Eleanor Roosevelt Essay

Eleanor Roosevelt was once a shy, timid girl with her focus on her family but over time became a strong leader, who would have rather spoiled them As a child, Eleanor was timid, shy and serious, but after her husband, Franklin, was paralyzed from the waist down she became a strong, determined women. “Meanwhile Eleanor had changed.” (pg. 794) At first, she had only got involved in the community because she felt it was her duty to keep Franklin in the public eye. However, as the years rolled on and her duty was complete, she still continued to make her mark in the world. This new, strong Eleanor did great things like working with poor children, helping with war efforts, and much more.Eleanor’s focus was on raising her children in a way that

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.

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.

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.

Groups such as the NAACP were making progress in speaking to the government. Consequently, the African-Americans believed in Roosevelt; he gave them hope for the future. Women also were largely excluded from the New Deal, which greatly annoyed Roosevelt's wife, Eleanor. He did not, however, try to actively stop women in their strides forward. He allowed his wife to take many tours around the country, rallying people for the New Deal, especially for programs such as the CCC. Eleanor was

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.

Eleanor was quickly changing the role of the first lady, even through her activeness in politics. She was a strong advocate for many groups such as women, children, minorities and the poor. As the First Lady, she was doing things that had never been done before, like holding her own press conferences. She also tried to help women get jobs by asking all women reporters to come to her press conferences. In doing this she hoped that editors would hire more women (Morey, 46-47). She became very comfortable with public speaking and gave more press conferences than her husband. She also gave many lectures over the years, and also had her own radio program. Eleanor was very active with the

“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.

Some know her as the First Lady of the United States and wife to Franklin D. Roosevelt; while others know her as a feminist who empowered others to stand up for what they believe. Despite controversies of what others perceived of Eleanor Roosevelt, she was truly a woman who understood her power and used it to reach and support others and to have a voice for those who lacked it. Although she had to overcome many difficulties and tribulations, historians state that; “it is difficult to overstate the impact of Eleanor Roosevelt of the history of the twenty-century women not only in America, but also the world and rank her the most significant First Lady and most influential American”

     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 who had already done so much for her country and the people in need faced yet another shocking problem in 1918.In 1918, Eleanor Roosevelt found out about her husband’s affair with her own social secretary, Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd, this dismayed Eleanor and she wanted to get a

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.

The truly compelling questions of Eleanor’s life revolve around how she found the pure strength of will to live the life that she did as a woman. She undoubtedly had an enormous amount of power, certainly more than any woman before her, and arguably more than any woman since. Eleanor had the courage to be exactly the person that she was, regardless of gender, however the question that remains is how she managed to do so. What was it about her life and her early upbringing that compelled her to become the woman she was? What influences in Eleanor’s life allowed her to pursue her own dreams and goals in defiance of her social norms and

The next year in 1932, Hattie Wyatt Caraway of Arkansas, became the first woman Women had more leaders to look up too, including their very own first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, who was very supportive. She held her very own press conference, allowing only women reporters to attend. Eleanor was different from the previous first ladies. She spoke out during conventions and conferences. She portrayed herself as a true woman, who was worthy, like any man would have. Marian Anderson, a famous singer, gave a private concert at the White House for President Roosevelt. He was entertaining the famous King George VI and his Queen Elizabeth of Britain.

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.