3. The Life of Eleanor Roosevelt Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was born in New York City on October 11, 1884. She preferred to be called by her middle name. Eleanor’s parents died when she a young girl. She went to live with her Grandmother, and was sent to finishing school in England. She returned when she was 17. Eleanor’s uncle was President Theodore Roosevelt. In 1902, he introduced her to Franklin Delano Roosevelt at a White House Reception. Eleanor and FDR began dating, and were married on March 17, 1905. Over the next 10 years, Eleanor and FDR had 6 children. Eleanor in 1898
4. Eleanor and Franklin Delano in Politics In 1910, FDR was elected to the New York State Senate. In 1913, FDR was appointed assistant secretary of the navy. FDR encouraged Eleanor to pursue her interests in politics. In 1921, FDR was stricken with polio, and became paralyzed. Eleanor encouraged FDR to continue his political life, and became his “eyes and ears.” In 1928, FDR ran for Governor of New York, and won with the help of his wife. Eleanor was convinced FDR could lead America out of the Great Depression, and worked hard on his successful campaign for presidency. FDR and Eleanor in Newburgh, NY - 1905
5. Eleanor as First Lady In 1933, FDR was elected as President of the United States. FDR was reelected three more times, and remained President until his death in 1945. Eleanor Roosevelt was the First Lady for 12 years. Eleanor wrote a monthly magazine column, and a daily newspaper column, called “My Day.” At first she only wrote about women’s issues, but soon included all political issues. Eleanor became an advocate for the rights and needs of the poor, minorities, and disabled. Eleanor’s advocacy helped her husband continue his Presidency for many years. Eleanor also held her own weekly press conferences at the White House. Although Eleanor was opposed to war, she became active in her mission to boost the country’s morale during WWII. WWII began in 1939 and lasted until her time as First Lady ended. In 1943, Eleanor traveled thousands of miles to visit our troops overseas in hospitals.
6. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt arriving at the White House for the President’s inauguration in 1941.
7. After Eleanor was First Lady Although President Roosevelt died in 1945, Eleanor did not stop working to achieve the goals they had made together. President Harry Truman made Eleanor a delegate to the newly established United Nations in 1945. She remained a delegate until 1953. At the United Nations, Eleanor chaired the commission that wrote the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the General Assembly on December 10, 1958 President Truman nicknamed Eleanor the “First Lady of the World” because she devoted so much of her time to making the world a better place. In 1953, Eleanor volunteered for the American Association for the United Nations.
8. After she was First Lady, cont. In 1961, President Kennedy reappointed Eleanor as a delegate to the United Nations. In the same year, President Kennedy also made Eleanor a member of the National Advisory Committee of the Peace Corps. President Kennedy also made Eleanor the chairperson of the President’s Commission on the Status of Women. Eleanor Roosevelt died on November 7, 1962. She is buried at her home in Hyde Park, NY in the Rose Garden next to her husband. Eleanor at the United Nations
10. Timeline Please go to the website ReadWriteThink With a partner or by yourself, please create a timeline about Eleanor Roosevelt’s life. Include her date of birth and the date of her death, and at least 5 other important dates in her life.
11. Tomorrow we will begin to talk about Jackie Kennedy Onaissis, President Kennedy’s wife. After we have finished talking about five different First Ladies, we will be creating projects about other First Ladies of your choice. Start thinking about what First Lady you would like to do your project on. You may work in a group, with a partner, or by yourself. Ask me to look at the book First Ladies: Women Who Called the White House Home by: Beatrice Gormley, if you need help thinking of a First Lady.
12. References Eleanor Roosevelt, “First Lady of the World” . (n.d.). Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum . Retrieved from http://docs.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/.html Eleanor Roosevelt in School Portrait [Data file]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org//:Eleanor_Roosevelt_in_school_portrait.gif Franklin D. Roosevelt Library. (1905). Picture of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor [Data file]. Retrieved from http://history1900s.about.com///blyfdr176.htm Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. (1947). Eleanor Roosevelt at United Nations [Data file]. Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org//:Eleanor_Roosevelt_at_United_Nations.gif Gormley, B. (1992). First Ladies: Women who Called the White House Home . Scholastic Inc. . The Roosevelt Mansion [Data file]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://picasaweb.google.com///Z4NO7FZKXNQA-L6NBgffA Shoemaker, J. (n.d.). FDR and Eleanor, Inauguration [Data file]. Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com////_DA_081217inaug_history.jpg Timeline. (n.d.). ReadWriteThink (student materials, timeline ). Retrieved October 15, 2009, from IRA/website: http://www.readwritethink.org/materials//
