Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt
Name	Eleanor Roosevelt
Caption	Official portrait, 1933
Birth name	Anna Eleanor Roosevelt
Birth date	11 October 1884
Birth place	New York City, New York, U.S.
Death date	7 November 1962
Death place	Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Resting place	Home of FDR National Historic Site, Hyde Park, New York
Spouse	Franklin D. Roosevelt, March 17, 1905
Children	6, including Anna Roosevelt Halsted, Elliott Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Jr., John Aspinwall Roosevelt
Parents	Elliott Bulloch Roosevelt, Anna Hall Roosevelt
Occupation	Diplomat, politician, activist

Eleanor Roosevelt was an American political figure, diplomat, and activist who served as the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945 during the presidency of her husband, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Her advocacy dramatically redefined the role, as she became a powerful voice for human rights, social justice, and economic reform. Following her husband's death, she played a pivotal role in international diplomacy, helping to draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the United Nations. Widely regarded as one of the most influential women of the twentieth century, her legacy endures in global humanitarian efforts.

Early life and education

Born into the prominent Roosevelt family in New York City, she was the niece of President Theodore Roosevelt. Her early life was marked by tragedy, including the deaths of both parents and a brother by the time she was ten, after which she lived with her grandmother, Mary Ludlow Hall, in Tivoli, New York. She was educated privately before attending the Allenswood Boarding Academy in London, where headmistress Marie Souvestre profoundly influenced her intellectual and social development. Returning to New York, she became involved in social work through the Junior League and taught at the Rivington Street Settlement House on the Lower East Side.

Marriage and family life

She married her fifth cousin, Franklin D. Roosevelt, in 1905, with President Theodore Roosevelt giving her away at the ceremony. The couple settled initially in New York City and later at the family estate, Springwood, in Hyde Park, New York. They had six children: Anna Roosevelt Halsted, James Roosevelt, Elliott Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Jr., a second Franklin Delano Roosevelt Jr., and John Aspinwall Roosevelt. Her family life was complicated by her husband's affair with her social secretary, Lucy Mercer, and his subsequent paralytic illness from polio in 1921, which led her to become increasingly active in politics to support his career.

Political career and activism

Following Franklin D. Roosevelt's election as Governor of New York in 1928, she became a key political partner, inspecting state institutions and reporting back on conditions. She was deeply involved with the Women's Trade Union League and the Democratic Party, helping to found Val-Kill Industries to provide employment in Hyde Park, New York. She also played a central role in the Todhunter School, which she co-owned and where she taught. Her activism focused on civil rights, labor rights, and the empowerment of women, working closely with figures like Lorena Hickok and Mary McLeod Bethune.

First Lady of the United States

As First Lady, she transformed the position through an unprecedented level of public engagement. She held regular press conferences, wrote a syndicated newspaper column titled "My Day," and gave radio broadcasts. She traveled extensively across the country, visiting Appalachia and Pacific Northwest projects to report on New Deal programs like the Works Progress Administration and the National Youth Administration. A fierce advocate for African Americans, she arranged the Marian Anderson concert at the Lincoln Memorial and resigned from the Daughters of the American Revolution over their racial policies. During World War II, she visited troops abroad and served with the American Red Cross.

Post-White House years and diplomacy

After the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945, President Harry S. Truman appointed her as a delegate to the United Nations. She chaired the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and was instrumental in drafting and championing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948. She later served on the board of the NAACP and as chair of the President's Commission on the Status of Women under President John F. Kennedy. She remained a prolific writer and speaker, advocating for the United Nations and progressive causes until her death.

Legacy and honors

Her legacy is cemented in international human rights law and the modern conception of civic activism. Posthumously, she was awarded the United Nations Human Rights Prize in 1968. Her image has appeared on the American Eagle platinum coin, and she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. The Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site at Val-Kill preserves her personal retreat. Numerous schools, awards, and a statue in the FDR Memorial honor her memory. She is consistently ranked among the most admired figures in Gallup polls of the twentieth century.

Category:1884 births Category:1962 deaths Category:First Ladies of the United States Category:American human rights activists Category:United States ambassadors to the United Nations