Eleanor Roosevelt's Role In American Politics

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 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.

After running as the Democratic vice presidential candidate in 1920, Franklin D. Roosevelt would remain a lifelong political figure as would his wife Eleanor. He was diagnosed with Polio a year later and became bound to a wheel chair; Eleanor Roosevelt would step into the political sphere on his behalf as well as her own, where she purposefully established herself as a polished political figure. An evidence of her ensuring that she was ready to take part in this arena was that she sought out the coaching of journalist and politician Louis McHenry Howe . Howe advised the Roosevelts and aided Eleanor through all of Franklin’s public appearances including elections and other Democratic affairs; he also led Eleanor to her own political interests, such as the Women’s Trade Union League. These appearances and affairs would gain public appeal and popularity for Franklin and her, which would later promote his election to office.

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.

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.

On paragraph 6, page 38, it states, “Heroes have been defined as people who have demonstrated admirable qualities such as strength, honesty, courage, and perseverance, sometimes at great risk to themselves.” Eleanor Roosevelt has these admirable qualities by risking her independent life with perseverance and courage while maintaining the role that she had to fulfill as First Lady. She was the first president’s wife to earn her own money by writing, lecturing, and broadcasting. Eleanor Roosevelt fulfilled her duties while at the same time in the White House, numerous visitors attended teas,

     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.

In 1932, when Franklin Roosevelt becomes the president of the United States, his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt benefits from that position and as the video says she, “used its influence to promote her own ideas”. Being the first lady, allowed her to serve as a role model and encourage her point of view on things like equality between men and women, equal pay for women and the minorities, and also powerful labor unions. Her journey, to make such an impact in the Declaration of Humans Right, began after president Roosevelt die in 1945. One year after his dead, in 1946, the succeeding president, Harry S. Truman, invited her to be a United Nations delegate, and a year later, she was chosen to be the chair of United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

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.

The country had lost faith in the government during the great depression. The only change coming was the new president elect. When the Roosevelt's enter the white house The first lady was hesitant to be the first lady. The first lady had a agenda of her own she wanted to help women, and slaves earn there indepence. In the beginning she thought being the first lady would interfere with her civil rights work. She was new to politics and cared very little about a cabinet of men with laws she had no say so in.The first lady was stern on her independence that she started holding press conferences at the whitehouse with women journalist only. A gesture like that had never been witnessed from a first lady. All this controversy lead to her popularity and love from the American people. The first lady did a lot of footwork to support her disable husband. If she was informed of Americans suffering she would show up in the flesh spring into action to rebuild a failing situation. Eleanor fought for the underdog the system forgot about she wanted a nation that treated everyone equal regardless of race or gender. Eleanor traveled all over the world engaging with the people. The people loved her because she was down to earth and did not

“Political candidates and future presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson asked for her help in their campaigns for the Democratic nomination in 1960... Her presence and opinions were sought by everyone from university heads to television producers” (Marisco 93). Eleanor’s actions caused her to become one of the most well respected and intelligent women of her time. People wanted her advice because of her focus on others, and was honest and worked to transform to roles of people and

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

The women that followed Eleanor Roosevelt had a wider path paved for them and big shoes to fill. When America was introduced to this new kind of First Lady, there were different reactions. People were unaware as to how much freedom the First Lady should be allowed when it comes to their role. It was new to have the president wife actually getting involved with political affairs and advocacy.

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.

“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