The idea for writing a novel about Eleanor Roosevelt running for President came to me like a lightning bolt. I realize now that it must have been in my mind, but it took someone asking me a question to bring it out. That question came after a talk I gave about the advice book I wrote called Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Way.
After the leadership book came out, I began giving keynote talks about the leadership lessons that grow from the story of Eleanor's life. At one such talk, an audience member said, "You make Eleanor sound so perfect. Didn't she ever do anything wrong?" No one had ever asked me that before, yet the answer seemed to pop immediately into my head. "Yes," I answered pretty forcefully. "She should have run for President." As I said it, I could tell how strongly I felt about it.
I knew that Eleanor had been encouraged to run, and after that audience encounter, I began to look more deeply into why she had not. The more I investigated the more convinced I became that she had made a mistake, or miscalculation. Her reasons, which I include in various places in the book, were unconvincing, even, I believe, to herself. She said people weren't ready for a woman President, yet she must have known that she would have helped to make them ready if she had run. She said she would have to give up her independence and be beholden to the party as a candidate, yet she had never done that in any other role.
If she had it to do again, I thought to myself, I bet she'd take the plunge. Then one day in 2006, as I read yet another story about Hillary's possible candidacy, I realized Eleanor could run after all - at least as a construct of my imagination. I got really excited when I realized that 1952 was the most logical year for her to run, and there were huge parallels between then and 2008. I was also certain that Hillary would run, although at the time people were speculating that she might not. Wouldn't it be fun, I thought, to bring out a book right when the election with Hillary as a candidate gets underway. Hillary loves Eleanor. The connection seemed perfect. I think I always had in mind that the story would be a parable, and now the book has come true. Whether the woman President part will also become a reality is yet to be seen, but I'm sure if Eleanor's watching from somewhere she has a big smile on her face.
What if Eleanor Roosevelt ran for president? Eleanor vs. Ike is the featured book in Fictions Readers, a group to discuss contemporary women's fiction, books, women's issues and much more. Click here to join the group.
You can also learn more at www.eleanorforpresident.com and www.robingerber.com.
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 28
The Book Review
What an interesting concept!!!
I'm going to have to admit I can't think of Hillary as a woman anywhere near the stature and class of Eleanor Roosevelt. If Eleanor didn't run for president, it was for
personal reasons, and I believe, well considered ones. She made her marks on the world without being president.
Certainly, a book about a certain condidate is also interesting. As a matter of fact, it is. But if you could change it a little bit, it would become more interesting and more usefull. It's really necessary as you know that there are a lot of different opinions about the candidates and many are quite confused as to how and which one to vote. If your book could tell what the most important factors are needed to consider before one start to vote, I believe, it's helpful.
That's just my suggestion for your consideration and I'm not able to say more in details as I haven't read the full text now.
I believe she was quoted once saying' "A woman is like a tea bag you never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water"