Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) transformed the role of First Lady from ceremonial to activist — using her position to advocate for civil rights, women's rights, labor rights, and international human rights. Born into privilege, she overcame a difficult childhood (orphaned at 10, married Franklin at 20) to become the most admired woman in America for two decades running. She chaired the United Nations Human Rights Commission and led the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) — the most widely ratified document in history. During FDR's presidency (1933-1945), Eleanor held her own press conferences (for women journalists only — because male journalists excluded women), wrote a daily newspaper column ('My Day,' 1935-1962), traveled the US documenting Depression conditions, and advocated for Black Americans at a time when this was politically controversial. She invited Marian Anderson to sing at the Lincoln Memorial (1939) after the DAR refused Anderson the use of their concert hall because of her race. After FDR's death, she became an independent diplomat and moral voice.