5/5/11
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt
By: Kirsten Matusiak
“No matter how plain a woman may be if truth and loyalty are stamped upon her face, all will be attracted to her.” Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, born on October 11, 1884, aspired that on day she could make an impact on the world. Even before she was a first lady, that dream came true. Mrs. Roosevelt has been called the most influential of all of the first ladies. This is more than likely because of her numerous achievements before, during, and after her husband’s presidency. The childhood she endured helped shape the figure of the woman she turned to be. She created many achievements for herself that greatly impacted the way life was then, and today. Though she may have contradicted herself by supporting workingwomen, yet opposing the equal rights amendment, she had a very influential life, starting with demanding childhood.
When Eleanor Roosevelt was eight years old, her mother, Anna Hall Roosevelt, died of Diphtheria. Shortly after, her father, Elliott Roosevelt, became an alcoholic. He died in a clinic less than two years later. Eleanor had two full brothers (one of which died as his mother) and one half brother. When her parents died, Eleanor had to move in with her grandmother. “Roosevelt was so sober a girl that her mother nicknamed her ‘Granny’.” (wikipedia.com) When she turned fifteen, Eleanor went off to school at Allenswood Academy in England. There, she schooled under Marie Souvestre, the headmistress and an active feminist. "Marie Souvestre shocked one into thinking, and that on the whole was very beneficial." (gwu.edu/~erpapers/abouteleanor/erbiography.cfm) Her teachings led Eleanor to grow confident and view workingwomen as courageous and underappreciated for their hard work and persistence. Souvestre was more than likely the most influential people in Eleanor’s young life, for her achievements focused mainly on women and their rights.
Before she was a first lady, she was a Womens’ Rights speaker that traveled frequently to speak at campaigns. In 1933, Eleanor became the first lady of the United States to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Once involved in office, she continued her work for Womens’ Rights full speed. “ER's commitment to women's full recognition by and participation in American politics and business was intense and she worked with women's groups around the nation…” (nps.gov/archive/elro/teach-er-vk/lesson-plans/notes-er-and-womens-movement.htm) Not only did she help create a higher status for women, but she also supported the rights of the African Americans, who at that time were at the bottom of the social class. Eleanor payed a good amount of attention to the lower classes, but she also remembered her upper class husband and took care of plenty of publicity events for him. Once a week, she would hold a press conference to talk about recent events and issues. She was also the author of a popular newspaper column called “My Day”. “Eleanor Roosevelt's ‘My Day’ was a syndicated newspaper column published from 1935 to 1962.” (pbs.org/wgbh/amex/eleanor/sfeature/myday) The publicity was not only spread to the higher class, however, for Eleanor would often be seen personally assuring the “depression era” workers that they were not forgotten. Her impact on all of her followers then and all of common people now made her one of the most memorable first ladies in history.
Eleanor Roosevelt was known in her time as an admirable feminist and a generous woman. Her endless aspiration led this incredible lady to receive forty-eight honorary degrees in her entire lifetime. “Ambition is pitiless. Any merit that it cannot use it finds despicable.” (brainyquote.com) Even then, Eleanor saw that workingwomen were not regarded as highly as she saw fit. She impacted the women of her era by giving them the confidence they needed to demand respect and take a stand. “A woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” (brainyquote.com) By speaking for Womens’ Rights then, Eleanor also affected the women of today. If not for her endless work, women today would have very little respect and authority when it came to work. In any situation, respect would be severely lower than it is today, both for the women and the African Americans. Until the sixties, African Americans were completely looked down upon. Being a first lady and supporting their rights was extremely courageous and out of the ordinary in Eleanor’s time. She will always be remembered as the woman who changed the idea of right and wrong.
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