Jeffrey

S. Urbin
Education Specialist
Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
4079 Albany Post Road
Hyde Park, New York, 12538
(845) 486-7761

1) What was Eleanor Roosevelts relationship with President Franklin D.
Roosevelt like? Did this relationship shape Eleanor as a leader and an
individual?

At first Franklin and Eleanor were very much in love. But several years into their
marriage Franklin cheated on Eleanor and that fundamentally changed the nature of
their relationship. From then on it was more of a political partnership based on mutual
admiration and shared goals and values. This forced ER to become more independent
and self-reliant and a made her a better leader.

2) How was Eleanor Roosevelt involved in the making of the New Deal plans?
How did she influence FDRs decisions?

Mrs. Roosevelt was a great sounding board for President Roosevelt. She helped to
shape his ideas and policies by going out and finding out what people were thinking
and needing. She reported back to FDR about the things she saw a need for and the
programs, in large measure, were shaped to meet those needs.

3) How did FDRs affair with Lucy Rutherfurd affect Eleanor Roosevelt? Did it
make her more independent? Did it further motivate her as a womens rights
activist?

See answer one. I don't think it had any great influence on her being a womens rights
activist, I think that stemmed more form her fundamental understanding of what is
right and what is wrong.

4) How did FDR and Eleanors relationship rely on codependence and
eventually propel them into the political world?

They each had traits that the other lacked. He was carefree, charming, fun loving,
confident, and out going. She was troubled, shy, bookish, cautious, and patient. So they
complimented each other quite well, then of course they shared the goals of wanting to
help people make a better life for themselves,

5) How did FDRs death impact Eleanor? Did her goals and political position
change?

Naturally Mrs. Roosevelt was greatly saddened by the death of FDR. Shortly after, she
quite wrongly, said, "The Story is over." Shortly after that She began work at the
United Nations and busied herself for the rest of her life with the causes of human
rights, civil rights, women's rights, and activities in the Democratic Party. In many
ways, she had a freer hand to do as she pleased because she was no longer the wife of
the President.

6) What was Eleanors relationship like with Harry S. Truman? How did their
friendship affect his political career?



Mrs. Roosevelt and HST got along very well. He understood that he needed her support
to succeed in what it was that he wanted to accomplish. In most cases they pretty
much saw eye to eye on the important issues of the day.

7) Do you believe that Eleanor became a leader under the shadow of FDR or
was her independence from him what made her renowned as a leader?

I think she was always a leader in the making. She was the type of person who was
always trying to reshape herself into a better person, thereby leading by example even
when she did not have any formal position of leadership.

8) How did Eleanor and FDRs similar political viewpoints strengthen their
ability to make decisions regarding foreign and domestic affairs?

They saw things pretty much the same way and so could get right to work without
having to convince each other about what they should be doing.

9) What legacy did Eleanor Roosevelt leave for the nation? The world? For
women? For the following first ladies?

I think a lot of her legacy rests on the fact that she held true to a specific set of core
values centered around helping others, and she never gave up on that, and found ways
to make things better in big and small ways all along the line. That has been a great
inspiration to generations of Americans and others around the world.

10) What was the public opinion of Eleanor and FDR as political and social
activists? As individuals?

As with all great leaders, some folks loved them, some folks did not. Of course they liked
being liked, but they were far more concerned with helping people to help themselves,
than they were in being concerned with public opinion.