Roosevelt Proclaimer

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was born in New York on October 11, 1884. She died on November 7, 1962. As wife to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Eleanor was the first lady from 1933 until 1945. During that time, she worked as a United Nations activist for human rights, which led her to become one of the world’s most widely admired and influential women. From 1948 to 1961, Gallup awarded her the title of ‘the most admired woman’ and in 1999 listed her ninth in the top ten ‘Most

Widely Admired People of the 20th Century’. The New York Times called her ‘the object of almost universal respect’.

Eleanor Roosevelt came from a wealthy family that was part of the New York high society called the Swells. However, growing up was difficult since her parents died before she was age ten. Alcoholism took her father at the age of just 34. Diptheria claimed her mother and one of her brothers. She became very close to her surviving brother, who eventually walked the same path of alcoholism as their father. These tragic events left them both needing to be raised by their grandmother. Her painful childhood led her to depression, which she battled her entire life. Nevertheless, despite childhood tragedy, she started an unprecedented movement in her adult life. Below are the leadership lessons I believe we can learn from Eleanor Roosevelt.

In 1902 Eleanor met Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the fifth cousin to her father. They were married three years later. In 1918, she discovered that her husband was having an affair with his secretary and had planned to divorce. Upon learning that his mother would disinherit him if he went ahead with the plan, he agreed to remain married to Eleanor. Still, their relationship changed to a political partnership at the expense of intimacy. An American politician and lawyer, Franklin became the 32nd president of the United States in 1933 and served until he died in 1945, to whom Eleanor became First Lady by marriage. During this time, Eleanor embraced her position and used it to realise her vision.

ELEANOR

EMBRACED HER POSITION AND USED IT TO REALISE HER VISION.

refused to turn a blind eye. She professed that all people from all cultures were of equal value and deserved the same respectful treatment and consideration.

During her tenure as a teacher for Todhunter School, Eleanor Roosevelt taught a class she named ‘Happenings’. She led school trips whereby her privileged students could experience how the other half lived. She read newspaper articles in class, which shared stories unlike their experiences. She led question-and-answer sessions in these lessons and facilitated constructive discussions. In her Reflective Tutorials, she took her students to the Tenement Museum, a Hindu festival, the El Centro del Immigrante, a mosque, participated in an Eid dinner, and discussed ideas with political officials. She immersed

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Continued from page 29 the children in lessons that developed cultural awareness and challenged narrow-mindedness. Such discussions are hot topics today and fall into diversity, impartiality, and equality.

Eleanor Roosevelt practised and encouraged openmindedness through conversations that spanned generations, politics, religions, and geography. While some leaders are known for their charisma and communication skills, Eleanor developed a reputation as a listener. During her lifetime and as her popularity grew, she received thousands of letters from adoring fans who shared thoughts and ideas, which she discussed with her husband in the hope that they would influence his political decisions. In one year alone, she received over 105,000 letters. As a United Nations delegate, Eleanor heard stories and accounts from other world leaders about their battles and triumphs. Her involvement in the

The memorial statue of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt located within the FDR Memorial Park in Washington DC.

Human Rights Declaration demonstrated her desire for the cause globally rather than just in the United States.

US women, of which she was a part, to turn away from materialism and undertake charitable work

Eleanor Roosevelt published her human rights philosophy in 1933 with the book, It’s Up to The Women. She called upon all privileged to contribute to society. She sympathised with the working woman who strived to keep her home following divorce or bereavement and asked men to support their cause. Biographer Susan Ware quotes Eleanor, “Women are different from men. They are equals in many ways, but they cannot refuse to acknowledge the differences.”1 In an interview with Good Housekeeping, she said, “Women must become more conscious of themselves as women and of their ability to function as a group.” 2 Her ideas were controversial at the time, which upset the opposition. By continuing on her path she demonstrated

Harry Truman appointed Eleanor Roosevelt as the first American Delegate to the United Nations, where she represented the United States from 1945 until 1952. Her

1 Susan Ware, Beyond Suffrage: Women in the New Deal (Cambridge, Mass., and London: Harvard University Press, 1981), 14.

2 Ibid, 16 mission was to spearhead the message that the UN would set aside no person and no