Eleanor Roosevelt was the wife of Franklin D. Roosevelt, was a niece of Theodore Roosevelt. She was also a distant cousin of her husband. Eleanor Roosevelt lost her parents at an early age. Her strict grandmother raised her. When she became first lady, she urged the president to take stands on controversial issues. Eleanor was a popular public speaker. She was interested in child welfare, housing reform, and equal rights for women and minorities.
After FDR suffered a polio attack in 1921, she stepped forward to help Franklin with his career. When FDR was elected president, she changed the role of being first lady dramatically. She showed the world that being first lady was a big part in American Politics. She gave press conferences and spoke our for human rights, children's causes and women's issues, working on behalf of the League of Women Voters. She also had her own newspaper column called, "My Day." Eleanor also helped stand against discrimination, and traveled abroab during WW2 to visit troops.
She had a very active role in this country. She was liked by some people, and disliked by some to. Today, she is known as the leader of women's and civil rights, as well as one of the first public officials to publicize important issues through the mass media.
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