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The Enduring Legacy: Exploring the Profound Contributions of Eleanor Roosevelt
Introduction:
Eleanor Roosevelt. The name itself conjures images of grace, strength, and unwavering dedication to social justice. More than just the First Lady of the United States, Eleanor Roosevelt was a force of nature, leaving an indelible mark on the 20th century and continuing to inspire generations. This in-depth exploration delves into the multifaceted contributions of Eleanor Roosevelt, examining her impact on human rights, social reform, and the global political landscape. We'll unpack her key achievements, illuminating her unwavering commitment to equality and her lasting legacy as a champion for the marginalized and oppressed. Prepare to discover a woman whose influence extended far beyond the White House walls.
I. Champion of Human Rights: A Global Advocate
Eleanor Roosevelt’s unwavering belief in human rights propelled her to become a pivotal figure in the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Her tireless work as chair of the UN Human Rights Commission was instrumental in shaping this landmark document, a cornerstone of international law. Roosevelt’s personal experiences with prejudice and discrimination, coupled with her deep understanding of the inherent dignity of every human being, fueled her passionate advocacy. She didn't merely champion the theoretical aspects of human rights; she actively sought to translate them into tangible improvements in the lives of people worldwide. Her involvement in the creation of the UDHR signifies not just her legal expertise but her profound empathy and unwavering belief in the universality of human rights, regardless of race, gender, religion, or nationality. Her work transcends political boundaries and continues to inspire ongoing human rights initiatives today.
II. Social Reform & Advocacy for the Vulnerable: A Legacy of Compassion
Eleanor Roosevelt's commitment to social justice wasn't confined to the international stage. Domestically, she championed a range of social reforms, tirelessly working to improve the lives of marginalized communities. Her advocacy extended to various groups facing discrimination, including African Americans, women, and the impoverished. She played a key role in the development of New Deal programs during the Great Depression, understanding that economic security was inextricably linked to social justice. Her work with organizations like the NAACP and her outspoken criticism of segregation highlight her dedication to racial equality. Her active engagement in the fight for women's rights and her unwavering support for labor unions demonstrate a holistic approach to social reform that recognized the interconnectedness of various forms of oppression. This dedication extended beyond policy advocacy; she actively engaged with communities and individuals, fostering empathy and inspiring action.
III. A Powerful Voice & Writer: Shaping Public Discourse
Eleanor Roosevelt's influence wasn't solely confined to policy and legislation. She wielded the power of her pen, becoming a prolific writer and columnist. Her syndicated newspaper column, "My Day," reached millions, offering her insights on social issues, political events, and personal reflections. This direct line of communication allowed her to bypass traditional media gatekeepers and directly engage with the American public. Her writing was not merely descriptive; it was persuasive, challenging the status quo and inspiring critical thought. Her candid reflections and her ability to connect with readers on a personal level made her a highly influential voice, shaping public discourse and influencing public opinion on a wide range of issues. This direct engagement with the public was instrumental in building support for her advocacy efforts and solidifying her position as a leading voice for social change.
IV. The First Lady as a Public Figure: Redefining the Role
Eleanor Roosevelt’s role as First Lady significantly redefined the traditional expectations associated with the position. She actively participated in political discussions, challenging established norms and utilizing her platform to amplify the voices of those often excluded from the mainstream. Unlike previous First Ladies, she was not simply a supportive spouse; she became a powerful political figure in her own right. She used her position to influence her husband's policies and advocated for issues close to her heart, pushing boundaries and challenging the limited role often prescribed for women in the public sphere. Her active involvement in policy and her willingness to express her opinions publicly served as a catalyst for change, both in the role of the First Lady and in broader societal attitudes towards women's involvement in politics.
V. A Lasting Legacy: Inspiration for Future Generations
The contributions of Eleanor Roosevelt are not confined to the past; they continue to resonate today. Her legacy of social justice, human rights advocacy, and commitment to equality serves as a powerful inspiration for activists and leaders worldwide. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a testament to her unwavering dedication, continues to guide international human rights efforts. Her work on social reform continues to inform contemporary policy debates and inspire initiatives aimed at addressing social inequalities. Her writings and speeches remain relevant, offering valuable insights and timeless wisdom. Eleanor Roosevelt’s enduring legacy is not merely historical; it is a living testament to the power of individual action and the unwavering belief in the inherent dignity of every human being. Her life serves as a reminder that even one person can make a profound difference in the world.
Book Outline: "The Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy: A Life of Service and Social Justice"
Introduction: Overview of Eleanor Roosevelt's life and the scope of her contributions.
Chapter 1: Early Life and Influences – Shaping her commitment to social justice.
Chapter 2: The First Lady Years – Redefining the role and influencing policy.
Chapter 3: Champion of Human Rights – Her role in the UDHR and international advocacy.
Chapter 4: Social Reform Initiatives – Domestic policies and advocacy for marginalized groups.
Chapter 5: Writing and Public Speaking – Shaping public discourse and influencing opinion.
Chapter 6: Post-Presidential Years – Continued activism and global engagement.
Chapter 7: Eleanor Roosevelt's Personal Life – Exploring her complexities and challenges.
Conclusion: Assessing her lasting legacy and continued relevance.
(Detailed explanation of each chapter would follow, expanding on the points made in the corresponding section of the blog post above. This would involve further research and detailed elaboration on specific events, speeches, and writings.)
FAQs:
1. What was Eleanor Roosevelt's role in creating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? She chaired the UN Human Rights Commission, playing a crucial role in drafting and advocating for its adoption.
2. How did Eleanor Roosevelt challenge traditional roles for women? She actively participated in politics, used her platform to advocate for social change, and redefined the role of First Lady.
3. What were some key social reforms Eleanor Roosevelt supported? She championed New Deal programs, advocated for racial equality, and fought for women's and labor rights.
4. How did Eleanor Roosevelt use her writing to influence public opinion? Her syndicated column "My Day" reached millions, allowing her to directly address social issues and shape public discourse.
5. What was Eleanor Roosevelt's relationship with President Franklin D. Roosevelt? While their relationship was complex, she was a significant political partner and a key advisor.
6. What organizations did Eleanor Roosevelt work with? She worked with the NAACP, the UN, and various other organizations promoting social justice.
7. What is the significance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? It's a cornerstone of international law, outlining fundamental human rights and freedoms.
8. How did Eleanor Roosevelt's personal experiences influence her activism? Her experiences with prejudice and discrimination fueled her commitment to social justice and equality.
9. What is the best way to learn more about Eleanor Roosevelt's life and work? Explore her writings, biographies, archival materials, and documentaries.
Related Articles:
1. Eleanor Roosevelt and the New Deal: Examines her influence on the development and implementation of New Deal programs.
2. Eleanor Roosevelt and the Civil Rights Movement: Details her pivotal role in advocating for racial equality.
3. Eleanor Roosevelt's Impact on Women's Rights: Explores her contribution to the advancement of women's rights.
4. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Eleanor Roosevelt's Legacy: Focuses on her pivotal role in the creation of the UDHR.
5. Eleanor Roosevelt's "My Day" Column: A Window into her Life and Times: Analyzes her influential newspaper column and its impact.
6. Eleanor Roosevelt and International Relations: Explores her involvement in global politics and diplomacy.
7. Eleanor Roosevelt and the Fight Against Poverty: Examines her advocacy for economic justice and poverty reduction.
8. The Personal Life of Eleanor Roosevelt: A Complex Journey: Explores the personal challenges and triumphs of her life.
9. Eleanor Roosevelt's Enduring Legacy: Inspiration for Social Justice: Discusses her lasting influence on social justice movements worldwide.
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: It's Up to the Women Eleanor Roosevelt, 2017-04-11 Eleanor Roosevelt never wanted her husband to run for president. When he won, she . . . went on a national tour to crusade on behalf of women. She wrote a regular newspaper column. She became a champion of women's rights and of civil rights. And she decided to write a book. -- Jill Lepore, from the Introduction Women, whether subtly or vociferously, have always been a tremendous power in the destiny of the world, Eleanor Roosevelt wrote in It's Up to the Women, her book of advice to women of all ages on every aspect of life. Written at the height of the Great Depression, she called on women particularly to do their part -- cutting costs where needed, spending reasonably, and taking personal responsibility for keeping the economy going. Whether it's the recommendation that working women take time for themselves in order to fully enjoy time spent with their families, recipes for cheap but wholesome home-cooked meals, or America's obligation to women as they take a leading role in the new social order, many of the opinions expressed here are as fresh as if they were written today. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: Eleanor Roosevelt: In Her Words Nancy Woloch, 2017-09-05 This illustrated, first of its kind collection of excerpts from Eleanor Roosevelt's newspaper columns, radio talks, speeches, and correspondence speaks directly to the challenges we face today. Acclaimed for her roles in politics and diplomacy, first lady Eleanor Roosevelt was also a prolific author, journalist, lecturer, broadcaster, educator, and public personality. Using excerpts from her books, columns, articles, press conferences, speeches, radio talks, and correspondence, Eleanor Roosevelt: In Her Words tracks her contributions from the 1920s, when she entered journalism and public life; through the White House years, when she campaigned for racial justice, the labor movement, and the forgotten woman; to the postwar era, when she served at the United Nations and shaped the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Selections touch on Roosevelt's early entries in women's magazines (Ten Rules for Success in Marriage), her insights on women in politics (Women Must Learn to Play the Game As Men Do), her commentary on World War II (What We Are Fighting For), her work for civil rights (The Four Equalities), her clash with Soviet delegates at the UN (These Same Old Stale Charges), and her advice literature (If You Ask Me). Surprises include her unique preparation for leadership, the skill with which she defied critics and grasped authority, her competitive stance as a professional, and the force of her political messages to modern readers. Scorning the America First mindset, Eleanor Roosevelt underlined the interdependence of people and of nations. Eleanor Roosevelt: In Her Words illuminates her achievement as a champion of civil rights, human rights, and democratic ideals. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt Eleanor Roosevelt, 2014-10-21 A candid and insightful look at an era and a life through the eyes of one of the most remarkable Americans of the twentieth century, First Lady and humanitarian Eleanor Roosevelt. The daughter of one of New York’s most influential families, niece of Theodore Roosevelt, and wife of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt witnessed some of the most remarkable decades in modern history, as America transitioned from the Gilded Age, the Progressive Era, and the Depression to World War II and the Cold War. A champion of the downtrodden, Eleanor drew on her experience and used her role as First Lady to help those in need. Intimately involved in her husband’s political life, from the governorship of New York to the White House, Eleanor would eventually become a powerful force of her own, heading women’s organizations and youth movements, and battling for consumer rights, civil rights, and improved housing. In the years after FDR’s death, this inspiring, controversial, and outspoken leader would become a U.N. Delegate, chairman of the Commission on Human Rights, a newspaper columnist, Democratic party activist, world-traveler, and diplomat devoted to the ideas of liberty and human rights. This single volume biography brings her into focus through her own words, illuminating the vanished world she grew up, her life with her political husband, and the post-war years when she worked to broaden cooperation and understanding at home and abroad. The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt includes 16 pages of black-and-white photos. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: A World Made New Mary Ann Glendon, 2002-06-11 Unafraid to speak her mind and famously tenacious in her convictions, Eleanor Roosevelt was still mourning the death of FDR when she was asked by President Truman to lead a controversial commission, under the auspices of the newly formed United Nations, to forge the world’s first international bill of rights. A World Made New is the dramatic and inspiring story of the remarkable group of men and women from around the world who participated in this historic achievement and gave us the founding document of the modern human rights movement. Spurred on by the horrors of the Second World War and working against the clock in the brief window of hope between the armistice and the Cold War, they grappled together to articulate a new vision of the rights that every man and woman in every country around the world should share, regardless of their culture or religion. A landmark work of narrative history based in part on diaries and letters to which Mary Ann Glendon, an award-winning professor of law at Harvard University, was given exclusive access, A World Made New is the first book devoted to this crucial turning point in Eleanor Roosevelt’s life, and in world history. Finalist for the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: Women and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Rebecca Adami, 2018-10-26 Who were the non-Western women delegates who took part in the drafting of the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) from 1945-1948? Which member states did these women represent, and in what ways did they push for a more inclusive language than the rights of Man in the texts? This book provides a gendered historical narrative of human rights from the San Francisco Conference in 1945 to the final vote of the UDHR in the United Nations General Assembly in December 1948. It highlights the contributions by Latin American feminist delegates, and the prominent non-Western female representatives from new member states of the UN. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: Dear Mrs. Roosevelt Robert Cohen, 2003-10-16 Impoverished young Americans had no greater champion during the Depression than Eleanor Roosevelt. As First Lady, Mrs. Roosevelt used her newspaper columns and radio broadcasts to crusade for expanded federal aid to poor children and teens. She was the most visible spokesperson for the National Youth Administration, the New Deal's central agency for aiding needy youths, and she was adamant in insisting that federal aid to young people be administered without discrimination so that it reached blacks as well as whites, girls as well as boys. This activism made Mrs. Roosevelt a beloved figure among poor teens and children, who between 1933 and 1941 wrote her thousands of letters describing their problems and requesting her help. Dear Mrs. Roosevelt presents nearly 200 of these extraordinary documents to open a window into the lives of the Depression's youngest victims. In their own words, the letter writers confide what it was like to be needy and young during the worst economic crisis in American history. Revealing both the strengths and the limitations of New Deal liberalism, this book depicts an administration concerned and caring enough to elicit such moving appeals for help yet unable to respond in the very personal ways the letter writers hoped. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: Eleanor Roosevelt Maurine Hoffman Beasley, 2010 This title focuses on Eleanor Roosevelt's time in the White House. The author, a scholar with extensive knowledge of Eleanor's life and times, provides a detailed examination of the innovative first lady that will enlighten those who think they already know her. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: Who Was Eleanor Roosevelt? Gare Thompson, Who HQ, 2004-01-05 For a long time, the main role of First Ladies was to act as hostesses of the White House...until Eleanor Roosevelt. Born in 1884, Eleanor was not satisfied to just be a glorified hostess for her husband, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Eleanor had a voice, and she used it to speak up against poverty and racism. She had experience and knowledge of many issues, and fought for laws to help the less fortunate. She had passion, energy, and a way of speaking that made people listen, and she used these gifts to campaign for her husband and get him elected president-four times! A fascinating historical figure in her own right, Eleanor Roosevelt changed the role of First Lady forever. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: Eleanor: The Years Alone Joseph P. Lash, 2014-09-08 A New York Times Bestseller Lash has reached the highest level of the biographer’s art…Astounding. —Wall Street Journal Joseph P. Lash, Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer and National Book Award-winning writer of Eleanor and Franklin, turns to the seventeen years Eleanor Roosevelt lived after FDR's death in 1945. Already a major figure in her own right, Roosevelt gained new stature with her work at the United Nations and her contributions to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She continued her activism on behalf of civil rights, as well as her humanitarian work, which led President Harry Truman to call her the First Lady of the World. Lash has created an extraordinary portrait of an extraordinary person. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: Tomorrow Is Now Eleanor Roosevelt, 2012-10-30 Available again in time for election season, Eleanor Roosevelt's most important book—a battle cry for civil rights As relevant and influential now as it was when first published in 1963, Tomorrow Is Now is Eleanor Roosevelt's manifesto and her final effort to move America toward the community she hoped it would become. In bold, blunt prose, one of the greatest First Ladies of American history traces her country's struggle to embrace democracy and presents her declaration against fear, timidity, complacency, and national arrogance. An open, unrestrained look into her mind and heart as well as a clarion call to action, Tomorrow Is Now is the work Eleanor Roosevelt willed herself to stay alive to finish writing. For this edition, former U.S. President Bill Clinton contributes a new foreword and Roosevelt historian Allida Black provides an authoritative introduction focusing on Eleanor Roosevelt’s diplomatic career. For more than sixty-five years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,500 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: The Firebrand and the First Lady Patricia Bell-Scott, 2017-01-24 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD NOMINEE • The riveting history of how Pauli Murray—a brilliant writer-turned-activist—and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt forged an enduring friendship that helped to alter the course of race and racism in America. “A definitive biography of Murray, a trailblazing legal scholar and a tremendous influence on Mrs. Roosevelt.” —Essence In 1938, the twenty-eight-year-old Pauli Murray wrote a letter to the President and First Lady, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, protesting racial segregation in the South. Eleanor wrote back. So began a friendship that would last for a quarter of a century, as Pauli became a lawyer, principal strategist in the fight to protect Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and a co-founder of the National Organization of Women, and Eleanor became a diplomat and first chair of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: Eleanor David Michaelis, 2020-10-06 The New York Times bestseller from prizewinning author David Michaelis presents a “stunning” (The Wall Street Journal) breakthrough portrait of Eleanor Roosevelt, America’s longest-serving First Lady, an avatar of democracy whose ever-expanding agency as diplomat, activist, and humanitarian made her one of the world’s most widely admired and influential women. In the first single-volume cradle-to-grave portrait in six decades, acclaimed biographer David Michaelis delivers a stunning account of Eleanor Roosevelt’s remarkable life of transformation. An orphaned niece of President Theodore Roosevelt, she converted her Gilded Age childhood of denial and secrecy into an irreconcilable marriage with her ambitious fifth cousin Franklin. Despite their inability to make each other happy, Franklin Roosevelt transformed Eleanor from a settlement house volunteer on New York’s Lower East Side into a matching partner in New York’s most important power couple in a generation. When Eleanor discovered Franklin’s betrayal with her younger, prettier, social secretary, Lucy Mercer, she offered a divorce and vowed to face herself honestly. Here is an Eleanor both more vulnerable and more aggressive, more psychologically aware and sexually adaptable than we knew. She came to accept her FDR’s bond with his executive assistant, Missy LeHand; she allowed her children to live their own lives, as she never could; and she explored her sexual attraction to women, among them a star female reporter on FDR’s first presidential campaign, and younger men. Eleanor needed emotional connection. She pursued deeper relationships wherever she could find them. Throughout her life and travels, there was always another person or place she wanted to heal. As FDR struggled to recover from polio, Eleanor became a voice for the voiceless, her husband’s proxy in the White House. Later, she would be the architect of international human rights and world citizen of the Atomic Age, urging Americans to cope with the anxiety of global annihilation by cultivating a “world mind.” She insisted that we cannot live for ourselves alone but must learn to live together or we will die together. This “absolutely spellbinding,” (The Washington Post) “complex and sensitive portrait” (The Guardian) is not just a comprehensive biography of a major American figure, but the story of an American ideal: how our freedom is always a choice. Eleanor rediscovers a model of what is noble and evergreen in the American character, a model we need today more than ever. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: Eleanor Roosevelt Russell Freedman, 1993 Publisher Description |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: My Day Eleanor Roosevelt, David Emblidge, 2001-03-08 Presents a selection of Eleanor Roosevelt's syndicated My Day newspaper columns, spanning the years 1936-62 and covering the Depression, the Second World War, her experiences as chair of the United Nations Committee on Human Rights, and her home life. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: White Houses Amy Bloom, 2018 The unexpected and forbidden affair between Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok unfolds in a triumph of historical fiction from the New York Times bestselling author of Away and Lucky Us. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: Eleanor Roosevelt J. William T. Youngs, 2005-02 Examines Eleanor Roosevelt's life as a professional woman, a wife and mother, and, finally, a woman who illuminated her times and exemplified the complexities of womanhood in the twentieth century. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: The Fireside Chats of Franklin Delano Roosevelt Franklin D. Roosevelt, 2022-08-15 DigiCat Publishing presents to you this special edition of The Fireside Chats of Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Radio Addresses to the American People Broadcast Between 1933 and 1944) by Franklin D. Roosevelt. DigiCat Publishing considers every written word to be a legacy of humankind. Every DigiCat book has been carefully reproduced for republishing in a new modern format. The books are available in print, as well as ebooks. DigiCat hopes you will treat this work with the acknowledgment and passion it deserves as a classic of world literature. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: The Woman Behind the New Deal Kirstin Downey, 2010-02-23 “Kirstin Downey’s lively, substantive and—dare I say—inspiring new biography of Perkins . . . not only illuminates Perkins’ career but also deepens the known contradictions of Roosevelt’s character.” —Maureen Corrigan, NPR Fresh Air One of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s closest friends and the first female secretary of labor, Perkins capitalized on the president’s political savvy and popularity to enact most of the Depression-era programs that are today considered essential parts of the country’s social safety network. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: No Ordinary Time Doris Kearns Goodwin, 2008-06-30 Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Pulitzer Prize–winning classic about the relationship between Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt, and how it shaped the nation while steering it through the Great Depression and the outset of World War II. With an extraordinary collection of details, Goodwin masterfully weaves together a striking number of story lines—Eleanor and Franklin’s marriage and remarkable partnership, Eleanor’s life as First Lady, and FDR’s White House and its impact on America as well as on a world at war. Goodwin effectively melds these details and stories into an unforgettable and intimate portrait of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt and of the time during which a new, modern America was born. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: FDR's Fireside Chats Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1992 A collection of FDR's fireside chats presents them exactly as they were originally broadcast to explore a world of economic disaster, social reform, and international danger and to stress the importance of Roosevelt's leadership in American political history. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: Love, Eleanor Joseph P. Lash, 1982 Based on Eleanor Roosevelt's voluminous correspondence, this new biography focuses on the former first Lady's emotional life. Part of the character study comes from the recently available letters between Lorena Hickok and Eleanor. Presents the story of Eleanor's friendships, political work, family relations and close friends, including the author, who inspired or assisted Eleanor in her private and public lives. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Eleanor Roosevelt, Allida Mae Black, 2009 |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers: The human rights years, 1949-1952 Eleanor Roosevelt, 2007 Volume 1 chronicles Eleanor Roosevelt's development as diplomat, politician, and journalist in the years 1945-1948. It is filled with original writings and speeches that have been annotated and made easily accessible through a comprehensive index. This is part of the Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project as the first of a five-volume set covering the years 1945-1962. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: Roosevelt, the Party Leader, 1932-1945 Sean J. Savage, FDR -- the wily political opportunist glowing with charismatic charm, a leader venerated and hated with equal vigor -- such is one common notion of a president elected to an unprecedented four terms. But in this first comprehensive study of Roosevelt's leadership of the Democratic party, Sean Savage reveals a different man. He contends that, far from being a mere opportunist, Roosevelt brought to the party a conscious agenda, a longterm strategy of creating a liberal Democracy that would be an enduring majority force in American politics. The roots of Roosevelt's plan for the party ran back to his experiences with New York politics in the 1920s. It was here, Savage argues, that Roosevelt first began to perceive that a pluralistic voting base and a liberal philosophy offered the best way for Democrats to contend with the established Republican organization. With the collapse of the economy in 1929 and the discrediting of Republican fiscal policy, Roosevelt was ready to carry his views to the national scene when elected president in 1932. Through his analysis of the New Deal, Savage shows how Roosevelt made use of these programs to develop a policy agenda for the Democratic party, to establish a liberal ideology, and, most important, to create a coalition of interest groups and voting blocs that would continue to sustain the party long after his death. A significant aspect of Roosevelt's leadership was his reform of the Democratic National Committee, which was designed to make the party's organization more open and participatory in setting electoral platforms and in raising financial support. Savage's exploration of Roosevelt's party leadership offers a new perspective on the New Deal era and on one of America's great presidents that will be valuable for historians and political scientists alike. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: What Are We For? Eleanor Roosevelt, 2019-11-05 From one of the world’s most celebrated and admired public figures, Eleanor Roosevelt, a collection of her most treasured sayings—the perfect gift for Mother’s Day, graduation, and a new generation of feminists. No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. We’ve all heard this powerful Eleanor Roosevelt adage—it is, perhaps, one of her best known. A wise leader, she knew the power of words, and throughout her work as First Lady, a UN representative, and advocate for human rights, women, youth, minorities, and workers, she was a prolific writer and speaker. Eleanor’s wise words on government, race and ethnicity, freedom, democracy, economics, women and gender, faith, children, war, peace, and our everyday lives leap off the page in memorable quotations such as: · One's philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes. · Progress is rarely achieved by indifference. · I am convinced that every effort must be made in childhood to teach the young to use their own minds. For one thing is sure: If they don’t make up their minds, someone will do it for them. · Unless people are willing to face the unfamiliar they cannot be creative in any sense, for creativity always means the doing of the unfamiliar, the breaking of new ground. …and these are just a few. At this politically and culturally divided moment in our nation’s history, Eleanor Roosevelt’s quotes have an even deeper resonance—as moving and insightful as they are timely. What Are We For? is a celebration of a cultural icon, and a powerful reminder of Eleanor Roosevelt’s extraordinary contributions to our country, and the world. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: Saving Mrs. Roosevelt Candice Sue Patterson, 2021-12 Meet Shirley Davenport, who joins the Coast Guard Women's Reserve only to be sent to her hometown in Maine to foil a plot to harm the First Lady. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: Kindred Souls Edna P. Gurewitsch, 2014-09-02 The poignant and unforgettable true account of the deep, loving friendship between a handsome physician and the former First Lady, as seen on PBS’s The Roosevelts: An Intimate History “I love you as I love and have never loved anyone else.” —Eleanor Roosevelt in a letter to Dr. David Gurewitsch, 1955 She was the most famous and admired woman in America. He was a strikingly handsome doctor, eighteen years her junior. Eleanor Roosevelt first met David Gurewitsch in 1944. He was making a house call to a patient when the door opened to reveal the wife of the president of the United States, who had come to help her sick friend. A year later, Gurewitsch was Mrs. Roosevelt’s personal physician, on his way to becoming the great lady’s dearest companion—a relationship that would endure until Mrs. Roosevelt’s death in 1962. Recounting the details of this remarkable union is an intimately involved chronicler: Gurewitsch’s wife, Edna. Kindred Souls is a rare love story—the tale of a friendship between two extraordinary people, based on trust, exchange of confidences, and profound interest in and respect for each other’s work. With perceptiveness, compassion, admiration, and deep affection, the author recalls the final decade and a half of the former First Lady’s exceptional life, from her first encounter with the man who would become Mrs. Gurewitsch’s husband through the blossoming of a unique bond and platonic love. Blended into her tender reminiscences are excerpts from the enduring correspondence between Dr. Gurewitsch and the First Lady, and a collection of personal photographs of the Gurewitsch and Roosevelt families. The result is a revealing portrait of one of the twentieth century’s most beloved icons in the last years of her life—a woman whom the author warmly praises as “one of the few people in this world in which greatness and modesty could coexist.” |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: Franklin and Eleanor Hazel Rowley, 2011 In this groundbreaking new account of their marriage, Rowley describes the remarkable courage and lack of convention--private and public--that kept Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt together. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream Doris Kearns Goodwin, 2015-08-04 With a new foreword: The New York Times–bestselling biography of President Lyndon Johnson from the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Team of Rivals. Featuring a 2018 foreword by the Pulitzer Prize–winning political historian that celebrates a reappraisal of Lyndon Johnson’s legacy five decades after his presidency, from the vantage point of our current, profoundly altered political culture and climate, Doris Kearns Goodwin’s extraordinary and insightful biography draws from meticulous research in addition to the author’s time spent working at the White House from 1967 to 1969. After Johnson’s term ended, Goodwin remained his confidante and assisted in the preparation of his memoir. In Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream, she traces the 36th president’s life from childhood to his early days in politics, and from his leadership of the Senate to his presidency, analyzing his dramatic years in the White House, including both his historic domestic triumphs and his failures in Vietnam. Drawing on personal anecdotes and candid conversation with Johnson, Goodwin paints a rich and complicated portrait of one of our nation’s most compelling politicians in “the most penetrating, fascinating political biography I have ever read” (The New York Times). |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: Team of Rivals Doris Kearns Goodwin, 2006-12-08 One of the most influential books of the past fifty years, Team of Rivals is Pulitzer Prize–winning author and esteemed presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin’s modern classic about the political genius of Abraham Lincoln, his unlikely presidency, and his cabinet of former political foes. Winner of the prestigious Lincoln Prize and the inspiration for the Oscar Award winning–film Lincoln, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, directed by Steven Spielberg, and written by Tony Kushner. On May 18, 1860, William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, Edward Bates, and Abraham Lincoln waited in their hometowns for the results from the Republican National Convention in Chicago. When Lincoln emerged as the victor, his rivals were dismayed and angry. Throughout the turbulent 1850s, each had energetically sought the presidency as the conflict over slavery was leading inexorably to secession and civil war. That Lincoln succeeded, Goodwin demonstrates, was the result of a character that had been forged by experiences that raised him above his more privileged and accomplished rivals. He won because he possessed an extraordinary ability to put himself in the place of other men, to experience what they were feeling, to understand their motives and desires. It was this capacity that enabled Lincoln as president to bring his disgruntled opponents together, create the most unusual cabinet in history, and marshal their talents to the task of preserving the Union and winning the war. We view the long, horrifying struggle from the vantage of the White House as Lincoln copes with incompetent generals, hostile congressmen, and his raucous cabinet. He overcomes these obstacles by winning the respect of his former competitors, and in the case of Seward, finds a loyal and crucial friend to see him through. This brilliant multiple biography is centered on Lincoln's mastery of men and how it shaped the most significant presidency in the nation's history. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: Historic Achievement of a Common Standard Pinghua Sun, 2018-03-20 The subject of this book is human rights law, focusing on historic achievement of a common standard viewed from a perspective of Pengchun Chang’s contributions to the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This is an original research, integrating different research methods: inter-disciplinary approaches, historical and comparative methods, and documentary research and so on. The research findings can be described briefly as follows: Chinese wisdom has played an important role in achieving a common standard for the establishment of the international human rights system, which can be seen by exploring P. C. Chang’s contributions to the drafting of the UDHR. The target readers are global scholars and students in law, politics, philosophy, international relations, human rights law, legal history, religion and culture. This book will enable these potential readers to have a vivid picture of the Chinese contributions to the international human rights regime and to have a better understanding of the significance of the traditional Chinese culture and P. C. Chang’s human rights philosophy of pluralism. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: This Is My Story Eleanor Roosevelt, 2014-10-07 One of the most recognized and remarkable women of the twentieth century, Eleanor Roosevelt led a rare and privileged life. In This Is My Story, first published in 1937, Roosevelt reflects on her childhood, early adulthood, and the years of her marriage before moving in to the White House. With startling frankness, Roosevelt reveals and examines the events and people who shaped her life, including her famous uncle, Theodore Roosevelt, and the man who would become her husband, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Eleanor Roosevelt went on to publish numerous other works, both biographical and political, including This I Remember and On My Own, memoirs of life as first lady of the United States, and of life following the death of her husband. HarperTorch brings great works of non-fiction and the dramatic arts to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperTorch collection to build your digital library. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys Doris Kearns Goodwin, 2001 Publisher Fact Sheet The sweeping history of two immigrant families & the marriage that brought them together. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: Closest Companion Geoffrey C. Ward, 2009-07-21 Diary entries and letters from Franklin D. Roosevelt and his private secretary Margaret Suckley offer unique insight into the character of the president and his struggles with disability. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: The Wars of the Roosevelts William J. Mann, 2016-12-06 The award-winning author presents a provocative, thoroughly modern revisionist biographical history of one of America’s greatest and most influential families—the Roosevelts—exposing heretofore unknown family secrets and detailing complex family rivalries with his signature cinematic flair. Drawing on previously hidden historical documents and interviews with the long-silent illegitimate branch of the family, William J. Mann paints an elegant, meticulously researched, and groundbreaking group portrait of this legendary family. Mann argues that the Roosevelts’ rise to power and prestige was actually driven by a series of intense personal contest that at times devolved into blood sport. His compelling and eye-opening masterwork is the story of a family at war with itself, of social Darwinism at its most ruthless—in which the strong devoured the weak and repudiated the inconvenient. Mann focuses on Eleanor Roosevelt, who, he argues, experienced this brutality firsthand, witnessing her Uncle Theodore cruelly destroy her father, Elliott—his brother and bitter rival—for political expediency. Mann presents a fascinating alternate picture of Eleanor, contending that this worshipful niece in fact bore a grudge against TR for the rest of her life, and dares to tell the truth about her intimate relationships without obfuscations, explanations, or labels. Mann also brings into focus Eleanor’s cousins, TR’s children, whose stories propelled the family rivalry but have never before been fully chronicled, as well as her illegitimate half-brother, Elliott Roosevelt Mann, who inherited his family’s ambition and skill without their name and privilege. Growing up in poverty just miles from his wealthy relatives, Elliott Mann embodied the American Dream, rising to middle-class prosperity and enjoying one of the very few happy, long-term marriages in the Roosevelt saga. For the first time, The Wars of the Roosevelts also includes the stories of Elliott’s daughter and grandchildren, and never-before-seen photographs from their archives. Deeply psychological and finely rendered, illustrated with sixteen pages of black-and-white photographs, The Wars of the Roosevelts illuminates not only the enviable strengths but also the profound shame of this remarkable and influential family. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: Refuge Must Be Given John F. Sears, 2021-05-15 Refuge Must Be Given details the evolution of Eleanor Roosevelt from someone who harbored negative impressions of Jews to become a leading Gentile champion of Israel in the United States. The book explores, for the first time, Roosevelt’s partnership with the Quaker leader Clarence Pickett in seeking to admit more refugees into the United States, and her relationship with Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles, who was sympathetic to the victims of Nazi persecution yet defended a visa process that failed both Jewish and non-Jewish refugees. After the war, as a member of the American delegation to the United Nations, Eleanor Roosevelt slowly came to the conclusion that the partition of Palestine was the only solution both for the Jews in the displaced persons camps in Europe, and for the conflict between the Arabs and the Jews. When Israel became a state, she became deeply involved in supporting the work of Youth Aliyah and Hadassah, its American sponsor, in bringing Jewish refugee children to Israel and training them to become productive citizens. Her devotion to Israel reflected some of her deepest beliefs about education, citizenship, and community building. Her excitement about Israel’s accomplishments and her cultural biases, however, blinded her to the impact of Israel’s founding on the Arabs. Visiting the new nation four times and advocating on Israel’s behalf created a warm bond not only between her and the people of Israel, but between her and the American Jewish community. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: You Learn by Living Eleanor Roosevelt, 1983-01-01 She was born before women had the right to vote yet went on to become one of America'¿¿s most influential First Ladies. A Gallup poll named her one of the most admired people of the twentieth century and she remains well known as a role model for a life well lived. Roosevelt wrote You Learn by Living at the age of seventy-six, just two years before her death. The commonsense ideas'¿¿and heartfelt ideals'¿¿presented in this volume are as relevant today as they were five decades ago. Her keys to a fulfilling life? Some of her responses include: learning to learn, the art of maturity, and getting the best out of others. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: Eleanor Barbara Cooney, 1999-09-01 Though she came from a wealthy and privileged family, Eleanor Roosevelt grew up in a cheerless household that left her lonely and shy. Years passed before Eleanor began to discover in herself the qualities of intelligence, compassion, and strength that made her a remarkable woman. In Eleanor, two-time Caldecott Medal winner Barbara Cooney paints a meticulously researched, lushly detailed picture of Eleanor's childhood world--but most importantly, she captures the essence of the little girl whose indomitable spirit would make her one of the greatest and most beloved first ladies of all time. There are many biographies of Eleanor Roosevelt, but this one is special?Cooney is at her artistic best. --Booklist |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: Cavalcade of the American Negro Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration in the State of Illinois, 1940 Produced by the Illinois Writers' Project of the WPA, the Cavalcade of the American Negro is a sweeping history of black contributions to all phases of American life from 1865 to 1940. The book was edited by Arna Bontemps and illustrated by Adrian Troy, of the Illinois Writers' and Art Projects, respectively, and was one of the more important contributions to the Diamond Jubilee Exposition held in Chicago in 1940. The book includes a useful description of all the exhibits at the exposition--Library of Congress website. |
contributions of eleanor roosevelt: Eleanor Roosevelt & Mary Mcleod Bethune : an Unusual Friendship Camesha Whittaker, 2021-12-27 Eleanor Roosevelt & Mary McLeod Bethune: An Unusual Friendship explores the impactful friendship of two of the most influential American women of the 20th Century.Discover how these two women used their position, friendship, and personal networks to create a model of civility and transformative leadership. |