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to be the "new Eleanor yourquestion: thehighpoint It is said that behind write her thoughts, etc. on
Roosevelt," as you may of her role as First Lady in every great man is a pieces of paper, deposit
know Eleanor Roosevelt my opinion was her being great woman. Many them in a basket by his bed,
shunned any thought of my grandfather's "legs, eyes historians see in and he would read them
becorning an active and ears" throughout the Eleanor Roosevelt the every night. At times,
politician herself after lea- U.S. and the world dining inspiration of the huma- Eleanor would simply
ving the White House (and those tumultuous years of nitarian side of the New by-pass FDR, and go direct-
she was at fu'st very his presidency. Because of Deal programs-as ly to m aid or other person
reluctant to accept President his physical disability he opposed to those to make her "suggestions"

Truman's appointment as a was extremely limited in his designed to push for known.
member of the first U.S. own capacity to witness economic recoverya
delegation to the infant things firsthand, and as a Would you comment on Finally, in a world where
United Nations). Some consequence he depended this? politicians of the new
years ago then-First Lady on Eleanor. After her role as generation tend to think
Hillary Clinton said she First Lady, perhaps the high I would perhaps naively more about their
often spoke with my grand- point was her work with the take issue with the idea of personal power and to
mother seeking her counsel. U.N.'s Committee Three and FDR's New Deal programs forget the reason why
I w'sh I had her contact human rights...and her being principally "econo- they are elected, do you
infomiation, as I have offen ability to continue to be an mic" in their focus. My have a particular
needed my grandmother's inspiration to her family, grandfather was extremely message you would
advice and coiu'isel. friends, to other world concerned about the like to convey?
leaders, and complete humanitarian side of the
Your grandmother was strangers. She tnily became lives of those most affected I would like to think that
one of the most famous the "First Lady of the by the Great Depression, those people who elected a
first ladies the United World." and much of the focus of his leader could also remove
States has had. When programs was unprovement that leader should circums-
she was no longer first Is there anybody of social conditions as well tances warrant. We know,
lady, instead of retiring especially a woman - as economic conditions; the however, that in many parts
from public life, in a whom you would rank two went hand-in-hand. As of the world that simply is
sense, she came into with your grandmother his "legs, eyes and ears" to not the case. The fact is that
her own as a public in the United States = or the Nation, Eleanor most this is a world where the
figure of great stature in else where= in the definitely had a tremendous electoral process and the
her own right. What do twentieth century? influence on FDR's unders- vote of the people is at times
you consider to be the tanding of the plight of all irrelevarit to the outcome of
high point of her role as That is a most difficult Americans, and consequent- an election, nor a tnie
first lady, and the high question. There have been ly the direction of many of reflection of the wishes of
point of her public life so many outstanding, his policies. I would remind the people. Of course, this is
afterward? accomplished women of you that it was FDR who, in not a new phenomenon, but
great achievement. If you December of 1941, articula- has been tnue for centiuies.
To be quite honest, when asking specifically about the ted his famous Four That said, I think it is incum-
she leff the White House realm of human rights, there Freedoms, which expressed bent upon every elected
following my grandfather's are some women who have is own commitment and official to be cogmant that
death, Grandm6re wanted achieved a great deal...and belief in hiunan rights. So, they are elected for one rea-
nothing more than to continue to do so. Mary although I think my grand- son, and one reason only; to

disappear :a'om public life. Robinson is one that comes mother provided inspiration serve the people to the best
In fact, there was some to mind immediately. There and impetus for many of my of their ability, above and
considerable pressure for have been many great grandfather's humanitarian beyond any of their own
her to run for the U.S. leaders, women and men. policy considerations, I personal ambitions.

Senate from New York Some who have demonstra- think he too served as an
(sound familiar?). But, she ted tremendous leadership inspiration for Eleanor's David B. Roosevelt, resides
ttuly wished to return to her and been inspirations to later humanitarian work on in Lugano, Switzerland and
beloved Val Kill home at many, have not even been the world stage. They had a is a consultant to intei'-natio-
Hyde Park, continue her great leaders but just most unique and powerful nal philwh'opy and non-
writing, and live a more ordmary folks working at partnersip. As an aside, my goveimnental organizations.
ordinary, sedate life out of the local level. So, I think it grandfather would often
the constant limelight. Only is not wise to make become somewhat exaspe-
President Truman, as I comparisons to the work of rated by my grandmother's
mentioned before, prevailed my grandmother, as each constant barrage of "sugges-
upon her to join the U.S. achieves inher/his ownway. tions," and so she would
delegation to the UN. But to
28 2 2008 Diva

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