Eleanor's Legacy

Eleanor Roosevelt transformed the role of first lady, challenged the Democratic Party to practice what it preached, and jump-started the international conversation on human rights.

As teacher, party activist, first lady, journalist, social reformer and diplomat – ER lent her considerable energy to issues of grave concern to women: education, health care, equal employment, and child care. She also insisted that "women learn to the play the game" as well as "men do," that it was "up to the women" to craft policies that address their concerns, and that women have seats at every table the Democratic Party assembled.