Eleanor Roosevelt, the Life and Times

\\\\\\\"Eleanor Roosevelt, The Life and Times\\\\\\\"

A Report by Justin Bobal

Prepared for Ms. Brenneman

by Justin Bobal

Filename: C:My Documentseler.wpdTable of Contents

<< Table of Contents will generate here >>The Introduction

'\\\\\\\"To be the thing we seem

to do the thing we deem

enjoyed by duty

To walk in faith nor dream

of questioning God\\\\\\\'s scheme

of truth and beauty\\\\\\\"\\\\\\\'

This poem was composed by Eleanor Roosevelt at the age of fifteen. It signifies her life as a whole, never questioning what God\\\\\\\'s mission was for her, but knowing what it was he wanted. She set forth and accomplished many things in politics, and for human kind alike. Even though she was born into a wealthy family, Eleanor Delano Roosevelt overcame many hardships that could have thrown her off the beaten path, and remained strong to lend a helping hand in the matters of the world.

Born Eleanor Roosevelt on October 11, 1884 her life even though filled with (Lash 27) prestige, was not the easiest one to grow up with. By the age of six she had already visited Italy many times, and was sent to live in a French convent. When her mother contracted diphtheria, she was forced to move back to New York and live with her Godmother Mrs. Parish. (Roosevelt 6)

Due to the extreme pressures of what was happening around him, her father Elliot Roosevelt, began to turn to the bottle. Due to his alcoholism, he was sent to a sanitarium in Paris, where he could hopefully get better. Shortly after though on December 7, 1892 , Eleanor\\\\\\\'s mother died from complications of diphtheria.(Harrity 12)

Being unfit to take care of the children, her father moved to Southwest Virginia to seek help for his alcoholism.. Eleanor was sent to live with her Grandmother in New York. Even though being separated

Eleanor and her father still communicated through letters which spoke of activities that they would participate in teogether. August 14, 1894, due to complications of his alcoholism, Elliot Roosevelt died, Eleanor was at the age of ten at this time. She had loved her father dearly even though he had been absent from most of her childhood.(Roosevelt 9)

\\\\\\\"'He was the one great love of my life as a child, and in fact like many children I have lived a dream life with him; so his memory is still a vivid, living thing to me\\\\\\\'\\\\\\\" (Lash 27)

To get through those hard times, relied on the rest of her family for love and guidance. She had adored her Aunts, Maude and \\\\\\\"pussie\\\\\\\", whom took over the role of her mother, educating her in anyway possible. (Kearney 9)

\\\\\\\"Very early, I became conscious of the fact that there were people around me who suffered in one way or another\\\\\\\" (Roosevelt 12)

At the age of nineteen, Eleanor joined the Junior League. She began helping the unfortunate people around New York City, by keeping children of immigrants entertained. She also worked with the children of the Rivington Street Settlement House, when she could find the time. She was an avid memebr of the Consumer\\\\\\\'s League. She investigated the textile and garment factories, to inspect the quality of the facilities provided to the workers. Even though helping out with the community she still found some time to enjoy life. (Roosevelt 40)

She frequently visited her soon to be husband, Franklin Roosevelt, who was attending law school at Harvard University. After spending countless hours with Franklin, he purposed to her, and the engagement

was announced in the Autumn of 1904. (Roosevelt 44) Soon after graduating from Harvard University, he sought to extend his college education by attending courses at Columbia University.

Thirteen days before the marriage, Theodore Roosevelt , Eleanor\\\\\\\'s uncle, was inaugurated

for a second term. Eleanor and Franklin were in attendance.

\\\\\\\"I told myself I had seen a historical event- and I never expected to see another inauguration