Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT d1962. American political figure, diplomat and activist. She served as the First Lady of the United States from March 1933 to April 1945 during her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt's four terms in office, making her the longest serving First Lady of the United States. President Harry S Truman later called her the "First Lady of the World" in tribute to her human rights achievements. She was instrumental in persuading Franklin to stay in politics after he was stricken with a paralytic illness in 1921 which cost him the normal use of his legs. She began giving speeches and appearing at campaign events in his place. Following his election as Governor of New York in 1928 and throughout the remainder of his public career in government, Eleanor Roosevelt regularly made public appearances on his behalf and as First Lady (while her husband served as President) she significantly reshaped and redefined the role of First Lady. Though widely respected in her later years, she was a controversial First Lady at the time for her outspokenness, particularly her stance on racial issues. She was the first presidential spouse to hold regular press conferences, write a daily newspaper column, write a monthly magazine column, host a weekly radio show and speak at a national party convention. On a few occasions, she publicly disagreed with her husband's policies. She launched an experimental community in West Virginia for the families of unemployed miners, later widely regarded as a failure. She advocated for expanded roles for women in the workplace, the civil rights of African Americans and Asian Americans and the rights of World War II refugees. Following her husband's death in 1945, she remained active in politics for the remaining 17 years of her life. By the time of her death aged 78 on November 7th 1962, she had become regarded as "one of the most esteemed women in the world" and was called "the object of almost universal respect" in her New York Times obituary. In 1999, she was ranked ninth in Gallups Top 10 list of the "Most Widely Admired People of the 20th Century". 

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Eleanor Roosevelt

Reference Number. 13098D

£95.00

An original vintage 1950s autograph book page, clearly signed in ink by Eleanor Roosevelt and an unknown

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Eleanor Roosevelt

Reference Number. 10385

£148.00

An original typed later dated March 12th 1958 on her own headed paper, clearly signed in ink at the conclusion and with line alteration by Eleanor Roosevelt. 

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