Changing Lives
After World War I, the Roosevelts went from Washington back to New York. Here Eleanor stayed away from social activities, instead joining the Women’s City Club, the National Consumers League, the Women’s Division of the Capital State Committee, and the New York Chapters of the League of Women Voters, and the Women’s Trade Union League. She was very active in women’s rights.
When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the United States entered World War II. Eleanor played a big role in helping her husband during war time. She had made sure President did not give up.
She also became an advocate of the rights and needs of the poor. She shared her adventures in a daily syndicated column, “My Day”.(Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project, Google Books)
1933 she had visited West Virginia’s stranded unemployed miner families. She had the Red Cross come in and take care of the families. There was also a Quaker furniture business known as Godlove which she had a special Godlove chair made for herself. She would return several times bringing her husband in tow. In 1937 they inaugurated a new model the community, built on a mountain plateau east of Morgantown which was christened Arthurdale. The community built this in thanks for her role in the controversial Resettlement Administration. She had a huge impact on these families.
From 1941-42 she also served as Assistant Director of Civilian Defense.
After her husband’s death on April 12, 1945, Mrs. Roosevelt still didn’t give up on the people. She continued as a leader changing people’s lives.
Throughout the 1930s and 1940s Eleanor “placed upon the president and the nation to confront the economic and political discrimination facing Black America… Black Americans recognized the depth of her commitment and consequently kept faith with FDR because his wife kept faith with them.” (Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project)
Eleanor was appointed to United Nations Generals Assembly by President Truman, serving as the chair of the Human Rights Commission. In 1953 she resigned so the incoming Republican president could appoint his own representative.
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Like her husband she was an effective speaker and lecturer who also appeared on radio and television throughout the rest of her life.