davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-08
Husbands Mother
Dominated MARRIAGE

Eleanor and Franklin were
married on March IT, 1905, and
might have lived happily ever
after, had it not been for the
dominating presence of her
husbands mother. Sara Delano
Roosevelt was a doting mother
Of her only son. On the uncer-
tain Eleanor her effect was
disastrous. The young wife's
plans for the household were
arbitrarily overridden and her
attempts at disciplining her
five spirited children were fire.
Quently subverted.
Eleanor Roosevelt began to
seek an outlet for her energy
and Illustration in public life
In 1924, she became finance
chairman for the Democratic
Party of New York. She took
full part in her husbands cam
paign for Governor.
When he came to the White
House, she became his eyes and
ears. She inspected orphan
ages, hospitals, coal mines
breadlines and youth groups
One Of her husbands biogra-
pliers, James McGregor Burns
has suggested that she sought
to be wife to the world" be.
cause of the broadening of hel
role as Roosevelt's wife.
When war came. she took or
more arduous assignments. She
visited the King and Queen o.
England and ate with the Gil
stationed in Britain. She VISITED
every one of the fighting fronts
she was gracious, observing
tireless.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-08

at a time when she was vigor-
ously Pumping for peace. Dis
cussing it at her press con-
ference, she said:
II have a horrible feeling
that no one will read it. I don't
think I have any profound
thoughts"
Just as disarming was her
revelation a year later that she
had refused to sit for a portrait
to be hung with other First
Ladies in the White House.
II have no desire to be per-
petuated in the White House"
said the woman whose IL years
there made her the most per-
petual of all the First Ladies.
Leading reporters on a tour
of the Executive Mansion a few
years later she pointed out a
portrait of herself. She said
it was painted by an artist who
had seen her but once and did
it from memory.
That's why it is so pretty
and that's why I have never
liked it," she said. II would
like to burn it and some day
I probably shall"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-08
Served 6 Years
In United Motions

The II years of her widow
hood saw her completing the
conquest of her shy self that
had engaged her all her life,
She was at her Typewriter and
on the lecture platform as
before. In 1945, President Tru-
man named her a delegate to
the United Nations, and for six
years, she served with all her
might and main as a member
of the Human Rights Commits
sion, a body dedicated to the
principal preoccupation of her
life.
In 1851, she resigned, although
the step did not signify in any
way a retirement. She con-
tinued her activities, and also
managed to knit for her grand
children. She startled and de-
lighted the country about that
time with an explanation for
her incredible energy. She
chewed chocolate covered garlic
balls, Mrs. Roosevelt confided.
1t was one Of the few practices
she espoused which was not
widely initiated.
During those years, Mrs.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-08

Marian Anderson to sing in
Constitution Hall all helped
keep the controversy swirling
about her head during her
husbands IL years in the
White House.
Even youth interest got her
in dutch with the critics. One
Of her favorite organizations,
the American Youth Congress,
got her full support and some
of her money until word OF
its Communist connections got
out.
Her naivete of those years,
which may have been more her
belief in the basic honesty of
people, she recorded in her
autobiography. This I Re-
member"
Calling some Of the AlC
leaders to the White House,
she heard their denials of
Communist utilization.
II decided to accept their
word, realizing that sooner or
later the truth would come
out" she said.
She admitted sponsoring
their convention in 1910. even
after 81 was fairly sure that
they were becoming Commu-
MIST dominated"
When she had President
Roosevelt address them, and
he said some harsh things, and
the ayes booed, Mrs. Roose-
welt changed her mind. She
told the group she no longer
could work with it,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-08
HER PHILOSOPHY
Kindness Was the Kew

In the face Of controversy,
amid friends and enemies,
through national and personal
crises, Mrs. Roosevelt remained
ever the gracious, kindly per-
son whose social consciousness
was felt around the world.
In Eleanor Roosevelt's Book
of Common Sense Etiquette, I"
published last month, she
wrote: THE basis for all good
human behavior is kindness. If
you really act toward people
in your home and out of it with
kindness, you will never go
wrong"
Someone asked her in 1910
how she could be so courteous
to a heckler who had inter-
rupted her speech. She replied:
If I had a philosophy, it
would resolve itself into an
effort not to make anybody
suffer unnecessarily"
A personality like Mrs. Roo
sevelt's might never have con-
tanned itself in the traditional
pattern of White House mis-
tresses. She recognized this in
1889 when she wrote that 1T
would be difficult for a Presi-
dents wife today to be only a
hostess and an adornment to
society.
Perhaps the fact that the
adornment part of it struck me
as being rather difficult is why
I have made the effort to do
something on the various prob
lens that come to me in the
mail" she added.
Mrs. Roosevelt seldom talked
about her keen sense Of re-
Sponsibility and self control.
but it came to the fore in an
analysis of her brother, Hall,
who died in 194l.
He had great energy, great
physical strength and great
brilliance of mind but he never
learned elf-discipline," she
wrote Of Hall. II cannot help
having a great sense Of sor-
row for him. knowing that he
must often have felt deeply
frustrated and disappointed by
his own failure to use the
wonderful gifts that were his"
Another key to Mrs. Roose-
velt's personality was her per-
sonal view Of life. II have al
ways seen life personally; that
is, my interest or sympathy is
not aroused by an abstract
cause but by the plight of a
single person I have seen with
my own eyes," she wrote.
out of my response to an
individual develops an aware
ness to the community, then
to the country, and finally to
the world. In each case my
feeling Of obligation to do
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-08

we, in the United Nations,
salute her memory for her
warm humanitarianism and
her deep concern for the I'M
derprivileged," he said.
The Associated Press reported
that in Jerusalem, Israeli
President and Mrs. Izhak Ben
Xvi cabled their deep sympathy
and called Mrs. Roosevelt an
Industrious woman and great
friend"
From Taipei, Nationalist
China, Madame Chang Kali
shek. wife of the president, sent
condolences to the Roosevelt
family.
Former President Herbert
Hoover, who was defeated by
Mrs. Roosevelt's husband in
1882, described her as "a lady
Of fine courage and great de-
votion to her country"
Secretary of State Dean
Rusk said "few have ever lived
so fully or given so much to
others"
President Adolfo Lopez
Mateos Of Mexico described
the grief felt over Mrs. Roose-
velt's death as universal"
Canadian Prime Minister
John Diefenbaker described
her as zone of the great
women Of her generation and
a great humanitarian"
In London, which Mrs.
Roosevelt visited as First Lady
in 1912, at the height of the
blitz. the British Press Asso-
citation said:
Probably no other woman
in American history entered
the lives Of so many other
women as intimately as she
did"
Assistant Secretary of State
w. Averell Hartman, former
Governor of New York, said.
"She has been perhaps the
greatest of all American am
bassadors of good will. Not
only Americans. but people in
every country thought of her
as their friend"
Former New York Gov. and
Senator Herbert H. Lehman,
long a personal friend as wei
as a political associate of Mrs.
Roosevelt, said:
There is no one anywhere in
the world who will not be Deep
ly grieved at the sad news Of
the passing of one of the great
est women of all time. :. :"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-08

insisted on going there-against
the Presidents advice.
Later, Admiral william F.
(BulD Halsey wrote how he
dreaded her impending visit.
But when she departed he was
convinced that every man she
had seen had benefited.
II marveled at her hardi-
hood, both physical and men,
tal." he wrote in 1947. "She
walked for miles and saw pa
tients who were grievously and
gruesomely wounded. But I
marveled most Of all at their
expressions as she leaned over
them"
She was saluted by an Indian
tribe as Princess of Many
Trails" and was a favorite of
cartoonists. But she was also
berated in some quarters as a
meddlesome woman who should
have stayed at home. She ac-
quired in her own right almost
as many critics as her husband,
and their efforts led to her
resignation as second in COM
Of the Office of Civilian
Defense.
She withdrew with a typical
statement: II am quite con-
scious that the attack on that
office was not an attack on
the office itself, but an at
tack on me by those who have
felt that anything done to
make life pleasanter and cas-
Ter for the people as a whole
was in some way useless. /.
If there has to be a fight,
I am glad I am enlisted as
a common soldier with the
many"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-08
Favored Discussion
Over Cup of Tea

Mrs. Roosevelt always be-
lieved in sitting down over a
cup of tea and discussing her
differences with others. One
of the most famous instances
was on the occasion of her
argument with Francis Cardi-
nal Spellman of New York,
with whom she differed on
Federal aid to parochial schools
After several published ex-
changes, amid growing con-
troversy from the partisans of
both sides, the cardinal came
to tea at Mrs. Roosevelt's to
signal the end Of the dialogue
Her convictions brought her
into frequent conflict with dis
senters. She never retreated
however. She did not believe in
birth control, but stated firmly
that only parents who could
afford large families should
have them.
She was often criticized for
the divorces of her children.
She never would discuss them
specifically, but defended di-
vorce as necessary under GER
tain conditions"
But at the end of her life,
she had won the dignity and
honor, which as a child she
had never hoped to achieve.
Supreme Court Justice William
o. Douglas said of her in 1859
that she symbolized "the warm
heart and bright conscience of
this Nation" She had indis-
putably became one of the
greatest women of her time
and had somehow retained the
humility of one who only
wished to serve.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-08

something has stemmed from
one individual and then wild
ened -. to a broader area"
On her Goth birthday she
said in reply to questions that
she supposed her vitality was
"a gift Of God" She outlined
this simple plan for maintain
ing it:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-08
Stole Acceptance
OF Husbands Death

Mrs. Roosevelt was attend
ing a tea on April 8, 1945, when
the telephone call telling her
of the Presidents death came.
Calmly she told the others to
whom she had been speaking
that she must leave, shook
hands with some and departed
for the White House.
II am more sorry for the
people of the country and the
world than I am for u.s." she
said later.
When a shaken Harry Tr-u-
man came to the White House
she made one Of her most
memorable remarks. Mr.. Tru-
man asked what he could do
for her. What can we do for
you, Mr.. President?" she asked
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-08
Her Uncle Was
A President

Mrs. Roosevelt was born in
New York City October IL,
1884, to Elliott and Anna Hall
Roosevelt. Her uncle was
Theodore Roosevelt, the 25th
President of the United States.
Both sides of her family were
socially prominent.
When she was 8 her mother
died and she went to live with
her maternal grandmother. A
year and a half later she was
orphaned.
Her life as a girl was lonely
and shielded. II must have
been very sensitive and with
an inordinate desire for affec-
ton and praise, perhaps brought
on by my plain looks" she
wrote Of herself.
At Is she was sent to France
for three years of study and
when she came back she was
lost in the social whirl.
When she met her fifth
cousin, Franklin D. Roosevelt,
they soon decided on marriage
and she was wed at 10. The
memory of her wedding day
was not all glorious, for her
uncle, Theodore, came to give
the bride away and remained
to usurp the limelight.
In the years when she was
rearing her own family, the
memory of her childhood
caused her to inculcate o sense
of self-reliance in her children.
Mrs. Roosevelt never interfered
with their lives, through many
divorces, political ventures and
business deals. But she re-
manned "a central wisdom on
which all are free to draw"
Eleanor Roosevelt, the i'm
perturbable public figure, was
instantly recognizable from
Buckingham Palace to Indian
village. Eleanor Roosevelt, the
troubled human being, was also
familiar to her contemporaries.
She told her own story in three
volumes Of candid memoirs,
which were collected in 1.-THE
Autobiography of Eleanor
Roosevelt" and eagerly read
the world over.
Characteristically, because
she thought it might help
others who suffer from the
shyness which overshadowed
her early years, she told of
herself as a motherless child,
a gawky girl, a dubious debu-
tante who, to her surprise and
delight, captivated her dashing
distant cousin.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-08
KENNEDY ORDERS
FLAGS LOWERED
TO HALF STAFF

President Kennedy today
ordered the flag flown at
half staff on all Govern
ment property as a tribute
to Mrs. Eleanor Roose-
welt.
The executive order d.
rected that flags remain
at half staff until after
Mrs. RooSevelt's burial
Saturday afternoon.
It applies to flags on
all buildings, grounds and
naval vessels of the Fed
eral Government through
out the Nation and abroad.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-08

Roosevelt's critics gradually
ceased to fume. Those not
genuinely admiring Of her
sincerity and her worth, could
at least pay tribute to her
durability. On her 10th BIRTH
day, Dag Hammarskjold, the
late Secretary General Of the
U. N. amid a Worldwide chorus
of praise for a woman who had
become an institution, thanked
her for Simply being herself"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-08
Eleanor Roosevelt Chose Life Of Usefulness

Eleanor Roosevelt was known
70 three generations as q
woman who never wearied of
veil doing.
r She was drawn to duty as
other women are to love and
nraise. Her passion was to be
useful. Born to be a lady who
Mad only to take her place in
society, she chose instead a
Hffe of supreme usefulness and
became a symbol of devotion to
and concern for those whom
stociety has mistreated.
~ Oblivious alike to praise or
blame, she travelled the world
for 80 years, seeking out the
misunderstood, the oppressed
and the deprived who might
benefit from her attentions.
She could, too, gently lecture
the mighty.
No cause was too hopeless
or obscure to merit her notice.
Her shrill voice, her guileless
pen were at the service of all
who could convince her that
their cause was right. No gath
ering was too large or too
small to daunt her. And she
brought to every occasion, no
matter how tense the atmos-
phere or acrimonious the dis
cussion, an unfailing sense Of
the drawing-room and the
tact Of the hostess she was
bred to be.
Her tirelessness was a cliche
Of modern life.
At odds often with important
perSonages and formidable in
situations, she was serene in
contention, and unyielding. She E,
was aware of her influence,
but not Of herself. She was
equally gracious to king and
common soldier. The most con-
troversial First Lady in a
century. she carried on, after
her husbands death, with I'M
diminished prestige and energy.
She served with enthusiasm
and effectiveness as a delegate
to the United Nations. She be-
came the matriarch of the
Democratic Party.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-08
Welded Power
Within Party

She welded enormous power
within the Democratic Party.
No one who saw her in Chi
cage in 1852 will ever forget
the sight Of her unravelling the
claims of Harry Truman in
behalf of Averell Harriman's
candidacy. She had known
Mr. Hartman all her life, she
remarked with indescribably
effective irrelevance; she pre-
ferred Adlai Stevenson. Mr..
Stevenson was nominated.
Again in 1856, she made her
views known to the convention,
and again these views prevailed.
In 1859, when the Democrats
were searching for a candidate,
all the contenderS were trotted
out. presumably for her inspec-
ton, at her 18th birthday party,
which was one of the innumer-
able occasions on which she was
to hear herself described as
1.-THE First Lady of the World. I"
Mrs. Roosevelt was dressed in
pink chiffon and wearing the
sensible black shoes which mark
the incorrigible walker. She
effortlessly held the center of
the stage.
Domestic politicians sought
her favor. World leaders con-
sidered an American visit in
complete without a pilgrimage
to Hyde Park. Even Nikita
Sergeyevitch Khrushchev, dur
ing his incredible stay at the
United Nations in 1860, Travelled
UP the Hudson to pay his re-
spectS to Mrs. Roosevelt. She
was criticized for receiving him
and replied in her inimitable
way:
How, I wonder, do these
people feel that we can learn
to live together If we can
not sit down over a cup of tea
and quietly discuss our diff
ferenceS?"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-08
Charm Matched
BY Modesty

Mrs. Roosevelt's charm was
not greater than her modesty.
The simple. straightforward
way she did things always left
a little trail of surprise, even
though she had done the same
sort of things for years.
In 1887 she wrote a book
called This Troubled World"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-08

II take the sort Of setting-up
exercises in the morning that
almost everyone does. I eat
breakfast. I do the things that
need doing during the day. And
I go to bed at night" She
made the last remark laugh
ingly as she often went with
little sleep.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-08
COMMON SENSE
WAS HER GUIDE
ON FAMILY SIZE

Eleanor Roosevelt
thought that large families
were fine - provided each
child had enough to eat
and decent chances for up
bringing. She recommend
ed that common sense"
determine the size Of a
family.
II happened to have six
children" she said. IF I
had had IL children. I
would have had food and
shelter for them. And IL
had had rs, I could say
the same thing. But 1t is
important to the home for
the mother Of the family to
be healthy"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-08
Resigned From OAR
In Singer Dispute

Mrs, Roosevelt's efforts on
behalf Of women's rights and
civil rights and her resignation
from the OAR after that
organization refused to permit
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-08

to which she always lent such
grace and charm"
The White House announced
that Mr.. Kennedy would attend
the funeral of the former First
Lady Saturday at Hyde Park
where the wartime President is
buried.
The President stated:
"Our condolences go to all
the members of her family,
whose grief at the death of
this extraordinary woman can
be tempered by the knowledge
that her memory and spirit will
long endure among those who
labor for great causes around
the world"
AdIai Stevenson
United Nations Ambassador
Adlai E. Stevenson, whom Mrs.
Roosevelt supported warmly in
two unsuccessful bids for the
presidency and who was the
only person outside of her i'm
mediate family to visit her
during her final illness. said:
Like so many others, I
have lost more than a beloved
friend. I have lost an inspira-
ton. She would rather light
candles than curse the dark
ness, and her glow has warmed
the world"
II am deeply grieved to learn
of the passing of a great lady
our people will mourn as
they grieved at the death of
her husband" Vice President
johnson said today.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth
expressed the regret of the
British Empire on the death of
Mrs. Roosevelt.
In a message sent to Mrs.
Roosevelt'S son. Representative
James Roosevelt, Democrat of
California, the Queen said:
II have learned with much
regret of Mrs. Roosevelt's
death. The British people held
her in deep respect and affec-
ton, and mourn her passing.
My husband and I and my
family greatly valued her
friendship and send you and
your family our sincere SYM
pathy."
Harry S. Truman, who ap-
pointed Mrs. Roosevelt as a
representative to the United
Nations, today described her
as "the first lady Of the
world"
The former President made
the comment as he and Mrs.
Truman left by train from In
dependence, Mo-, to attend the
funeral of Mrs. Roosevelt.
"She was a great woman"
he added. "She had interest
not only in the United States
but in the world. Her chief in
terest was peace generally for
all the world"
Franklin D. Roosevelt, jr., |
said messages of sympathy
have been arriving from "all
over the world"
In New York. Gov. Nelson A.
Rockefeller said: |
THE death of Mrs. Roosevelt
means the loss of a great lady |
and a revered friend. She was
a friend, not only to those who
rejoiced in knowing her warmth |
and spirit but also to the peo-
Pile of our Nation and the peo-
pies of many other nations.
For she was great in heart.
And she will therefore be great
in history"
midas President, DR.. Sarve-
palli Radhakrishnan, expressed
deepest sympathy"
Soviet Foreign Minister An
drei Gromyko sent a telegram
Of coincidence to Mrs. Roose-
velt's children. Tass, the So
Wet News Agency, quoted Mr..
as saying:
Those who had known per-
sonally Eleanor Roosevelt, the
friend and companion of Pres
ident Franklin D. Roosevelt,
will always have the best of
memories of her."
u Thant, acting secretary
general of the United Nations,
expressed the "sincerest SYM
oathy" Of his colleagues and
himself.
Mrs. Roosevelt was truly
he fret 1odx, ~ the xf,nyld oS1d.l
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-08
Kennedy Leads Tribute
To Eleanor Roosevelt

President Kennedy mourning the death of Franklin
Roosevelt said of 1.-THE great ladies the history of
this country has passed from the scene"
Since the day entered this office" the President said
"se has been both inspiration and friend and my wife
and always looked forward to her visits to the White
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-08
Insisted on Going
To GuodoIconoI

Guadaicanal in 1913 wasn't
exactly a place a woman would
head for, but Mrs. Roosevelt
Evening star., 1962-03-28
Vegetable Soup
To Mrs. S. v. c., Ke1sington
Mrs. X.

To Mrs. S. v. c., Ke4fington
Mrs. X.
Here is a recipe for vege-
table soup in which you can
use the soup bones you men,
toned.
Use 2 pounds soup bones
with or without the meat,
2 quarts cold water, 3 tea
spoons salt, medium onion,
diced, "a cup diced celery,
2 teaspoons Worcestershire
sauce, 4 tomatoes, 2 cups
cabbage. 2 cups each of car
rots, green beans and corn,
12 cup quartered potatoes
and l teaspoon sugar.
Boil bones, water, salt,
onion and celery for three
hours. Add remaining ingre-
dients and simmer for As
minutes, or until tender.
Yield is three quarts of
soup.
This soup, when cool, may
be frozen until needed. It's
wonderful to make now and
save for a quick lunch on
days when you don't want to
spend much time in the
kitchen. The soup can't fail,
Evening star., 1962-03-28

at all times carry herself IN
a dignified and gracious man
ner, she will be a lady. Her
bankroll has nothing to do
with it. Indeed, some people
with great wealth behave in
an obnoxious way.
In a way, it's too bad that
the emphasis on wealth and
material possessions is as
strong in this country as it is.
1t seems that the minute a
person acquires money, he
or she is elevated to a posi-
ton where respect is grant,
ed, when actually the per-
sons only redeeming feature
is that he or she has money.
I don't want to sound at
all bitter about this. I just
want to state emphatically
that a lady is a lady no
matter what her financial
background. She is consid-
crate of ALL people, she is
soft spoken, she is discreet
and she is well-mannered.