A biography of Eleanor Roosevelt's life from childhood, to her role as the first lady.
She shook the wounded soldier's hand and covered him with kisses the way a mother would her own son. After Eleanor Roosevelt's visit to the hospital, all of the soldiers remarked that she had made them feel important and special. Eleanor Roosevelt had a way of talking to every man, as if he was the first wounded soldier she had ever seen. Her compassion warmed the hearts of others, and was even noticed by the public. Throughout the 78 years of her life, when she wasn't struggling to raise a family, she was either trying desperately to be Franklin Roosevelt's eyes and legs as a result of him becoming paralyzed by polio, or was involved in one of her many organizations. She was an extraordinary woman who wanted to give her life to the world. "I suppose if I were asked what is the best thing one can expect in life, I would say - the privilege of being useful." Indeed Eleanor was useful, and this is her story.
Eleanor Roosevelt led a very unhappy childhood. Her mother constantly called her Granny because she was ugly, and her dad was often gone trying to fight his alcoholism. Although Eleanor knew her father was an alcoholic, she disregarded the trouble he caused the family, and placed a higher value on the few good times they shared. By the time Eleanor was 10, both of her parents had died and she was left to her Grandmother Hall. With nothing familiar left in her life, Eleanor became a shy girl with only a few friends. The few friends Eleanor did have, were friends that she met through school. School was a place where Eleanor Roosevelt excelled. At the age of 15, she went to England to study under Mademoiselle Marie Souvestre, who had a great influence on her education and thinking. Then at age 18, she returned to New York and became involved in social service work. Three years later she married her distant cousin, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Together they had 5 children, and Eleanor, an inexperienced mother, had to give up her activities in order to raise her family. As the children proceeded to get older, Eleanor involved herself again, in those activities that she loved.
Besides becoming active in the American Red Cross, and devoting volunteer work to the Navy hospitals, Eleanor also spent much of her time helping Franklin D. Roosevelt with his political career, because Franklin had polio. In order to help Franklin, Eleanor became more involved in politics so as to keep a Roosevelt name in the public eye. Eleanor became editor of a paper ran by the Women's Division of the Democratic State Committee. In addition, she dedicated much of her time to social and political reform. In 1920 she joined the league of Women Voters and partook in educating women in voting. Due to her influence in 1924, women representatives were present at the Democratic Convention, a big step for women in politics. Through these organizations, Eleanor developed close friendships with two women in particular. Together, the three established Vall-Kill, a furniture factory, and a school was also established where Eleanor taught three days a week. While Eleanor kept busy, Franklin slowly recovered a small amount of strength in his legs. Feeling better, Franklin told Eleanor that he was going to run for the President of the United States.
In 1933 Franklin D. Roosevelt became the United States President, and Eleanor became very scared. She feared the White House at first, but soon became comfortable holding press conferences with women reporters. She also found herself lecturing throughout the country and hosting her own radio show. Because Franklin was unable to travel due to his illness, she aided him by traveling around the world to view prisons and shelters, as well as visiting troops during WWII. Everything she saw at these places was always reported back to Franklin. She would report in detail, with entire honesty, unlike others that simply told the President what he wanted to hear. After Franklin died, Eleanor went on to become a member of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations. She also served as chairman of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and helped draft the UN Declaration of Human Rights. Eleanor never stopped working until she died. She constantly traveled giving speeches and trying to be useful.
Eleanor lived a life full of action. It's a wonder that she found enough time to involve herself in so many organizations and issues. She was a mother, a wife, and a politician who prided herself in giving to others and being useful. No other first lady before her, came close to accomplishing as much as she did. Eleanor Roosevelt was quoted saying, "You get more joy out of the giving to others, and should put a good deal of thought into the happiness you are able to give." Not only did she give America love and happiness, but she gave it her life.
