Eleanor Roosevelt set a Precedent for First Ladies by Purposefully Establishing Herself as a Political Figure

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.

When, in 1921 Franklin Roosevelt became paralyzed from polio, Eleanor nursed him while still encouraging him to be involved in public life, much to F.D.R.’s mother’s dismay. Eleanor became a member of the Women’s Trade Union League, to help them pay off mortgage on their club house and to carry through plans on the Val-Kill experiment (Roosevelt, This I Remember. 31). She also joined the Democratic State Committee and met Marion Dickerman and Nancy Cook in 1922. Marion and Nan had lived and worked together for years.

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.

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

Not only is she a role model to women, but to people who treat others equally. As women’s dilemmas, children treatment, and human rights have alleviated over the past five and a half decades, Roosevelt has not only made America great again, but the

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

“Although she had worked in the National Consumers League before she was married; which promoted the rights of women; “after World War I, Eleanor Roosevelt realized the power and influence she obtained as First Lady of the United States and desired to help those who were helpless. She worked with the International Congress of Working Women and the Women’s International League of Peace and Freedom; which promoted the end to poverty and war. The friendships made through these societies not only shaped her understanding of the importance and equality of all people, but dramatically changed her life forever.” She was fully committed to American politics and human rights and worked with women rights groups around the nation for women to become involved and to be part of the New Deal. “Eleanor Roosevelt encouraged women to be part of the union, limited the hours and employer forced a woman to work, and fought for the rights for women to vote.” She continuously encouraged women to stand up for their rights and stated of their capability to do the work of that men could accomplish; like joining the military. Even after the end of the White House Eleanor continued to promote women’s equality and believed that women “had special qualities that made the peacemakers and mothers, but also believed these qualities made them fine

In 1920, Franklin was chosen as the vice-presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, but after they lost the election in November, he and Eleanor moved their family back to New York. Shortly after, Franklin was swimming in the Bay of Fundy when he complained that his legs felt weak. His condition only worsened and he was soon diagnosed with Polio. This paralyzed his legs permanently but he otherwise recovered and was healthy (Spangenburg, 46). Franklin had to become very dependent on Eleanor and together they learned to be a good team. In 1932, when Franklin ran for president, Eleanor went along with him to

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.

Eleanor R. married Franklin D. Roosevelt. He later became an American statesman and political leader who served as the 32nd President of the United States. As a Democrat, he won a record for four elections and served from March 1933 to his death in April 1945.

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.

She nursed her husband back to walking after he was a victim to a nearly fatal attack of polio and was paralyzed. Once World War I came around in the year of 1914, Eleanor decided to become involved with Navy Department and Red Cross relief efforts (Stevenson, Keira). She also decided that she would volunteer within hospitals and soldier’s canteens (7). Eleanor, being the caring woman she was, would often visit wounded men as much as she possibly could. Eleanor Roosevelt tried her absolute best to have personal relationships with the men during the World War I, and tried to help them and make them just as important even while they were injured and shell-shocked. In the summer of 1921, the Roosevelt family went on a vacation to their summer house that was on Campobello Island in New Brunswick. While the family was vacationing, her husband, Franklin, was a victim to a nearly disastrous attack of polio, an infectious disease. Franklin survived, but the sickness from the attack left him with an infantile paralysis that he would have for the rest of his life. Once he realized that he could no longer walk, Franklin felt as if his world was falling apart right in front of his eyes. He thought that he could longer succeed in politics. Soon though, this all changed (8). Eleanor nursed her husband as he was paralyzed, and she also became more politically active so franklin would feel inspired to not let go of his