52. THE ELEANOR ROOSEVELT STORY

a warm, honest fearless woman; the first lady of the world; a consummate humanitarian.  described as plain, and even ugly, in her youth; grown up somewhat lonely with a brother 6 yrs younger, her mother having died when she was a young teen  and her father sent away to convalesce due to effects of alcoholism, eleanor roosevelt found comfort and acceptance in her 5th cousin, FDR.  the film was released in 1965, and won best documentary feature that year.  it is comprised primarily of newsreels and old still photos.  one review described the film as reverent and it certainly is.  there are two things i found fascinating--i'd always heard she was the "eyes and ears" for her husband, but i didn't know she was the legs.  she put tremendous time and energy into travel--meeting with PEOPLE.  her interests, issues, and causes always came back to basic human emotions and people.  her heart took in the needs, concerns and views of the real people that she met and interacted with.  her opinions were often controversial.  she was a crusader for civil rights long before it was fashionable or acceptable.  this is proven out by truman's appointing her to be a delegate to the newly formed united nations, where she was appointed chairperson of the committee to develop policy on international declaration of human rights.  this is the second thing that i had no knowledge of.  the film also seems to indicate that had it not been for eleanor's efforts, FDR may not have become our president after being stricken with polio.  his strong mother was of the opinion to "just let him be", but eleanor persisted in her encouragement and support to get him on the ballot.  sure, she may not have been a delicate flower of a woman on the outside, but she owned a smile that showed her soul, where there was a virtual garden of good, kind, fair and true beliefs as to how humans should be treated.  i learned a lot about the great woman behind and beside the great man.