A Visit With Eleanor Roosevelt

In 1960, as a student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, I was focused on my studies, but I always appreciated the opportunity to hear speakers and entertainers who came to our campus. Among the most famous was John F. Kennedy, who came to UW while campaigning in the primaries. But the most memorable experience by far was Eleanor Roosevelt’s visit.

Eleanor Roosevelt came to speak, and Kenwood Hall, our beautiful Tudor-style dormitory on the banks of Lake Michigan, was selected as a place for her to rest, enjoy dinner, and engage in conversation. Kenwood was a cooperative dorm, which meant we had weekly duties, like kitchen duty, phone duty, etc. Each of us was assigned a task for Eleanor’s visit. I was given the honor of taking her hat and coat and bringing them upstairs to Mrs. Fuller, our house mother’s room.

Eleanor’s navy blue coat was simple, and her matching hat resembled a small, flattened disk. She handed them to me with a gentle smile, and I carefully carried them upstairs to Mrs. Fuller's room. As I entered, I was about to set them on the bed when I glanced at the bureau mirror. Unable to resist the temptation, I quickly placed the small blue hat on my head for just a split second before hurriedly returning downstairs.

Our dining room was a grand space, with oak paneling, three long mahogany tables, and a large chandelier overhead. Each night, we sat together for dinner, and the room was filled with lively conversation about the joys and frustrations of our day. But on this particular evening, the atmosphere was different. The room was unusually quiet as we all attentively listened to Eleanor Roosevelt, who spoke with the calm authority of someone who was so well known and accomplished.

After dinner, we gathered in the living room. Eleanor took a seat in Mrs. Fuller’s chair by the fireplace, and we were invited to ask her questions. The topic of Nikita Khrushchev came up, as he had recently made headlines for his temper tantrums, including the infamous incident where he took off his shoe and banged it on his desk during a speech. I’ll never forget Eleanor’s response: “Oh, he is such a little boy.” It was 1960, during the height of the Cold War, and tensions with the Soviet Union were on our minds.

We were captivated by Eleanor’s wisdom, kindness, and dignity. At the time, I viewed her as an important elderly lady, but after that evening, I came to admire her on an entirely deeper level. She wasn’t just a former First Lady; she was a trailblazer in human rights, a delegate to the United Nations, and an advocate for social change. Her words and presence had left an indelible impression on me.

Since that evening, I’ve enjoyed reading about her remarkable life. I often think back on her quotes, which have continued to resonate with me over the years:

“You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

“You wouldn’t worry so much about what others think about you if you realized how seldom they do.”

“It’s better to light a candle than curse the darkness.”