Eleanor Roosevelt transformed the role of First Lady from ceremonial figure to political force and became, after FDR's death, a global champion of human rights. Born to privilege but orphaned young, Eleanor married her distant cousin Franklin, supporting his career while developing her own voice on social issues.
As First Lady (1933-45), Eleanor held press conferences, wrote a syndicated column, and traveled relentlessly—she was FDR's eyes, ears, and conscience. She championed civil rights, meeting with Black leaders when her husband wouldn't, and resigned from the Daughters of the American Revolution when they barred Marian Anderson from Constitution Hall.
After FDR's death, Truman appointed Eleanor to the United Nations, where she chaired the committee that drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). She called it her greatest accomplishment. Eleanor remained active in Democratic politics and human rights causes until her death. Harry Truman called her 'First Lady of the World'—a title she earned through tireless advocacy for the marginalized.