Betty Ford: A Tragic Hero

In 1899, Eleanor Roosevelt, fifteen, was sent to a private finishing school, Allenswood Academy in England. The headmistress of the school, Marie Souvestre, was a feminist with critical, challenging and unusual for those times ideas, greatly impacting Eleanor Roosevelt. Souvestre saw something special in Eleanor, helping her liberate in a way and gain confidence, at least for a while. Although Souvestre made Eleanor a happier, more confident person, she was forced to return home after three years at Allenswood Academy, 1902, by her grandmother to have a social debut. Eleanor got married, 1905, and the certain liberation she had achieved took a step back, making her rather shy again. Eleanor and FDR had 6 children, forcing her to take on the duties and responsibilities of a wife and mother and to follow the expectations society held for women in the 1920s. She was influenced by Roosevelt 's mother, Sara Ann Delano, in whose house they lived, where Delano was the dominating woman in the household. This was making Eleanor depressed and unhappy, which Franklin knew about, but did not feel like he had enough strength against his mother, so it went on like that up to the point when Franklin Roosevelt was struck with polio, becoming a turning point for everyone and especially for Eleanor. The unexpected change eventually made Eleanor a stronger woman that Souvestre wanted her to be, with a more outspoken personality, while Franklin Roosevelt became much more vulnerable, and more

“I came to a clear conclusion, and it is a universal one: To live, to struggle, to be in love with life--in love with all life holds, joyful or sorrowful--is fulfillment. The fullness of life is open to all of us” (Betty Smith). Betty Smith, born as Elizabeth Lillian Wehner, grew up in Brooklyn, New York as the daughter of poor German immigrants. At the time, child labor was legal and Smith began work at the young age of fourteen to help support her family. Smith’s life in the slums and her experiences during the Great Depression greatly influenced her writing. Most of her novels depict families struggling to survive on a low income. Another idea Smith explores in her novels is what part women should take in the world. In Smith’s lifetime, women were granted the right to vote and other significant rights that many did not agree on. In her books she created strong female leads that defy the bubble women were placed in at the time. Smith’s novels became highly popular with many Americans because she depicted the struggles of life in poverty that many people could relate to. Betty Smith was one of the most influential writers of her time, and her works impacted American culture in several ways.

Abigail Adams played a very important role in the American Revolution; even if she didn’t fight in the war. Abigail fought for women’s rights and slavery instead. Her perseverance pulled her through rough times, as well as her stubbornness. Abigail Adams was an independent woman and a fantastic role model.

Dolly was to James Madison as a hammer is to a nail. A nail can’t just go into something by itself. The nail needs something to help it or guide it through an object. The hammer is the ideal tool used to do the job. Dolly was that hammer to James Madison. Mrs. Madison guided her husband through his presidency. With dedication to continue to help James Madison, Dolley was well respected by the public. She was as dedicated to James Madison as he depended on her. Without Dolley Madison, James Madison’s presidency would have been a totally different story. Dolley helped an impeachable president become a hero. According to the article “Dolley Madison’s White House was one of the few places in the nation where hope and determination continued to

“You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.”, Rosa Parks strongly stated. She truly believed in this and followed it to her own success as well as the success in the country. Her childhood impacted her future.(Simple) The bus boycott supplied new actions for the country and Rosa. Her later life improved situations for different people, such as herself. Many rewards and celebrations were given out to her for all the good deeds and for what she has conquered. Rosa L. Parks is one of the most influential people in the U.S history.

I had remained a supportive spouse after my husband became the president in 1797. Some critics called me Mrs. President. since I was the nation’s second first lady I kept a busy schedule when I was in Philadelphia, the country’s capital at the time. I rose early to tend to family and household matters and spent much of the remainder of the day receiving visitors and hosting events. I still spent a lot of time back in Massachusetts because of my health.

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” (Eleanor Roosevelt) The quote shows how Eleanor thought no one had the right to make you feel inferior, and how giving kindness to those in need is a crucial part of life. There are many reasons why Eleanor Roosevelt should replace Angelina Jolie at UNICEF. Eleanor Roosevelt is an important figure in our country for the changes she made, and for the people she helped through many forms of trouble like wars, and poverty. Also she held the important position of being the US ambassador to the UN. She is there for many Americans during the worst times the country has faced. Only someone like her will hold such an important position like the one being debated.

In her essay, The Legacy of Eleanor Roosevelt, author Betty Houchin Winfield argues that because of her journalistic career and the precedent she had on the role of the first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt was one of the most influential women in American history. Winfield, unlike many other authors who write on the topic, does not spend an extensive amount of time focusing on Eleanor’s works in organizations and charities. However, Winfield chooses to support her argument by supplying ample information concerning the precedent Eleanor left not only on the role of the first lady, but also on the role of the American woman. Although only briefly mentioning her active involvement in several organizations, The Legacy of Eleanor Roosevelt is effective in demonstrating how by

On April 23, 1940, Ita Ford was born to William P. Ford, Sr. and Mildred Teresa O’Berne Ford in Brooklyn, New York. Her college years were spent at Marymount Manhattan College and succeeding that, she joined the Maryknoll sisters in 1961. The Maryknoll Sisters are a group of nurses, teachers, theologians, teachers, social workers, doctors and environmentalists that devote their lives to serving others overseas. After three years, the Christian woman left due to health problems. In 1971, she reapplied and was accepted after working as an editor for a publishing company for seven years. Two years later, in 1973, after studying in Bolivia, Ford was assigned to complete her mission in Chile. For one year, 1978-1979, Ford moved from Chile to El

Eleanor Roosevelt had a significant impact on the changing rights of women through her participation and leadership within women’s leagues, unions and American politics. Roosevelt founded a political importance when her husband, Franklin Roosevelt became the President of the United States of America. But she was convinced that “women and men entered politics for different reasons; men entered to pursue their own careers while women were motivated by a desire to change society, to improve daily conditions of life”. While working with other women, Roosevelt became aware of the barriers women faced and with this experience, she began to focus on advancing and advocating for the rights and freedoms of American women. Eleanor Roosevelt’s significance

“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal. Self-development is a higher duty than self-sacrifice. The best protection any woman can have... is courage.”

Another presidential election is now in the books. Whether you are happy, sad or just indifferent to the outcome, the White House will shortly have a new First Lady (or in this case, a stand-in First Daughter). We have had 46 First Ladies (Link 1). While every President was not married, every President had someone serve as First Lady and two Presidents had two First Ladies as they remarried in office. The role of First Lady is often overlooked, since it is neither elected nor paid. The role is as personal as the women who hold it. Here are 10 of the more interesting First Ladies and how they brought their own unique stamp to this role.

Imagine a world where only men could do certain things. Only men could be farmers, only men could be construction workers, only men could be doctors. The world used to be this way, but Elizabeth Blackwell changed that. She became the first woman doctor in the US to graduate medical school. Elizabeth overcame obstacles, became inspired, and changed the world.

She was one of the most outspoken women in the White House. She changed the role of the first lady through her active participation in American politics. During her husband’s presidency, Eleanor gave press conferences and wrote a newspaper column. After President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s death, she served at the United Nations,

America is said to be the land of the free, the lavish land of endless opportunity. While possible for some, the American Dream is not available to the entire American population. They say Americans withhold the freedom to the American Dream because after all, we do have an infinite amount of resources to lead to that end goal. “All you need is your brilliant mind, and keep going to school. Then, you’ll find the stable dream job you’ve been yearning for,” is all that I’ve heard throughout my life, but does it hold true? For some perhaps it may, but for others they will not achieve their American Dream. To achieve the American Dream, it means to have a stable, promising job and endless happiness with a beloved family. Many Americans will struggle