The Wisdom of Eleanor Roosevelt

Book excerpt: The men and women who shaped our world—in their own words. The Wisdom Library invites you on a journey through the lives and works of the world’s greatest thinkers and leaders. Compiled by scholars, this series presents excerpts from the most important and revealing writings of the most remarkable minds of all time. THE WISDOM OF ELEANOR ROOSEVELT “We must join in an effort to use all knowledge for the good of all human beings. When we do that we shall have nothing to fear.” John F. Kennedy described Eleanor Roosevelt as “one of the great ladies in the history of this country.” A role model for generations of women, Mrs. Roosevelt made an indelible mark as First Lady. Although painfully shy, she never hesitated to publicly champion the poor, minorities, women and other victims of discrimination. She was among the twentieth century’s most active civil rights pioneers, compelling her husband to sign a series of Executive Orders barring discrimination in the administration of various New Deal projects, and supporting desegregation of the armed forces. Her groundbreaking column, “My Day,” ran in national newspapers for twenty-six years. During her tenure as U.S. delegate to the United Nations, she was the principal author of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She also maintained close friendships and correspondences with notable statespeople, including her husband’s successor, Harry S. Truman, who declared her “First Lady of the World.” With revealing excerpts from her letters and published work, The Wisdom of Eleanor Roosevelt delves into the passions and concerns that drove this exceptional humanitarian. Here is a fascinating and essential tribute to a woman ahead of her time, whose actions truly conveyed her words, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”