Eleanor Roosevelt: 1940-1945

Eleanor Roosevelt: 1940-1945

1940	Testifies before Congress in support of aid to migrant farmer workers Establishes the U.S. Committee for the Care of European Children Addresses 1940 Democratic convention to secure Henry Wallace's selection as Vice-President Defends civil liberties in Chicago keynote address "Civil Liberties The Individual and the Community" After meeting with civil rights groups, urges FDR to establish Fair Employment Practices Commission (FEPC) Convenes Hampton Institute conference on African American's role in the war effort Opposes Smith Act Supports Walter Reuther's plan for "500 Planes a Day" Missy Lehand is paralyzed by a stroke Writes The Moral Basis of Democracy, "Civil Liberties," "Women in Politics," and "Fear Is the Enemy"
1941	Begins third term as first lady FDR gives "Four Freedoms" speech Serves as Assistant Director, Office of Civilian Defense (OCD) Countermands Breckinridge Long's attempt to cut funding for President's Advisory Committee on Political Refugees Intervenes to get visas for French Jews aboard the Quanza Links Aryanism to American segregation policies in speeches Hall G. Roosevelt (brother) dies Addresses nation on radio the day Pearl Harbor is bombed Works to prevent internment of Japanese-Americans Visits Tuskeegee Institute Hosts "Current Events," a radio show for Pan American Coffee Bureau Series Edits (with Frances Cooke Macgregor) This Is America Begins "If You Ask Me," a monthly question and answer column which runs until November 1962
1942	Resigns from OCD Joins board of Wyltwyck School for troubled boys Visits Tuskeegee airmen, lending critical support to their demand to join the European air war Unsuccessfully lobbies to prevent sharecropper Odell Waller's execution Travels through war zones to visit Britain, examine women's roles in defense efforts, and meet with British leaders and Allied troops Urges women's employment in war industries Writes "Race, Religion, and Prejudice"
1943	Helps integrate Sojourner Truth Housing Project in Detroit and is blamed for ensuing riot Travels to 17 South Pacific islands, New Zealand and Australia, visiting 400,000 soldiers, walking "miles" of hospitals, working 18 hour days Goes to Gila River, Arizona internment camp to prevent camp violence from breaking out Defends conscientious objectors who serve in non-combatant positions Opposes Smith-Connally Act, labeling it punitive to labor, in midst of UMW strike Urges support for provisions in Lanham Act to provide day care for children of women in defense industry Attends Holocaust cantada "We Shall Never Die"; praises it in "My Day" Writes "A Challenge to American Sportsmanship," and "Abolish Jim Crow"
1944	Urges FDR to campaign actively for re-election With Baruch, Reuther and Hopkins, pushes administration to plan for full employment Opens White House Conference on How Women May Share in Post-War Policy-Making Visits the Carribean and South America where she tours hospitals and military installations, delivers speeches, holds press conferences and meets with state, religious, and social leaders Offers critical support to establishment of War Refugee Board Writes "Henry Wallace's Democracy," and "How To Take Criticism"
1945	Pressures Army Nurse Corps to admit African American women Supports women defense workers who want to continue working, challenging government reconversion policy FDR dies, April 12, in Warm Springs, Georgia Tells the press "the story is over" Joins NAACP board of directors and becomes lifetime member of National Council of Negro Women Declines offers to run for Governor of New York, Senator from New York, and Director of National Citizens Political Action Committee Address the nation on V-J Day Lobbies for a permanent FEPC, full employment, and price and rent controls Truman signs UN Charter and appoints ER to US delegation, where she is quickly dubbed "the hardest working delegate" Writes "What Are We For?"