The Story of Eleanor Roosevelt’s Success

Eleanor Roosevelt was the most influential wife of U.S history. She showed sympathy for soldiers by making speeches about the ones she saw on her travels. Eleanor has also influenced African American rights. Not only was she a great first lady, she also was the first to become actively involved in political and social issues. She has given a profound example of what it is like to change society.

Eleanor Roosevelt was born Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (named after her mother) on October 11, 1884. She always favored to be called by her middle name starting at an early age. Fortunate for Eleanor, she was born into a rather wealthy and prominent family. Although throughout her adolescent years, unfortunate events began to take place such as her brother and parents dying while she was just 10 years old. From then on she had to be raised by a very stern grandmother. Surprisingly, Eleanor did not receive a lot of formal education and started school late at the ripe age of 7. Between the ages of 15-18, she attended Allenswood to further her education.

Eleanor had proven herself at this point to have outstanding intelligence and leadership skills. In 1905, she married a distant cousin which we all know by the name of Franklin Roosevelt. After her marriage, she extended her family tree with six children of her own, two of which served in the House of Representatives. She had also become the governor and president of New York. Good things do not last forever it seems as in 1921, her husband was diagnosed with polio.

During her husband’s presidency, Eleanor gave press conferences and wrote a newspaper column. In 1919, Roosevelt volunteered at St. Elizabeth Hospital to visit veterans of World War I as well as volunteered at the International Congress of Working Women in Washington, D.C.. She was a member of the Women’s Trade Union League and the Women’s Division of the Democratic State Committee. Eleanor wanted to reduce the White House’s budget by 25%, simplify the social calendar, and be the president’s eyes and ears. She traveled extensively, visiting relief projects, observing working and living conditions, and providing Franklin and the administration with her findings.

When the Daughters of the American Revolution would not allow Marion Anderson to perform a concert in the Constitution Hall on February 1939 because she was African American, Eleanor Roosevelt wrote her letter of resignation by adding it to her newspaper column and releasing the news publicly. This was meant to act as a means of protest. During the approach of World War II, Eleanor did what she could to help European refugees and this included Jews. U.S immigration laws spoiled her efforts to change the laws. A quote from Eleanor Roosevelt on immigration would be, “we will not be moved by fear.”

As a feminist, Eleanor Roosevelt was also useful for the women’s rights movement. She noticed the injustice and inequality between men and women by working with other females on social justice issues. Eleanor supported the idea of working women greatly but made sure to also back up the limit on how many hours a woman could work. She made sure women could be a part of the National Youth Administration and Federal Arts Programs as well. She supported all kinds of jobs, including the ones in the military.

In conclusion, Eleanor Roosevelt had made herself out to be one of the most looked up to women in history. A women’s rights advocate and a First Lady who worked wonders. She influenced segregation greatly as well. Political and social issues have been very much so impacted by her. Roosevelt is indeed someone who has contributed to society and changed it for the better.