History

The Savvy, Salty Political Saint

Eleanor Roosevelt was not just an idealistic First Lady. As a new collection of papers reveals, she was also a smart, disciplined and unabashed strategist.

By Julia Baird | NEWSWEEK

Dec 24, 2007 Issue | Updated: 2:33 p.m. ET Dec 15, 2007

« Return to Article

Discuss

Posted By: Soti @ 05/02/2008 12:47:06 AM

Comment: All three web pages on FDR's women I consider a great work , which was the comment I made after hurriedly reading the first page. There is no doubt the author is also a great writer. FDR and ER are both
great leaders who are also smart and intelligent to the extent that they gave the state the quality of leasership
needed at that point in history whitout allowing their private life obtrude unnecessarily in the state functions
they owed American citizens. May be when the authors can give a fuller story on the role Lucy played in the
lives of FDR and ER, we mayl find , that Lucy also played a great complimentery role in their greatness.
There is always a place in history for women leaders to make thire mark in our male dominated states
leadership. Hillary should not give up her quest even if she is not elected president at this time.

Soti.
Posted By: Soti @ 05/02/2008 12:46:15 AM

Comment: All three web pages on FDR's women I consider a great work , which was the comment I made after hurriedly reading the first page. There is no doubt the author is also a great writer. FDR and ER are both
great leaders who are also smart and intelligent to the extent that they gave the state the quality of leasership
needed at that point in history whitout allowing their private life obtrude unnecessarily in the state functions
they owed American citizens. May be when the authors can give a fuller story on the role Lucy played in the
lives of FDR and ER, we mayl find , that Lucy also played a great complimentery role in their greatness.
There is always a place in history for women leaders to make thire mark in our male dominated states
leadership. Hillary should not give up her quest even if she is not elected president at this time.

Soti.
Posted By: Soti @ 05/02/2008 12:45:24 AM

Comment: All three web pages on FDR's women I consider a great work , which was the comment I made after hurriedly reading the first page. There is no doubt the author is also a great writer. FDR and ER are both
great leaders who are also smart and intelligent to the extent that they gave the state the quality of leasership
needed at that point in history whitout allowing their private life obtrude unnecessarily in the state functions
they owed American citizens. May be when the authors can give a fuller story on the role Lucy played in the
lives of FDR and ER, we mayl find , that Lucy also played a great complimentery role in their greatness.
There is always a place in history for women leaders to make thire mark in our male dominated states
leadership. Hillary should not give up her quest even if she is not elected president at this time.

Soti.
Posted By: Soti @ 05/02/2008 12:44:56 AM

Comment: All three web pages on FDR's women I consider a great work , which was the comment I made after hurriedly reading the first page. There is no doubt the author is also a great writer. FDR and ER are both
great leaders who are also smart and intelligent to the extent that they gave the state the quality of leasership
needed at that point in history whitout allowing their private life obtrude unnecessarily in the state functions
they owed American citizens. May be when the authors can give a fuller story on the role Lucy played in the
lives of FDR and ER, we mayl find , that Lucy also played a great complimentery role in their greatness.
There is always a place in history for women leaders to make thire mark in our male dominated states
leadership. Hillary should not give up her quest even if she is not elected president at this time.

Soti.
Posted By: AirBorne All The Way @ 05/01/2008 10:41:51 PM

Comment: when will we see an expose about Woodrow Wilson's second wife-and his illness in his second term- during which we entered WW! (a mistake as 20-20 hindsight has shown) and the power she wielded even before women got the right to vote in 1920-and look who they picked- Old Warren G. Hardon-because he "looked like a President should" was the word on that-all men are governed by their zippers as much as their brains (if they have any) and a rare few-by their heart as well- Hell even Patton had several affairs-one with a niece (as possibly did Hitler before he met Eva-0h life is strange indeed-
Posted By: debutaunt @ 05/01/2008 10:20:40 PM

Comment: E.R. was a godly, woman? A saint? No, Mr. and ms. gullible, she was a lesbian. Hillary is a lesbian. What does smart have to do with anything. All I hear anymore is how smart these infidels are, and how superior the liberal mind is to the stupid right wing nut case. Well, someday God will tell us which is which as the sinner is cast into outer darkness for eternity. There will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of buck teeth.
Posted By: mpavelin @ 05/01/2008 10:20:32 PM

Comment: I feel sad that the author feels they must compare Eleanor to Hillary ..... two distinctly different women who survived their husband's dailiance .... but they should not be compared in their importance to the history of females in our world - or even "political females". Perhaps we can revisit this issue in 50 years - then compare them to see how each fulfilled their life's roles --- Eleanor then and Hillary now is discussing apples and oranges!
Posted By: old bird @ 05/01/2008 9:29:24 PM

Comment: To Newsphile,
I must take issue with your denying that Hillary has integrity. She is savvy, and she is suited for our times. Please realize that the press of Eleanor's time was quite willing to turn a blind eye to his escapades, and the press of Hillary's time is ready and waiting to create rifts, issues and controversy to keep filling 24/7 news appetites. While she may have misspoken or embellished landing under fire, the point is that SHE WAS THERE. She was not baking cookies, hosting children's book parties, but being out there. Please compare her to a modern first lady. Barbara? She was lucky that the press did not disclose her husband's philandering. Laura? Please. Where was she when he was choking on a pretzel? Oh, yes, she was in Africa, pursuing children's literacy rights.
Posted By: newsphile @ 05/01/2008 8:51:49 PM

Comment: Hillary is nothing like Eleanor. Eleanor said a woman candidate should have integrity. That lets Hillary out. She even lies about landing under fire, and call it mispeak. I believe those with integrity call it lie. We have not forgotten the shameful Clinton years in the White House nor their shameful exit. She is using Eleanor for her own purposes. This is also shameful.
Posted By: rowena @ 05/01/2008 7:03:20 PM

Comment: I think there is a very important lesson in what "drhudy" says regarding both E.R. and H.R.C.
Please read it.
E.R.arrived as an afternoon guest at the house across the street from where I lived at in college at S.U. I and all my housemates went out to meet her as she exited from the car. She
was one of the two most gracious women I have ever had the pleasure to meet. (The
other was the daughter-in-law of President Einaudi of Italy.) We saw and greeted her for
possibly five minuites, but at the end of that time, we all felt that she had spoken to each one of us on our own level for whatever time it took. It was one of her great charms, that she could make the person she was speaking with feel totally important!. I was not of the same
political party, but I certainly would have voted for her if she had run for anything! Everyone
speaks of her as being "buck-toothed and unattractive", but when you met her - she was one of the most beautiful persons I've ever had the pleasure to meet!
Thank you, Eleanor, for adding to my life! posted by Connie @ 5/01/2008 3:50 pm Mt.Time
that she had spoken to each of us, and that we were all very important to her.
Posted By: drhudy @ 05/01/2008 9:08:16 AM

Comment: I wish every young woman just starting her career would read Blanche Cook's volumes on E.R. No other woman in recent history has been so loved and yet so politically effective without sounding strident and whiny. If Senator Clinton wants to win this nomination and eventually the election, she needs to take another look at Eleanor and understand that she needs to quit trying to prove she is "one of the boys" and go the further step to show that she can do the job BECAUSE she is an incredibly strong, smart and competent woman not IN SPITE of that fact.
- Posted By: Jennifer72 @ 05/02/2008 15:32:23
  
  Comment: The biggest difference is that Hillary Clinton is not trying to maintain the facade of a well protected flower. Eleanor Roosevelt was not branded as strident and whiney because she insisted she had no influence over power let alone power of her own.
  
  Whatever your view of her politics the English language has more than enough words to negatively describe Hillary Clinton without enforcing gender stereotypes. Shrill, Strident and Hysterical (except as in funny) are exclusively used for women. We do not and should not accept racially tainted words used for Obama. The same courtesy should be extended to Clinton. It is not a matter of who you support politically but should be a matter of what kind of society we wish to be.
Posted By: jewelz4208 @ 05/01/2008 8:44:13 AM

Comment: I'm sure E.R. would be thrilled to see how far women have come from their status of "well protected flowers." That a 44 year old woman is characterized as a "cougar" for a relationship with a man 12 years her junior is sad. At what age does a woman become a "cougar" anyway, or does ANY woman dating a younger man fit the description? Sadly, no one would ever characterize FDR as the first high profile "Humbert" for his relationships with younger women...Men have been doing that thruout history, and no one bats an eye.
Posted By: jewelz4208 @ 05/01/2008 7:45:39 AM

Comment: I'm sure E.R. would be thrilled to see how far women have come from their status of "well protected flowers." That a 44 year old woman is characterized as a "cougar" for a relationship with a man 12 years her junior is sad. At what age does a woman become a "cougar" anyway, or does ANY woman dating a younger man fit the description? Sadly, no one would ever characterize FDR as the first high profile "Humbert" for his relationships with younger women...Men have been doing that thruout history, and no one bats an eye.
Posted By: jewelz4208 @ 05/01/2008 7:32:15 AM

Comment: I'm sure E.R. would be thrilled to see how far women have come from their status of "well protected flowers." That a 44 year old woman is characterized as a "cougar" for a relationship with a man 12 years her junior is sad. At what age does a woman become a "cougar" anyway, or does ANY woman dating a younger man fit the description? Sadly, no one would ever characterize FDR as the first high profile "Humbert" for his relationships with younger women...Men have been doing that thruout history, and no one bats an eye.
Posted By: marilyn1000 @ 05/01/2008 7:27:56 AM

Comment: Although Mrs. Roosevelt and Hillary Clinton are both determined and strong women, the big difference is that Mrs. Roosevelt was an honest individual interested in others whereas Hillary Clinton is dishonest and more interested in herself.
Posted By: jewelz4208 @ 05/01/2008 7:11:55 AM

Comment: I'm sure E.R. would be thrilled to see how far women have come from their status of "well protected flowers." That a 44 year old woman is characterized as a "cougar" for a relationship with a man 12 years her junior is sad. At what age does a woman become a "cougar" anyway, or does ANY woman dating a younger man fit the description? Sadly, no one would ever characterize FDR as the first high profile "Humbert" for his relationships with younger women...Men have been doing that thruout history, and no one bats an eye.
Posted By: jewelz4208 @ 05/01/2008 7:11:45 AM

Comment: I'm sure E.R. would be thrilled to see how far women have come from their status of "well protected flowers." That a 44 year old woman is characterized as a "cougar" for a relationship with a man 12 years her junior is sad. At what age does a woman become a "cougar" anyway, or does ANY woman dating a younger man fit the description? Sadly, no one would ever characterize FDR as the first high profile "Humbert" for his relationships with younger women...Men have been doing that thruout history, and no one bats an eye.
Posted By: Barb D @ 05/01/2008 4:14:19 AM

Comment: Mrs. Roosevelt was an intelligent, strong, courageous and forceful woman who accomplished great things with great difficulty. She was a woman ahead of her time, caught in a marriage to a very strong and intelligent man with physical disabilities and a wandering eye, quite acceptable in his time and social standing. Franklin and Eleanor were distant cousins who knew each other all of their lives. The similarities between Eleanor and Hillary are numerous but the most important one is their shared committment to do something extraordinary. Mrs. Roosevelt persevered throughout her life and her accomplishments were great. Many women of the time admired and followed her though their own lives did not allow them to ever imagine the freedom to travel and work in the UN etc. as Mrs. Roosevelt did. Her determination, financial background, upbringing and intelligence allowed her the freedom only envied by her contemporaries of the time. Mrs. Roosevelt would have enjoyed watching the determination of Mrs. Clinton to also persevere through a maze of less capable men. Eleanor would have made a great first woman President and most assuredly would have cheered on Hillary!
Posted By: Barb D @ 05/01/2008 3:59:12 AM

Comment: Mrs. Roosevelt was an intelligent woman, ahead of her time. She was able to accomplish extraordinary things because of her strength, courage, intelligence and determination. I am looking forward to reading her papers. Barb D.
Posted By: ayeshakapoorpr @ 02/01/2008 5:18:15 AM

Comment: everyone is talking about the first BOLLYWOOD lesbian film

NEW* - 'WHEN KIRAN MET KAREN' TEASER 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVyC0AQK07Q

WHEN KIRAN MET KAREN - TEASER 1 on YOUTUBE/REDIFF
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Au8B8K06og (HITS 11,308 / 34 days)
http://ishare.rediff.com/filevideo.php?id=89609 (HITS 22,718 / 27 days)

Regards, Jai Mata Di - Manan Singh Katohora
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1355459/
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/manansinghkatohora/
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/WorldwideFilmDistribution/

For more about me - Please GOOGLE 'Manan Katohora'
Or Check #39 TOP 50 Indian-Americans http://www.desiclub.com/community/culture/culture_article.cfm?id=242

WHEN KIRAN MET KAREN - MAINSTREAM AMERICA BUZZ
http://in.movies.yahoo.com/news-detail/17639/Safe-no-fun-says-actress-portraying-lesbian.html
http://www.businessofcinema.com/boc/?file=story&id=6551
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080114/aqm096.html?.v=30
http://www.sunherald.com/447/story/298349.html
http://www.moviescopemag.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=448&Itemid=10046
http://digitalproducer.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=277378
http://www.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=277378
http://philadelphia.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/prnewswire/press_releases/national/India/2008/01/14/AQM096
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/crosscultural-lesbian-bollywood-film--wkmk-completes-production,255438.shtml
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080114/aqm096.html?.v=30
http://www.launchingfilms.com/cgi-bin/newsfeed.pl?s=200801141000PR_NEWS_USPR_____AQM096.anp
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=prnw.20080114.AQM096&show_article=1
http://www.bolsamania.com/internacional/noticia.php?origen=feed_prnews.noticias&id=AQM09614012008-1&isin=
http://www.mywire.com/pubs/PRNewswire/2008/01/14/5397609?&pbl=7
http://www.naachgaana.com/2008/01/15/lesbian-film-wkmk-completes-production/
http://www.nowrunning.com/news/news.aspx?it=13514
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1146505

NEW* - 'WHEN KIRAN MET KAREN' TEASER 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVyC0AQK07Q

WHEN KIRAN MET KAREN - TEASER 1 on YOUTUBE/REDIFF
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Au8B8K06og (HITS 11,308 / 34 days)
http://ishare.rediff.com/filevideo.php?id=89609 (HITS 22,718 / 27 days)
Posted By: zach55 @ 01/28/2008 9:24:18 PM

Comment: It's said that Eleanor once met her husband on boomermingle.com, Someone has seen her profile on that site, is that true?
Posted By: williefank @ 12/20/2007 6:52:31 PM

Comment: Trying to associate Eleanor with Hillary...At long last, have you liberals no shame?
Posted By: RobinGerber @ 12/20/2007 1:05:18 PM

Comment: It's true that Franklin Roosevelt was seen as the political strategist, even though Eleanor shared his passion and talent for political battle. She told women that they had to learn to play the game of politics as men do, and wasn't above political chicanery even as far back as the 1920's. She wasn't a saint, but rather a person of enormous conviction with the courage to withstand her legions of detractors. Unfortunately, she never chose to run, but she would have supported Hillary all the way, I'm sure.
- Posted By: sean2002 @ 12/21/2007 15:59:02
  
  Comment: Now, I have great respect for Eleanor. Based on my understanding of Eleanor, I don't see she would support Hillary (just like many leading progressive women haven't supported Hillary in this primary) for two reasons.
  
  First of all, Hillary is not a real progressive. She hasn't shown us that she is true to her convictions but more a politician whose ultimate goal is power and status.
  
  Secondly, she voted for this unnecessary war. I am almost certain (even though I am not Eleanor), Eleanor would oppose the war steadfastly since the start.
Posted By: mkminter @ 12/19/2007 12:28:40 PM

Comment: I liked the history article about Eleanor D., especially the line: "We think we know her, but we do not, and the myths we choose to believe may tell us more about ourselves than they do about her." However, I was frustrated by not having information given about the author of the article, Ms. Baird; usually Newsweek provides a byline paragraph at the end of an article giving information about the author's credibility. There was good info about the new book by Allida Black, "The Human Rights Years;" however, that was a bit disjointed and hard to follow. I would also recommend regarding Eleanor's life: "No Ordinary Time," by Doris Kearns Goodwin (1994).
Posted By: mkminter @ 12/19/2007 12:23:14 PM

Comment: I like Julia Baird's article on Eleanor R., especially the line: "We think we know her, but we do not, and the myths we choose to believe may tell us more about ourselves than they do about her." However, I was very frustrated that Newsweek's editors failed to include (as they usually do) the byline including information about the author of the article, Ms. Baird; who is she? what's her background/credibility? Good plug for the new book by Allida Black (ed.), "The Human Rights Years, 1945-48. However, I would also recommend: "No Ordinaray Time" by Doris Kearns Goodwin for a glimpse into E.D.
Posted By: itruth @ 12/18/2007 8:54:55 PM

Comment: Eleanor would have been dismayed by the chauvinistic, blatantly sexist treatment that the media has inflicted on Hillary Clinton since the Oct. debate in Philadelphia when callow Obama and Edwards first attacked her, and she chose to fight back. Clinton is obviously the best qualified candidate of both the Democrats and Repbublicans. But she's ripped apart daily by the media's double standards while tjhese same unethical journalists are practically deifying Obama.
Posted By: sheilab @ 12/18/2007 10:50:57 AM

Comment: Why does the media feel the need to constantly lump Eleanor Roosevelt and Hillary Clinton together? I can honestly use that often quoted statement. Hillary you're no Eleanor Roosevelt. Forget about it?
Posted By: rstultz52 @ 12/17/2007 1:58:31 PM

Comment: Do you really feel that any of the current candidates would meet this requirements?
The one who wins our trust because of her unquestionable integrity. The one who deserves the presidency because of their own merit and ability as a person.
I currently do not
Posted By: rstultz52 @ 12/17/2007 1:57:15 PM

Comment: Do you really feel that any of the current candidates would meet this requirements?
The one who wins our trust because of her unquestionable integrity. The one who deserves the presidency because of their own merit and ability as a person.
I currently do not
Posted By: sean2002 @ 12/16/2007 7:15:35 PM

Comment: I hope it will only become a reality when she is elected as an individual because of her capacity and the trust which the majority of the people have in her integrity and ability as a person."

Eleanor's above statement demonstrates her intelligence and depth. As a woman she was fully aware of the significance of a female president for women collectively and for the history. Even so, she didn???t think we should rush to elect any first woman as our president, but the right one. The one who wins our trust because of her unquestionable integrity. The one who deserves the presidency because of her own merit and ability as a person.

Does Hillary fit the bill? I doubt. At least, so far she hasn???t won me over and the gap for her to close the deal is huge.
- Posted By: itruth @ 12/18/2007 20:51:11
  
  Comment: Media bias against women hasn't changed much since Eleanor Roosevelt's day. We've alll been subjected to weeks of toxic wasted heaped upon us by a predominantly chauvinistic media and a bunch of Hillary Hating Naderites who have nominated Obama for sainthood (Oprah's "He's the one.") The neocon conservative columnist David Brooks' in the NY Times today even attributes "transformational" powers to Obama, suggesting that they compensate for his slacking off in the senate and overall lack of experience. Hillary Clinton is obviously hte best qualified candidate among both the Democratic and Republican ranks, but misogyny still reigns in the US.
  - Posted By: mac2007 @ 12/18/2007 23:39:03
    
    Comment: I do agree with your media bias observation. But the bias is not against Hillary but toward Hillary. As a candidate, Hillary is overwhelmingly covered since the start comparing to her fellow opponents, not because of anything but because her last name is Clinton. That's why without trying she has beem the front runner. Eleanor's words is wise; she points to us--yes it is important we will have a female president, but it has to be the right one. The one who proves to us by her own merits, abilities and integrity. In addition to her name recognition, I don't see any reason I should vote for Hillary, especially witnessing her dishonest campaign tactics. I think if Eleanor is alive now, she probably would not support Clinton because of her stand on Iraq War and her wavering attitudes towards many progressive issues.

Top Story

Latest News

The Savvy, Salty Political Saint

Discuss

Posted By: Soti @ 05/02/2008 12:47:06 AM

Posted By: Soti @ 05/02/2008 12:46:15 AM

Posted By: Soti @ 05/02/2008 12:45:24 AM

Posted By: Soti @ 05/02/2008 12:44:56 AM

Posted By: AirBorne All The Way @ 05/01/2008 10:41:51 PM

Posted By: debutaunt @ 05/01/2008 10:20:40 PM

Posted By: mpavelin @ 05/01/2008 10:20:32 PM

Posted By: old bird @ 05/01/2008 9:29:24 PM

Posted By: newsphile @ 05/01/2008 8:51:49 PM

Posted By: rowena @ 05/01/2008 7:03:20 PM

Posted By: drhudy @ 05/01/2008 9:08:16 AM

Posted By: Jennifer72 @ 05/02/2008 15:32:23

Posted By: jewelz4208 @ 05/01/2008 8:44:13 AM

Posted By: jewelz4208 @ 05/01/2008 7:45:39 AM

Posted By: jewelz4208 @ 05/01/2008 7:32:15 AM

Posted By: marilyn1000 @ 05/01/2008 7:27:56 AM

Posted By: jewelz4208 @ 05/01/2008 7:11:55 AM

Posted By: jewelz4208 @ 05/01/2008 7:11:45 AM

Posted By: Barb D @ 05/01/2008 4:14:19 AM

Posted By: Barb D @ 05/01/2008 3:59:12 AM

Posted By: ayeshakapoorpr @ 02/01/2008 5:18:15 AM

Posted By: zach55 @ 01/28/2008 9:24:18 PM

Posted By: williefank @ 12/20/2007 6:52:31 PM

Posted By: RobinGerber @ 12/20/2007 1:05:18 PM

Posted By: sean2002 @ 12/21/2007 15:59:02

Posted By: mkminter @ 12/19/2007 12:28:40 PM

Posted By: mkminter @ 12/19/2007 12:23:14 PM

Posted By: itruth @ 12/18/2007 8:54:55 PM

Posted By: sheilab @ 12/18/2007 10:50:57 AM

Posted By: rstultz52 @ 12/17/2007 1:58:31 PM

Posted By: rstultz52 @ 12/17/2007 1:57:15 PM

Posted By: sean2002 @ 12/16/2007 7:15:35 PM

Posted By: itruth @ 12/18/2007 20:51:11

Posted By: mac2007 @ 12/18/2007 23:39:03

Reply

Report Abuse

STRATEGIES

Rock-and-Roll Fantasy

CAMPAIGN 2008

A Convention Quandary

Subscribe Now

Partners