Eleanor Roosevelt (11 October 1884 – 7 November 1962) was First Lady of the United States from 4 March 1933 to 12 April 1945 as the wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, as well as a US delegate to the United Nations. She notably chaired the UN Commission on Human Rights from 1948 to 1951, drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
Biography[]
A statue of Roosevelt in Washington DC
Eleanor Roosevelt was born in New York City to a wealthy family, and she was the niece of President Theodore Roosevelt. She was educated in England, and in 1905 married her cousin Franklin D. Roosevelt. When the latter developed polio in 1921, she helped him to overcome the disease and took on many public duties. A strong supporter of New Deal policies, she helped to democratize the White House by her press conferences and her journalism. Actively involved in numerous social projects, from equal rights for women and minority groups, to child welfare and slum clearance, her strong personality aroused some criticism. She was also deeply loved and admired by millions of Americans. A delegate to the UN, she was appointed chairperson of the UN Commission on Human Rights from 1946 to 1951. As such, she helped to draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, and travelled the world tirelessly as a UN representative. She wrote a syndicated and influential column for over twenty years. She also helped found the liberal lobby group Americans for Democratic Action which became very influential in the Democratic Party.
Gallery[]
