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NAME: Eleanor Roosevelt
LIFETIME: October 11, 1884 – November 7, 1962
WHAT SHE IS KNOWN FOR: Eleanor Roosevelt was the longest-serving First Lady of the United States. She was a politician, diplomat, activist and the ninth most widely admired person of the 20th century.
WHY WE LOVE HER: Roosevelt is known as the woman who acted as the “eyes and ears” of the New Deal, but she was much more. She became the first presidential spouse to hold press conferences (her media briefings often drew more than 300 journalists), to write a syndicated newspaper column and to speak at a national convention. Roosevelt was apprehensive about assuming the role of First Lady because she knew about all of the First Ladies from the 20th century; she knew that she could not live a life of domesticity as they did. In fact, she was widely hailed as the “most controversial first lady in the history of the United States” because she broke tradition when she led a very public, socially active life outside of the White House. When FDR contracted polio, Roosevelt stepped in and began making public appearances for her husband. She was vocal in her support of diversity and civil rights movement. Additionally, she helped reform social life. She also supported the 48-hour workweek, minimum wage laws and the abolition of child labor. During World War II, Roosevelt traveled to Europe and the Pacific to serve as an inspiration and help maintain morale. After the war, she became the United States representative to the United Nations General Assembly, headed the U.N. Commission on Human Rights and helped draft the Declaration of Human Rights.
FUN FACT: Throughout her early life, Roosevelt suffered from depression, believing she was not beautiful or elegant like other women. However, she wrote that “no matter how plain a woman may be, if truth and loyalty are stamped upon her face, all will be attracted to her.” She maintained this philosophy throughout her life.
