Theme: In 1933, Eleanor Roosevelt, wife to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, brought compassion into politics during their time in the White House. “She redefined the role of First Lady and set a standard that has not been matched since she left the White House.” (Young 185) She made herself more accessible to the public than any previous first lady and acted as the president's “eyes and ears.” She represented the opinions of the “average man” and acted as her husband's political advisor. (Young 194)
Eleanor Roosevelt went above and beyond the conventional role of First Lady. In addition to attending more public functions, shaking more hands and giving more teas than any other first lady, Eleanor also wrote newspaper columns, delivered hundreds of speeches and served as an advocate for various causes. This earned her the nickname “America’s public energy no. 1.” She shared her uncle, Theodore Roosevelt’s gift of speaking and used her position as first lady to promote public good. She gave her full attention to anyone she met and made them feel like they
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She had a loving early childhood born into a wealthy family where she was cared for by her french speaking nurse. Eleanor learned to speak french before she learned to speak English. The bliss of her early childhood ended with the loss of her parents. Orphaned she went to live with her grandmother and was sent away to a girls boarding school in England when she was a young teen. There Eleanor would find happiness again with a politically challenging french speaking headmistress, Mademoiselle Souvestre. Souvestre befriended Eleanor and taught her about the world. Souvestre helped her to form her own political opinions by choosing to debate in favor of “unconventional political positions” (Young 188). Eleanor fell in love with Franklin Roosevelt and settled into her role as wife and mother. She made the best of