Eleanor Roosevelt and the
power of Service.
It is easy
to believe that rich children of important families are happier than other
children, but Eleanor Roosevelt learned
early in life that this is not always true.
She was born
in New York City about a hundred years ago. Her parents were both members of
old , well-established families. Her uncle was Theodore Roosevelt, who one day
would become President of the United States.
But there
was little happiness in Eleanor’s young life. Her father Elliot Roosevelt
suffered from alcoholism. As his drinking grew worse, family life became more
and more unhappy. Finally, Eleanor’s mother and father separated. When Eleanor
was eight years old, her mother died and Eleanor went to live with her
grandmother. Two years later, two months before Eleanor’s tenth birthday, her
father died.
Five years
later Eleanor was sent to school in England. The headmistress of the school,
Marie Souvestre , saw that Eleanor was a bright girl with hidden talents. She
helped Eleanor learn that she had a quick mind and could be a good student.
Eleanor also discovered she was looked up to as a leader by the other girls.
Marie Souvetre and Eleonor became good friends. They went on vacations together
and Eleanor learned she liked travel. She enjoyed meeting new people and
learning new things.
When Eleanor
returned home she brought with her a new belief in her abilities and the new
interests she had discovered.
From
childhood, Eleanor had known the suffering of other people. Now she wanted to
do something to help.
She believed
she would find happiness in being of service in a very poor section of New York City. A
settlement house provides social services to poor people. For example Eleonor
taught dancing to the children who had no place else to go and gave them the
chance to have fun.
She was
shocked to see the terrible conditions
in which many people in big cities were forced to live.
When she was
24 years old, Eleanor Roosevelt was married to her distant cousin, Franklin
Delano Roosevelt. Now she took on new responsibilities. She helped her husband
as he worked his way through law school, cared for her mother-in-law, and began
to raise a family.
Soon Franklin Roosevelt began career in politics, and the
family moved to Washington, D.C. when the Red Cross, helping wounded soldiers
who had returned from overseas.
Then tragedy
struck once again. Her husband fell ill with polio, a crippling disease common
in those days; he lost the use of his legs. His mother wanted him to give up
politics and live quietly at his family’s home in Hyde Park, New York. But
Eleanor supported Franklin’s desire to go on with his career, encouraging him
on his long struggle back to health and on his return to politics.
While
Franklin was recovering his strength, Eleanor became more active in public
affairs. She gave speeches, taught classes at school for girls, became involved
in business, and was soon accepted as an important member of the Democratic
Party.
In 1928
Franklin Roosevelt was elected governor of new York. Four years later he was
selected President of the United States. The Roosevelts returned to Washington
and made the White house their home until Franklin Roosevelt’s death in 1945.
At first
Eleanor Roosevelt thought her position as First Lady would keep her from
continuing her service to others. But she realized that she had been given a
wonderful opportunity. Soon she was giving weekly press conferences, talking on
the radio, and writing for the newspapers. Always, she urged citizens and
public officials to do more to help those who needed help the most. It was not
long before she became one of the most famous women in the world.
After Franklin Roosevelt ‘s death, President Harry
Truman asked Mrs. Roosevelt to serve as a delegate to the United Nations. She
played a major role in writing the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.
Eleanor
Roosevelt worked for the benefit of humanity until her death. She showed how
service to others is one of the best ways to have and give happiness.
