They were a wonderful audience of women in high-level jobs in state government and education, and they loved hearing about Eleanor's exploits from holding her all-women press conferences to arranging for the African-American contralto Marian Anderson to sing at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939 after the Daughters of the American Revolution had refused her permission to sing in their hall. Eleanor said, "Every time we shirk making up our minds or taking action we weaken our spirit and our ability to be fearless."
Eleanor was always fearless in pursuit of her goals, but it was never easy for her. She fought her fears every step of the way. She learned to stand up to her critics, or ignore them, by "getting skin as thick as a rhinoceros hide," an Eleanor quote that Hillary Clinton often repeats, and no wonder!
I think we forget how much courage it takes to run for public office, to expose yourself over and over again to criticism, attacks, gossip and rejection. For women, the road is even harder since our styles of leadership are often unique and the culture finds it harder to accept women as leaders. I suspect that Hillary has fears much as Eleanor did, fears that she fights every day so she can appear strong and confident, as she must.
"We don't become heroes overnight," Eleanor said, "just a step at a time, finding strength and courage and confidence every time we look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do."
Which of us believes she can become President? Not many, I suspect, certainly I don't. Thank goodness Hillary is doing the thing that history and so many critics tell her she cannot do.
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: 9
The differences between these 2 women are vast. The similarities? They are 2 women; they were married to Presidents. Were Eleanor running for President I would not give a second thought to voting for her. I shall never vote for Hillary Rodham Clinton -- not ever, for she is an embarrassment.
History shall not paint these 2 women with the same brush.
Apryl: That's very hard to do, and it's great that you're getting there! Congrats.
I do think that Hillary Clinton has shown great courage in undertaking this historic run at the presidency. She has already faced tremendous criticism far out of proportion to her record, her public persona or to the level of criticism levelled at any man in a similar position to herself.
Americans seem more accepting of Bill Clinton than they are of Hillary Clinton and she has received more of the negative fallout from the controversy of his years in office than he has. It was as though Hillary had oral sex in the White House, not Bill.
Eleanor Roosevelt might have had a harder time being taken seriously as a candidate back in the 1950s, but she would likely have benefited from a more cordial public discourse. Likely she could not have even competed for the nomination for lack of funds. But if she could have, she might just have won.
One wonders how long it will be, if Hillary Clinton fails, before another woman makes a credible run for the White House.
Will we live to see it?