“I could not, at any age, be content to take my place by the fireside and simply look on. Life was meant to be lived. Curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.”

1884-1962

Eleanor as a teenager

Eleanor and her brother

• Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was born on October 11, 1884

• Granddaughter of Teddy Roosevelt

• Quiet and very shy child• Became confident and a leader

when she attended boarding school in England at age 15

• Couple worked closely together helping others

• Had six children together

• Fifth cousins

• Married on March 15, 1905

• Learned about the inner workings of the government – Became the first woman to speak in

front of a national convention, to write magazine articles, to earn money as a lecturer, to be a radio commentator, and to hold regular press conferences

• Fought for the suffrage movement

• After her husband developed Polio, she became very involved in his political career

• Helped him become governor

• Franklin became the 32nd president in 1932

• Eleanor reinvented the role of First Lady

• The American people became very aware of their first lady and her ideas– Used the media

unlike any woman before her

– Traveled frequently

– President’s “eyes and ears”

• Eleanor made herself available to the people and used her resources to their full potential helping the poor, immigrants, and jobless

• Started a furniture-making business, Val-Kill, to provide jobs

“OF COURSE I KNOW—IT’S MRS. ROOSEVELT”

• Eleanor supported many causes including:– Women’s rights– Education– Civil rights

• During WWII, Eleanor traveled to many countries (South Pacific, Australia, Canada, & England) meeting with leaders

• “Eleanor Everywhere”

• Started her own syndicated newspaper column, “My Day”

• Named a member of the United Nations in 1946

• Helped draft the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights

surpassed expectations

broke through social barriers

brought about significant changes in the world

was and still is an inspiration

instead of hating anyone, she defended those she loved