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Eleanor Roosevelt: the First Lady who changed America
Stepping far beyond traditional hostess duties, Eleanor Roosevelt became the conscience of a nation—championing civil rights, labor dignity, and global human freedom across four turbulent decades.
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Eleanor Roosevelt: the First Lady who changed America 
15. Reimagining The First Lady RoleEleanor transformed a ceremonial White House hostess role into a formidable engine for national political activism. 
14. The "My Day" Daily Newspaper ColumnFor 27 unbroken years, Eleanor authored a syndicated newspaper column six days a week, reaching over four million readers. 
13. Championing Arthurdale & Coal Mining FamiliesDeeply moved by impoverished Appalachian mining communities, Eleanor personally spearheaded the Arthurdale federal homestead. - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
12. Women-Only White House Press ConferencesEleanor barred male journalists from her weekly White House briefings, compelling news agencies to hire female reporters. 
11. The Historic Flight That Launched The Tuskegee AirmenFlying with African American aviator C. Alfred Anderson in 1941, Eleanor demolished racist military stereotypes on the spot. 
10. Resigning From The DAR Over Racial SegregationWhen Constitution Hall barred Black contralto Marian Anderson, Eleanor resigned from the Daughters of the American Revolution. 
9. Defying Jim Crow Seating Laws In BirminghamOrdered by Alabama police to sit in the White section of an auditorium, Eleanor defiantly placed her chair directly on the dividing aisle. - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
8. Integrating New Deal Housing & Black Cabinet AccessPartnering with civil rights trailblazer Mary McLeod Bethune, Eleanor fought to ensure federal New Deal aid reached Black Americans. 
7. The 25,000-Mile South Pacific Wartime Morale TourIn 1943, Eleanor donned a Red Cross uniform to travel 25,000 miles across active Pacific combat zones visiting wounded soldiers. 
6. Championing Women In The Wartime Industrial WorkforceEleanor championed equal pay and federally funded childcare so millions of women could enter wartime defense production. 
5. Calming The 1940 Democratic National ConventionBecoming the first First Lady to address a national political convention, Eleanor quieted a chaotic hall on the brink of revolt. - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
4. Breaking Media Frontiers On Live Radio & BroadcastingEleanor commanded national airwaves with commercially sponsored radio broadcasts, donating 100% of her pay to charity. 
3. Named First U.S. Delegate To The United NationsPresident Harry S. Truman appointed Eleanor to the inaugural UN General Assembly, dubbing her 'The First Lady of the World.' 
2. Chairing The President's Commission On The Status Of WomenAppointed by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, Eleanor spearheaded the landmark federal investigation into gender inequality. 
1. Drafting The Universal Declaration Of Human RightsEleanor guided fractured Cold War nations to author the Magna Carta for all humankind, adopted unanimously by the UN in 1948. - Advertisement
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