ELEANOR

Eleanor Roosevelt is a personal idol of mine as well as millions of Americans in

the 40’s, 50’s and to this day. She had a great influence on the policies of her husband,

FDR, during his four terms and established for herself a reputation for advocating DEI

long before the acronym became a common term in our lexicon. Early on she was a

member of the Women’s Trade Union League working to expand roles for women in the

work place. As First Lady, Eleanor pushed FDR to take a more assertive position on

human rights, especially for African Americans. To that end Eleanor arranged for

Marian Anderson to sing on the steps of the White House after she was denied a venue

by the DAR. She invited hundreds of African Americans to the White House in an era

when that was novel if not unthinkable. She strongly supported anti-lunching legislation

and spoke out against anti-Japanese prejudice before and after WW II. For decades she

was voted the most admired women in America and her efforts for justice and humanity

are unsurpassed.

Eleanor Roosevelt is judged among the the most effective pioneers in DEI

advocacy by historians and common folks alike.