Famous First Ladies

Famous First Ladies

What Does a First Lady Do? The First Lady of the United States is the wife of the president. Being First Lady isn't an ordinary job. First Ladies don't get paid. First Ladies also are very much in the public eye. This gives them the chance to talk to many Americans about causes or projects they believe in. Over the years, First Ladies have worked hard to help the poor; improve the environment, schools, and libraries; and enrich the lives of thousands of children.

Some First Ladies are better known than others. Many famous First Ladies have been more active and outspoken than the rest. This book is about three of the most influential First Ladies. You are about to meet Eleanor Roosevelt, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Eleanor Roosevelt President: Franklin D. Roosevelt Year Elected: 1932 Years in White House: 1933-1945 First Lady quote: No one can let you feel inferior without your permission. One of the most powerful First Ladies was Eleanor Roosevelt. Her husband, Franklin Roosevelt, was president during a difficult time in America. They moved into the White House during the Great Depression of the 1930s, when many people were out of work. They stayed through the mid-1940s, when the United States was in the middle of World War II.

Singing in Washington In 1939, the famous singer Marian Anderson was supposed to sing at Constitution Hall in Washington, D. C. However, the group called the Daughters of the American Revolution, who owned the hall, banned her from singing there. Their reason: she was African-American. Eleanor Roosevelt resigned in protest from the group after the display of discrimination. She then invited Anderson to sing at the Lincoln Memorial, where 75, 000 people saw the concert. Millions more heard Anderson's beautiful voice on the radio.

Eleanor worked hard all her life, even though she was born to wealthy parents. She worked as a reporter and as a humanitarian, giving to people who needed her help. She was the first First Lady to travel all over the world. She shared her experiences with President Roosevelt, and he learned about the hardships people were facing. She went to visit soldiers in war zones in England and the South Pacific during World War II. She met thousands of injured soldiers and spent time talking with them while they were recovering. Eleanor Roosevelt was the first First Lady to become heavily involved in politics. Because of her involvement in world affairs, she was known as the First Lady of the World. In 1945, her husband died of polio, a disease that he had suffered from during his presidency.