Today, 11 October, is the birthday of Eleanor Roosevelt. Let’s celebrate!
Although I won’t go as far as Hillary Clinton and want to channel her, Eleanor is one of my favorite first ladies. I admire her for her lived conviction of peace and for the rights of women and children. Her work in drafting the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and efforts for the rights of women makes her, in my opinion, “a top 3” in any listing of first ladies.
What is the role of a first lady? Yes, there is a lot of ceremony and “hostess with the most-ess” duties, yet, each first lady is to have a cause and a focus for which she promotes and labors. Admittedly, in all the wrongs needing righted and the causes needing championed, having a first lady in your corner helps a great deal. It are the women who took a stand and made effective change be it in interior decorating, beautifying the landscape, health, children, or literacy that we remember.
Although it doesn’t seem as if there is one on the near horizon, it would be quite fascinating one day to have a first man. How would that go over? What would be his cause? How would he host a White House dinner party?
In case you’re curious, my top 5 of first ladies includes: Betty Ford, Lady Bird Johnson, Rosalyn Carter, Michele Obama, and, as mentioned, Eleanor Roosevelt.There is a clear reason for each. Yes, it leans very strongly to the left of the aisle…..really, no surprise, right?
Who’s in your top 5?
sj;
The left of the aisle is a grand place to be. I have come to admire Eleanor Roosevelt the more I have learned about her. Hats off to Hillary Clinton for lettng it be known she wasn't going to be a first lady who hosted tea parties too. And she surely didn't. Thanks for the nice thoughts and reminders about these important women.
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