's first commercial piece in October 1923. In 1937, she produced the first book in her three-volume autobiography, titled This Is My Story. It covered her life until 1924 and Franklin's initial struggle with polio. The second portion, This I Remember, was first sold in 1949 and covered Eleanor's life until her husband's death. Finally, On My Own was released in 1958. An abridged collection of her book trilogy came out three years later.
Road Trip in a Convertible
Driving was one of Eleanor Roosevelt's favorite pastimes. She feared that she would not be permitted to do so once she became the First Lady. With persistence, she eventually persuaded President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Secret Service members assigned to her. In April 1937, Eleanor picked up Lorena Hickok in a Buick Roadster convertible for a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. Roosevelt wrote about their visit in her "My Day" newspaper column.
Photo Courtesy: [ClassicStock/Archive Photos/Getty Images]
It was not the first time the two took off on a road trip together. During the summer of 1933, Eleanor wanted to challenge the boundaries of her freedom. She and Lorena spent three weeks riding around in the convertible as "ordinary tourists." They traveled across New England and Quebec, watched the sunrise from Vermont's Mount Mansfield, and explored the Gaspe Peninsula.
Hunger Campaigns
Women and children were always at the forefront of Eleanor's causes. She served the unemployed at a soup kitchen and insisted that everyone at the White House ate with a strict budget like their fellow Americans during the Great Depression. Taste of Home magazine posted the First Lady's "seven and a half-cent menus" that she ate with FDR and their guests. After Ernest Hemingway dined with the Roosevelts in 1937, he wrote that the main dish had been "rainwater soup." Since Eleanor only knew how to cook hot dogs and pre-scrambled eggs, home economists help create the menus.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
Beginning in the 1940s, Eleanor set her sights on ending world hunger. She was among the first to petition for a specialized U.N. agency designed around food and nutrition issues. The First Lady arranged a meeting between FDR and the Australian nutritionist Frederick L. McDougall. On October 16, 1945, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was created.
Eleanor's Final Resting Place
On Sunday, April 2, 1960, the former First Lady was standing between two cars parked on the street. The one on her right started unexpectedly, knocking Roosevelt over and injuring her foot. As a result of her medical examinations, it was discovered that Eleanor had aplastic anemia. Two years later, a dormant case of tuberculosis was accidentally activated in her bone marrow when she was administered a steroid. On November 7, 1962, the activist suffered cardiac failure as a result and died at her Manhattan home. The following day, President John F. Kennedy ordered every American flag worldwide to be lowered to half-staff. Eleanor Roosevelt is the only American First Lady in history to be given such an honor.
Photo Courtesy: [Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images]
On November 10, 1962, she was laid to rest beside her husband in the rose garden of their Hyde Park estate. Former President and Mrs. Harry Truman and former President Dwight Eisenhower attended the funeral. JFK and his wife Jackie arrived at Eleanor Roosevelt's burial services on the Air Force One's maiden flight. Although Eleanor asked for her public farewell to be a small and quiet event, an overwhelming crowd wished to say goodbye. The New York Times called the late Roosevelt "the object of almost universal respect," and her final services were compared to a state funeral.
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