First Ladies are a great stitch in the fabric that makes up American democracy. Wives, partners, and sometimes political forces in their own right, their contributions to the four-year term White House stint vary from woman to woman. Perhaps one of the most active if not the most active First Lady’s to have ever filled the role was the one who also held the title for the longest amount of time.
Continuing our 100 Greatest Women On Coins blog series, we explore one of the most admired and influential American women in history as pointed out by Whitman Publishing’s top 100 list. With author Ron Guth in the driver’s seat, we take a look at one of the most outspoken First Lady’s to have ever held the title in addition to her activism that exceeded her husband’s presidential terms.
#15 - Eleanor Roosevelt
Born Anna Eleanor Roosevelt in 1884 to a wealthy family, Eleanor was raised by her grandmother as both her parents died before she was 10 years old. She made her official “social” debut in 1902 and eventually met her future husband and father’s fifth cousin, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. She would marry Franklin in 1905 before politics ever came into the picture. By 1921, her husband would receive his polio diagnosis but she would convince him to continue on in the world of politics. In 1933, he would be elected the 32nd President of the United States and serve three-plus terms in office before his death in April of 1945. Eleanor would end up being the longest-serving First Lady in history before presidential term limits would eventually take hold.
Eleanor and President Franklin D. Roosevelt would go on to have six children although one would pass before turning the age of one. While their marriage would go on through his passing in 1945, Eleanor would come across a number of love letters between Franklin and her social secretary in 1918. Eleanor would continue on supporting her husband during his presidency in a political sense, but their personal lives would go on in separate ways from then on. Eleanor was active in her role as First Lady as she was a part of many political activities in addition to giving her time to support activists and their causes. She would travel and give lectures as well as she became well versed in women’s issues, education, and progressive policy. Her work at the time was unprecedented as far as other women who would take on the role before her.
When her husband passed in 1945, Eleanor would become a delegate to the United Nations General Assembly where she continued her ventures for human rights. She would also help draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. She would go on to have a hand in a number of causes including but not limited to gender equality, civil rights, youth activism, and more. She would sit witness to two major historical events in the United States during her husband’s presidency including World War II and The Great Depression.
Eleanor Roosevelt made an appearance on the United States Mint’s First Spouse $10 Gold series in 2014 as well as the 2014 First Spouse bronze medal that also corresponds to the series. She also makes an appearance on a number of other medals. Finding the gold First Spouse coin is rather easy according to Guth, but the price range may inhibit buyers. The bronze medal from the First Spouse series may be better for a collector not looking to go down the more expensive route.