Roosevelt “deeply ashamed” of her lack of housing for minorities were of , writer (1884-1962) suitors. However, three years late supreme importance to her. she married her fifth cousin Few people have undergone such Franklin Delano Roosevelt. At this Throughout her life, Eleanor dramatic personal alterations as point in her life Eleanor knew depended on her close partnership Eleanor Roosevelt. From the strict virtually nothing of politics, but she and friendship with Roosevelt. confines of Victorian femininity, considered it her social duty to After his death in 1945, she entered Eleanor surged forward to the participate in the women’s organ- a brief period of seclusion before center stage of 20th century political izations active during the Prog- resuming her busy schedule. It was activism. ressive era. during this period of activity that Eleanor Roosevelt fully evolved into Born in 1884 to a society belle, Anna When her husband, a rising a stateswoman, being chosen by Hall, and the charming and affluent political figure who ultimately President Harry Truman to head , Eleanor’s plain became President, was paralyzed by the UN Commission looks and graceless manner were a a attack in 1921, her political and to be an instrumental figure in disappointment to her mother, education increased exponentially. drafting the Universal Declaration though her father never found any Roosevelt taught her to observe and of Human Rights. fault with her looks. When her investigate the social conditions mother died in 1892, Eleanor looked present during her trips throughout By the time of her death from forward to returning to her father’s the country so that they could tuberculosis in 1962 Eleanor home and his kindness, but his discuss them upon her return. She Roosevelt had metamorphosed into subsequent death two years later left became her husband’s “legs.” one of the most important, vibrant, Eleanor with a permanent longing and compassionate political figures for affection. It was only after her of the 20th century. grandmother sent her to boarding As First Lady, Eleanor held press school in 1899 that Eleanor began to conferences especially for female develop any assertiveness. reporters and worked to further women’s issues within the Dem- Upon her return to in ocratic Party. Social justice issues 1902, Eleanor had her debut as a such as anti- campaigns, society woman, though she became the labor movement, and fair Some thoughts from Eleanor “So much attention is paid to the Roosevelt: aggressive sins, such as violence and cruelty and greed with all their Eleanor “Long ago, there was a noble word, tragic effects, that too little liberal, which derives from the word attention is paid to the passive sins, free. Now a strange thing happened such as apathy and laziness, which to that word. A man named Hitler in the long run can have a more Roosevelt made it a term of abuse, a matter of devastating and destructive effect Writer, First Lady suspicion, because those who were upon society than the others.” (1884-1962) not with him were against him, and - Eleanor Roosevelt, You liberals had no use for Hitler. And Learn by Living (1960) then another named McCarthy cast the same opprobrium on the word…We must cherish and honor the word free or it will cease to apply “Nearly all great civilizations that to us.” perished did so because they had Eleanor Roosevelt, Tomorrow is crystallized, because they were Now (1963) “You must do the thing incapable of adapting themselves to you think you cannot do.” new conditions, new methods, new - Eleanor Roosevelt, You points of view. It is as thought Learn by Living (1960) people would literally rather die than change.” - Eleanor Roosevelt, “Life was meant to be lived and Tomorrow is Now (1963) curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, “No one can make you feel inferior turn one’s back on life.” without your consent.” - Eleanor Roosevelt, The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt (1961)