Eleanor Roosevelt: Not Just A First Lady
- RebelRoses
- Jan 24, 2018
- 4 min read
Hello RebelRoses,
Today I want to talk about another important feminist icon. She is very well known, but for a wide variety reasons. You probably recognize her name as she was a former First Lady of the United States, but that is not her identity. No it is just one of many hats she wore throughout her life.
Her name is Eleanor Roosevelt. To be more specific Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, but she always preferred her middle name. She was born in 1884 in New York City. She was the niece of Theodore Roosevelt another former President of the United States. She was born into a wealthy and privileged life. Her family was a part of New York’s upper class at the time. She had three brothers, one a half-brother born out of her father’s affair with one of their maids.
As a child she went through much, and experienced a loss many of us hope to never have to face. The loss of her parents. Her mother passed in 1884, with her father following a mere two years later. Her eldest younger brother also passed away from the same illness that took her mother's life.
A few years after that she was sent to school abroad in England. It was during this time she truly came out of the shell she had created for herself. She took care of her younger brother as a mother would, often taking up maternal duties when it came to his schooling, and other parts of his life.
At the age of 21 in 1905 she married distant cousin Franklin D. Roosevelt-the future president of the United States. They had been together for three years at the time of their marriage. Franklin’s mother truly did not like her daughter-in-law and controlled many aspects of their marriage. Eleanor complained many a time she did not appreciate how things were working, but they never changed.
Eleanor and Franklin had six children together, although one passed in infancy. Her mother-in-law took over the raising of the children and often told them that although Eleanor bore them she was their mother in every other way. Even Eleanor agreed to the statement to an extent. She never thought she was suited for motherhood. She said, “it didn’t come naturally to her to understand young children or how to enjoy them”.
Once WW1 broke out she joined the American Red Cross to help the war effort, despite her busy home life. In 1918 she discovered love letters between her social secretary and her husband. In them Franklin had even considered leaving Eleanor for her but his political advisor and mother pressured him not to. From this point on their marriage became more of a partnership. Think like a business or political allies. After more than ten years of focusing more so on her domestic life than her social services Eleanor once again threw herself in the work.
In 1921 Franklin was diagnosed with Polio and it left his legs paralyzed. As his mother tried to persuade him to leave politics and simply retire to the countryside, Eleanor convinced him to stay. She was like a rock for him throughout the entire ordeal, putting aside his cheating ways, Franklin’s own doctor called her one of his heroes.
Once Franklin became President in 1933, Eleanor completely revolutionized what it meant to be First Lady. Not content with the domestic role of the past, she showed not just America, but the world what it truly means to be First Lady. She gave press conferences, stood up for human rights, stood with people of colour for civil rights, spoke out about women’s rights and causes, issues affecting children, and helping the poor of the country. During WW2 she often made trips abroad to provide moral support to the troops.
Eleanor completely changed the outlook of First Lady during her tenure (1933-1945), but not without backlash. People were wary of her “liberal” ways, also known as basic human decency. One of those people were J. Edgar Hoover FBI Director at the time. Infamous for his surveillance techniques and more, he was often criticized by Eleanor and Franklin.
Once Franklin passed away 11 weeks into his fourth tenure as president Eleanor said she would leave public service. She had stated it many times until President Harry Truman called on her.
He had appointed her as a delegate to the UN on behalf of America. A position she served until 1953. She became chair of the UN Human Rights Commission and helped to write the UN Declaration of Human Rights, something she called her greatest achievement.
Until 1961 when she was again appointed a delegate by John F. Kennedy she continued to serve the public in various ways. She was also later given a seat on the National Advisory Committee of Peace Corps and to the Chair of the President’s Commission on Status of Women.
After a lifetime of so many great achievements she passed away at the age of 78 on November 7 1962, and the next day President Kennedy ordered the US National Flags lowered at half-mast. Her funeral was attended by Kennedy and two former presidents.
Eleanor Roosevelt was one of the greats. She changed the way women were seen in both a working position and domestic. She was a champion of many causes that others shunned, and for the path she forged we thank her. Again what is listed is only one aspect of her great life, for more info check out these other pages.
Thank you for tuning in once again. Next week we’ll have a special blog coming out regarding our first event and more. Until then check out our social media pages on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and R.S.V.P. for our first event! Love you.
Signed,
The RebelRoses
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