Eleanor Roosevelt: The First Lady

She was sometimes known as “ Mrs.President ” This probably means she took a lot of pride in herself and was a true female leader. She believed that should be its own

Eleanor Roosevelt was very influential in the policies of the New Deal, and also spoke very openly in support of civil rights and women’s rights. She worked to expand the amount of women in the Roosevelt administration and said that women should still be able to have jobs even if their husbands were employed. She supported the Southern Tenant Farmer’s Union and promoted the inclusion of blacks in the government. Eleanor visited migrant camps, coal mines, and the homes of sharecroppers. She also founded many programs to help people who were affected by the Great Depression.

While Eleanor was the first lady she helped found organizations and worked with youth. She was concerned during the great depression with the youth in need, so she started the National Youth Administration. This organization gave thousands of students part-time work. She also worked with human rights issues and became a delegate to the United Nations.

Eleanor Roosevelt was a writer, activist, and wife of the 32nd U.S President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Using her influence, she made a new meaning of what it meant to be a female member in the upper classes of society, First Lady of the United States and in the end, she enlarged the role of women.

Instead of being dormant like a typical First Lady in her time, Roosevelt was determined to support human rights. As she held press conferences, Roosevelt was judged harshly by some people. Although this happened, she did not waver in her job to make change to the world.

There were many problems in society that no one knew of until Eleanor Roosevelt brought them to light. “It’s easy to stand with the crowd. It takes courage to stand alone.” Mahatma Gandhi said. Eleanor decided to do what was right and help people instead of going along with what other people thought. Her rough childhood pushed her to help people that were oppressed. Eleanor especially knew what it was like to be ignored.

     Before Eleanor Roosevelt, the role of the first lady was not a political role; it was merely just a formal title of the president’s wife. Eleanor Roosevelt paved the way for all presidents’ wives to come by being active in politics during and after her husband’s presidency. Of course, she did not have instant success; she had many trials which helped her become an important and influential role model. Eleanor Roosevelt’s dedication to her husband, her activeness in politics, and her volunteer work enabled her to change the role of the First Lady.

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962), one of the most admired women in American history, acted as first lady from 1933 until 1945, longer than any other presidential spouse, and put that position on the nation’s political map. Yet, ironically, Eleanor did not want the job because she thought it would hamper her own self-development as an independent person. Through her own path-breaking efforts she transformed her role from official hostess to important spokesperson for her husband’s administration. In the process she became a role model for millions of Americans who applauded her activism on behalf of social causes.

In Eleanor Roosevelt: A Personal and Public Life by J. William T. Youngs describes the life of Eleanor Roosevelt. Anna and Elliott Roosevelt was married and gave birth to a beautiful daughter who is Eleanor Roosevelt. This biography shows the reader a description of Eleanor’s early childhood, young adult, marriage, and how she was faced with many challenges, grief, and changes throughout her years. Eleanor is one of the great First Ladies in the United States.

“Success must include two things: the development of an individual to his utmost potentiality and a contribution of some kind to one 's world” (Roosevelt, p 119, 1960). Eleanor Roosevelt was born in New York City October 11th, 1884 (Burns, 2012). Having grown up in a family considered to be in the top of society, Eleanor could have focused her life on parties and social gatherings. However, Eleanor came to the realization that she preferred social work rather than to attend parties with the rich (Burns, 2012). Eleanor is a perfect example of an effective leader in three ways, she was a lifelong learner, she used her position in life to better the society as a whole and she faced her many fears and flaws with life lessons she used later on.

Before Eleanor Roosevelt, the role of the first lady was not a political role; it was merely just a formal title of the president's wife. Eleanor Roosevelt paved the way for all presidents' wives to come by being active in politics during and after her husband's presidency. Of course, she did not have instant success; she had many trials which helped her become an important and influential role model. Eleanor Roosevelt's dedication to her husband, her activeness in politics, and her volunteer work enabled her to change the role of the First Lady.

A wise woman once wrote, “With the new day come new strengths and new thoughts.” These are some of the wise words from Eleanor Roosevelt. Eleanor lived a rough live, but she believed that things could become better at any moment. She was a kind, helpful, good woman that had a good life through it all. Eleanor Roosevelt was a hero to American History. Inspiring people to follow their dreams, work to be the best of their ability, and also to start a new day with no regrets or worries. She helped many people around her within her lifetime and definitively set a good example for others.

Although Eleanor Roosevelt served as first lady from 1932 to 1945, her influence lasted much longer than expected. Eleanor became her husband’s ears and eyes during her husband’s presidency and aided human rights during her entire life. She did what no other First Lady, or woman had dared to do before; she challenged society’s wrong doings. Many respected her; President Truman had called her “the First Lady of the World (Freedman, 168).” Eleanor Roosevelt was an amazing first lady who helped her husband, Franklin D. Roosevelt, run the country.

When Franklin became the president of the United States, Eleanor had to accept her role as the first lady. Mrs. Roosevelt was not like the First Ladies before her. She made her mark on society. She got involved in politics. Franklin saw her as his "eyes and ears" for she would tell him what was going on throughout the country with "real" people she had met while Franklin remained in Washington D.C. She was a very important part of the presidential team.

Roosevelt spoke out for an abundance of causes including women’s rights, poverty, discrimination, children’s issues and foreign affairs. Being the President’s wife came with certain privileges and she utilized them on several occasions to further her agendas. According to an article in Women’s America “ER increasingly bypassed State Department restrictions; she worked, often covertly, with private groups and individuals. She campaigned for a less restrictive refugee policy, pursed visas for individuals, and answered and passed on to government officials every appeal sent to her” (Kerber 532). Being of the highest possible social class, Roosevelt found power in her status and leveraged it to further her own itinerary.