INTRODUCTION

HER STORY

QUOTES

She had an automobile accident in 1946 and was delighted when two broken front teeth needed replacing: "Now I have two lovely porcelain ones that look far better than the rather protruding large teeth which most of the Roosevelts have."

Claims she saw the ghost of Abraham Lincoln in the White House. Among others reported to have seen this ghost were Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands during a state visit in 1945. The unexpected encounter caused her Majesty to promptly faint.

In order to show her support for the training of black military pilots, Eleanor flew with black pilot Alfred “Chief” Anderson despite protests of the secret service.

She was asked - but declined - to stand in her own right as Senator from New York State after the war.

As a lecturer she charged $1,000 per engagement, and often did radio shows in order to raise money for charity.

Ate three chocolate-covered garlic balls every morning. Her doctor suggested this to improve her memory.

When she received an alarming number of threatening letters, soon after her husband became President at the height of the Depression, the Secret Service insisted that she carry a pistol in her purse.

Winston Churchill, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt were all cousins through one connection or another. FDR and Eleanor were about five times removed.

When King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of England where guests at the White House she arranged a much criticized menu of hot dogs and hamburgers, served picnic-style.

She wrote her "My Day" column from 1935 until shortly before her death in 1962. The column was 500 words long and appeared six days a week; the only days it wasn't published were the four days after her husband's death.

In the introduction to 'Eleanor Roosevelt, Volume One 1884 -1933', Blanche Wiesen Cook, described Eleanor as both 'the ugliest woman I ever saw' and 'the most beautiful woman I ever met'.