A POLITICAL POWER

Eleanor's political career did not end with the death of Franklin in 1945. As Eleanor and a profoundly shocked and saddened country mourned the death of one of the most influential U.S. Presidents, they knew that they would have to carry on without FDR.

President Harry Truman appointed Eleanor as the first U.S. Delegate to the United Nations, and she brought her message of human rights and peace to the world. Although she continued to speak as a lecturer, on the radio and on television, to write essays and articles, and to promote causes in various venues, she considered her contributions to the United Nations Human Rights Commission and the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights one of her greatest accomplishments.

Eleanor died of a rare strain of tuberculosis on November 7, 1962. Truly "First Lady to the World," she left an impressive legacy and a lasting impression. Her personal struggles, political accomplishments, perseverance in difficult times, genuine kindness, and integrity continue to inspire those who knew her, and those who learn from her example today.