Honoring Eleanor Roosevelt

First lady recalled as 125th birthday nears
By Patti Ahern, October 9, 2009
Chicago Tribune

Powerful women today -- Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Nancy Pelosi -- don't hold a candle to Eleanor Roosevelt in terms of how they'll be remembered by historians, a number of experts say on the eve of what would have been the former first lady's 125th birthday.

"I can't think of anybody equivalent to Eleanor Roosevelt," said Jessica Michna, who will portray the social justice advocate at a fundraising party in Huntley for the American Association of University Women. "She was such a star on the horizon -- a comet coming through, and comets don't come through that often. I cannot think of another person in the world to have left such a footprint."

Roosevelt's legacy is powerful enough to have inspired a new organization, the Eleanor Roosevelt Society, at Roosevelt University in Chicago. Founded by student Mallory Umar, the group provides the opportunity to follow Roosevelt's path of serving the community."Roosevelt University is a social justice institution, and I'm inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt," said Umar, a senior psychology and sociology major. "The society will allow for students to be out in the community, and work in unique organizations from a wide range of backgrounds." The organizations have "green" initiatives, help animals, or work with the mentally disabled, to name a few, she said.

Sarah Manzeske, director of the Center for Student Involvement at Roosevelt, said the former first lady, who died almost 47 years ago, sought to raise awareness of social issues and applauded the university's goal to provide education to both sexes, without regard to race.

"Eleanor was ahead of her time and cared deeply about people. She realized that not everyone is born into a privileged life. Our students see themselves as part of a huge, connected world and that's what being a part of this [Roosevelt] society is," Manzeske said.

That Roosevelt still inspires people today comes as no surprise to Robin Gerber, who wrote "Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Way." Gerber said Roosevelt's relevance to the present is "growing every day" because the United States is experiencing some of the same issues that were faced in the country when her husband, Franklin, was president.

Finding someone in public life today who might have the same passions and convictions as Roosevelt was not easy for Gerber to do.

"Hillary Clinton talks about Eleanor being a role model, and they are both women of great conviction. Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives -- we may look back on her and see incredible leadership. Michelle Obama cares deeply about public service and could make millions of bucks in a law firm, but shows a commitment to public service," Gerber said.

She suggests that probably thousands of people are quietly following in Roosevelt's footsteps every day, making changes with the same convictions or the same persistence to social reform. They're anonymous and getting little or no attention, Gerber said.

The AAUW in Huntley as well as nationally is using Roosevelt's 125th birthday on Sunday to raise money to help support education, research and legislative work on behalf of women, areas of great interest to Roosevelt.

"She was a champion for social justice in the area of discrimination and racism -- issues that plague us today," said Diane Ayers, president of Huntley's AAUW.

Michna and R.J. Lindsey will appear at a birthday party as the Roosevelts, while guests will sample Roosevelt-era food and dress in period clothing.

Michna has given historical performances for about 10 years, starting out as Mary Todd Lincoln. Along the way, she said, people began asking her to consider giving Roosevelt performances.

"Her message is so relevant today and I can think of several things that are just as important today as in Eleanor's time.

"She was a patriot in that she served the country and fellow citizens. She saw struggle, but she did not have false compassion," Michna said.

Erik Gellman, an assistant professor in the Department of History and Philosophy at Roosevelt University, is a specialist in the study of civil rights during the New Deal era. Gellman said Roosevelt was an essential advocate of civil rights in her husband's administration.

"She gave African-Americans hope during the Depression that major civil rights legislation was on the way," Gellman said. "And her early stand against segregation and racial violence would, by the end of the war, help transform civil rights into human rights with the formation of the United Nations.

"That isn't to say she supported all of the goals of American civil rights activists, but she was ahead of her time and understood the limitations of both Democratic and Cold War politics," Gellman said.

"It's hard to think of first ladies who have had an impact on politics and culture the way Eleanor Roosevelt did. No one immediately comes to mind.

"She was one of a kind."