Eleanor’s life reflected her
commitment to public service
in our country and throughout
the world. As FDR’s wife, she
energized and transformed the
role of First Lady. Later, as his
widow, she served as a delegate
to the United Nations and kept on with her
humanitarian work: always fighting racial
injustice, working tirelessly for social reform—
and earning the title “First Lady of the World.”
At the time of her death, the shy, lonely,
scared little girl was the most recognized
individual in the world.
EXPLORE!
While our Constitution doesn’t even mention
the role of a president’s spouse, we are always
interested in the chief executive’s family. The
First Lady, in particular, can draw a lot of
attention to a special cause. Eleanor Roosevelt
transformed the role of First Lady by using her
position to embrace the world. Have others
followed in her footsteps? Use your library or the
Internet to research First Ladies
of the last fifty years. What were
their interests and concerns?
How did they draw attention to
important issues of the day, such
as literacy, the war on drugs,
historic preservation, and the
beautification of the United States?
What do you think today’s First Lady should
work on? As you read about the 50 amazing
people in this book, a particular idea or cause
connected with one of these heroes may catch
your attention. Should today’s First Lady
promote Roberto Clemente’s program for young
athletes? Or support Alex’s Lemonade Stand
Foundation by setting up a lemonade stand
at the White House? Tell her what you think!
Contact her at
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
email:
POWER WORDS!
“No one can make
you feel inferior
without your
consent.”
—Eleanor Roosevelt
DIVE IN!
The Roosevelts: An Intimate
History
by Geoffrey C. Ward
(Alfred A. Knopf, 2014),
503 pages.
Eleanor Roosevelt
(left)
appears with
singer Marian Anderson at a ceremony
honoring Anderson on July 2, 1939.
Roosevelt was a longtime supporter
of Anderson and fought against
discriminatory laws.
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