Position of First Lady in American Society
This is an excerpt from the paper...
The position of first lady in American society is not codified anywhere. There is no mention of it in the Constitution and no body of law related to it. The recent active participation of Hillary Rodham Clinton in the role has engendered considerable discussion and even opposition, yet she is hardly the first first lady to take an active role in either politics or government. Eleanor Roosevelt was also a very active first lady, and she was also subject to considerable criticism for her political role. She also had no more guidance than any other first lady as to what her role should be, and she shaped that role to her own liking to as great a degree as possible. An analysis of her background, her political life, and her relationship to the policies of the Roosevelt Administration will show how she managed to shape that role and what she contributed to the concept of a first lady. Eleanor Roosevelt has indeed been given credit for altering the position of first lady from the traditional post of social overseer and dutiful wife to that of outspoken public activist and publicist for important causes. She actually served both roles and did not neglect her role as official hostess in the White House. She was the first woman to serve as first lady through two presidential terms since the Ulysses S. Grant administration. Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was born in New York in 1884 to Elliott Roosevelt and Anna Roosevelt. On both sides she was descended from distinguished colonia
. . .
oman whose hard-won, seemingly secure world had collapsed around her. The symptoms of depression were palpable even if she had no clinical label for her anguish.
Lois Scharf further finds that Eleanor's struggle within herself mirrored the struggle in the country to rediscover and redefine social and political values, and Eleanor's political activism hereafter would be involved in trying to make those determinations for the future. Eleanor underwent some redefinition of her own political views during the 1920s. At the time of her marriage, she had opposed suffrage for women, considering it inconsistent with women's proper role. When she became coordinator for the League of Women Voters, however, she worked to keep track of bills on the issue and drafted laws providing for equal representation for men and women.
As noted, Eleanor would become an important supporter of women's political rights, and her power and influence would only increase during the Roosevelt Administration and even beyond it. She honed many of her powers and techniques during Franklin's tenure as Governor of New York. She understood the importance of having accurate factual information and served as her husband's reporter and observer. She also ac
. . .
Some common words found in the essay are:
White House, Dutchess County, Eleanor Roosevelt, Governor York, Anna Roosevelt, Deal Eleanor's, Mercer Eleanor, Adjustment Administration, Finally Roosevelt, Constitution Hall, eleanor roosevelt, white house, eleanor's public, public life, democratic party, press conferences, position lady, world war, assistant secretary navy, dutiful wife, women voters, league women voters, civilian conservation corps, eleanor's public life,
Approximate Word count = 2749
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page)
|
Customer Service
to Over
32,000 Professionally Written Papers!!!
