Happy Birthday Eleanor Roosevelt!!

[Samai139]

Today is the birthday of a remarkable American woman. A First Lady who changed the perception of what a political wife could and perhaps should be. Until her death in 1962 she worked tirelessly for the causes and ideas she held dear. Happy Birthday Mrs. Roosevelt, you were one of a kind.

[TruthBTold]

My choice for the $20 makeover (though now I had heard it was going to be the $10 bill). As you say, she was an amazing woman and more progressive than her husband.

[+ WilliamM]

 

Mrs. Roosevelt is the mystery guest on TV's "What's My Line." Fast forward to near the middle of the 30 minute show.

[body2body]

I remember how my Grandmother wept on the news of her death. She credited Mrs. Roosevelt with being the eyes and ears of the President, and a staunch advocate for poor, and under represented sectors of our society. My Father who had served in the Pacific during WW II, talked about her first trip to see the troops in the War zone. She visited a Military Hospital, they expected her to just meet with the directors, and walk through the facility. Instead she visited the bed of every single soldier and sailor, discussed their care, asked what they needed and had her secretary take copious notes. She made sure that the injured troops needs were addressed. Those assigned to accompany her were simply stupefied by her energy, and the exhausting pace she kept up. My Dad didn't agree much with her politics, but he had the highest respect for her efforts on behalf of the troops during the war.

[+ WilliamM]

http://www.sweetsfuneralhome.com/files/cache/21e5d68b49749aa0b2cb229927f2f4db_f49.jpg

Mrs. Roosevelt's funeral in 1962 with the Kennedy, Johnson, Eisenhower and Stevenson. Mrs. Kennedy, Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Truman were there as well.

 

I remember Eleanor Roosevelt's strong campaign for Adlai Stevenson at the 1960 Democratic Convention. She eventually made peace with John Kennedy. Yet, Kennedy visited her at Hyde Park after the convention. Mrs. Roosevelt changed the seating arrangement so that Kennedy would be sitting in the lowest seat, so he had to look up. She was always a smart lady.

[Samai139]

When I was a college Junior, Mrs. Roosevelt came to our campus to speak on Communism to the student body. At the time I was Chairman of the Judiciary branch of student government and got to meet her, have dinner with her along with 20 others and spend some private time with her before her speech. Her energy and her interest in who we were and what we were planning to do in the future was amazing. This was a little over a year before her death in 1962.

[TruthBTold]

Could you imagine having to follow Eleanor Roosevelt as a guest? What a great clip. Thanks.

[AdamSmith]

In Franklin and Winston, about the wartime relationship between FDR and Churchill, there's a scene where Churchill is on one of his stays at the White House when the war is well along, and he asks Eleanor what her plans are for the week ahead. Well, she says, tomorrow morning I'm off to tour our bases in the South Pacific and give the troops some encouragement. Churchill nearly fell off his chair, admiring her and ever startled at her boundless energy and involvement.

[marylander1940]

http://static.quoteswave.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/tumblr_m9ji2sMV1F1r7nbcvo1_500.png

 

http://blog.bag-all.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Learn-from-the-mistakes-of__quotes-by-Eleanor-Roosevelt-55-1.png

 

http://media-cache-ak1.pinimg.com/550x/12/40/9e/12409e0fad8669648f6f6dc808be7992.jpg

 

http://rlv.zcache.com/eleanor_roosevelt_quote_3b_postcard-rc63fe8d771b6446691c9bdaa613a290f_vgbaq_8byvr_324.jpg

 

http://savingmorethanme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ELEANOR-ROOSEVELT-QUOTE-INFERIOR-600.png

 

[TruthBTold]

Thanks Marylander. Love that "well behaved women rarely make history."

[body2body]

Here is a copy of a prayer that she carried with her throughout the war to never forget the sacrifices that were being made:

 

Dear Lord,

 

Lest I continue

My complacent way,

Help me to remember that somewhere,

Somehow out there

A man died for me today.

As long as there be war,

I then must

Ask and answer

Am I worth dying for?

[+ quoththeraven]

She was someone from the top 1% who actually cared about the other 99% -- arguably more than she cared about those in the top 1%. Strange how that doesn't seem to be the case today.

[gallahadesquire]

“The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!”

- E. Roosevelt.