Essays on Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt was an American first lady (1933–45), the wife of Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd president of the United States, and a United Nations diplomat and humanitarian.

Eleanor Roosevelt was born into a wealthy family in New York City. As a child, she was painfully shy. Her parents died before she was 10. The happiest time of her life, she said, was the three years she spent at a girls’ boarding school near London, from which she graduated when she was 18.

After Franklin Roosevelt was sworn in as president in March 1933, Eleanor began to transform the conventional role of first lady from social hostess to that of a more visible, active participant in her husband’s administration. She was an early champion of civil rights for African Americans as well as an advocate for American workers, the poor, young people and women during the Great Depression. She also supported government-funded programs for artists and writers.

Eleanor Roosevelt’s work on behalf of human rights was amplified by her work with the United Nations (U.N.). In September 1948, Eleanor Roosevelt delivered her most famous speech, “The Struggle for Human Rights,” which urged U.N. members to vote to pass the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was formally adopted on December 10, 1948.

Eleanor Roosevelt is famous for serving as first lady during the presidency of her husband, Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–45), for her advocacy on behalf of liberal causes, and for her leading role in drafting the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).

“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”
“You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
“You wouldn’t worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do.”
“Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn’t have the power to say yes.”

October 11, 1884

November 7, 1962 (aged 78)

Eleanor Roosevelt was an American first lady (1933–45), the wife of Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd president of the United States, and a United Nations diplomat and humanitarian.

Eleanor Roosevelt was born into a wealthy family in New York City. As a child, she was painfully shy. Her parents died before she was 10. The happiest time of her life, she said, was the three years she spent at a girls’ boarding school near London, from which she graduated when she was 18.

After Franklin Roosevelt was sworn in as president in March 1933, Eleanor began to transform the conventional role of first lady from social hostess to that of a more visible, active participant in her husband’s administration. She was an early champion of civil rights for African Americans as well as an advocate for American workers, the poor, young people and women during the Great Depression. She also supported government-funded programs for artists and writers.

Eleanor Roosevelt’s work on behalf of human rights was amplified by her work with the United Nations (U.N.). In September 1948, Eleanor Roosevelt delivered her most famous speech, “The Struggle for Human Rights,” which urged U.N. members to vote to pass the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was formally adopted on December 10, 1948.

Eleanor Roosevelt is famous for serving as first lady during the presidency of her husband, Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–45), for her advocacy on behalf of liberal causes, and for her leading role in drafting the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).

“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”
“You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
“You wouldn’t worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do.”
“Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn’t have the power to say yes.”