It was once said that women who behave never make history.  For Eleanor Roosevelt, this was the prime example of how she lived her life.  Mrs. Roosevelt lived from October 11^th, 1884 to November 7^th 1962, a time period when women rarely spoke out, and (still)made a difference (Freedman 6).  However, Mrs. Roosevelt refused to accept the role of women, and began her bold career as an independent woman(woman is a little repetitive in this sentence)just a question, did she not speak out, or did she? The first and second sentences seem to insinuate that she did not speak out, but the 4th seems to insinuate she did speak out. -Amy Kohler 11/12/09 7:19 PM .  Despite problems at home with her family, Mrs. Roosevelt knew that there were people that were much less fortunate than herself.  Even at the young age of eighteen, “Eleanor took a hands-on approach with her deep concern for such people” (“Women in History”).  From then on, she continued to make changes throughout the world, first as the wife of emerging politician, Franklin Roosevelt.  Her charisma immediately charmed people everywhere and allowed her to become involved in various volunteer organizations around the world.  As a feminist, she became involved in women’s groups such as the League of Women Voters and Women’s Trade Union League (“Women in History”).  She was even complimented by Winston Churchill after a visit to England in 1942; “You certainly have left golden footprints behind you” (Somervill 73).  Even as the years passed and her husband’s health began to deteriorate, she showed her true character and supported him until his death.   Nonetheless, nothing stopped her from (doing?)what she loved, and soon after she accepted an offer to join the UN (may want to actually write United Nations because it is the first time you are using this)(Somervill 81).  She was then promoted to the chairperson of the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document that would encompass rights that would apply to all of mankind (Freedman 152).   Her captivating and hard-working nature gained her support and respect from many.  Mrs. Roosevelt’s strong character and her willingness to make a difference through her husband's political career allowed for her involvement in the United Nations to influence the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and become a catalyst for change around the world.

    From the moment Franklin Roosevelt, began his political career, Mrs. Roosevelt was by his side, working tirelessly to support him as a wife, and as a political figure.  Despite his resistance, in 1928, Franklin Roosevelt began his plight to become the governor of New York (Freedman 84).  Eleanor quickly became the new First Lady of New York State, a title that she had mixed feelings about.  She had devoted her time to various organizations, all of which were important to her. However, she stated, "I know if I take part in politics everyone will attribute anything I say or do to Franklin" (Parks and Ware 76).  Because of this, she decided to give up her official posts in the Democratic Party.  Meanwhile, she stayed active in less public positions, and quickly became known to the people of New York as the "First Lady who cared about people's problems and tried to help" (Freedman 87).  When the stock market crashed in 1929, and the Great Depression hit, it was Eleanor who visited the long lines of unemployed people waiting for bread and talked to people in the streets (Parks and Ware 76). 

    Eleanor's professional involvement in her husband's career aided him as his name was placed on the Presidential ballot for the 1932 race.   Although Eleanor was happy for her husband because of his political success, she feared for herself because she knew that her life would never be the same (Freedman 92).  Regardless of her feelings, she helped her husband become the 32nd President of the United States through her behind the scenes work in Franklin's campaign.  The role of the First Lady of the United has forever been transformed since the inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt.  Eleanor was not only the first lady to hold a press conference, but she only did so in front of female reporters, of which there were few at the time (Freedman 98).  As Franklin’s presidency continued, so did Eleanor’s support of those less fortunate.  She visited coal miners in Appalachia, the slum-dwellers in Puerto Rico and the sharecroppers in the south(capitalized because used as a proper noun?), all while proving to the people that someone at the highest level of government cared about their problems (Freedman 101).  Upon the commencement of the Second World War, Eleanor ventured to the war zones in Europe and showed the soldiers that she was their friend and supportermay be stronger if you said "that she was not only their supporter, but also their friend" -Amy Kohler 11/12/09 7:37 PM .  “She walked down endless hospital corridors, stepping into every ward, stopping at every bed speaking to every patient as though he were her personal friend and only concern” (Freedman 136).  She continued her hard work until tragedy stuck; her husband, the President of the United States, had passed away.  

    Upon the loss of her husband, Eleanor felt as though her duties as a political figure were over and assumed that her story was finished, as well (Freedman 147).  However, the nation had other plans for her.  She was honored by President Truman and asked to serve as one of five American delegates to the first meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (Freedman 147).When she arrived in London, she was not given the respect she deserved because some of the other delegates believed she was “an emotional rattlebrained woman” (Freedman 148).  Therefore, she was placed in an area of the United Nations called “Committee Three”, which dealt with issues such as humanitarian, cultural and educational questions (Freedman 148).  According to Russell Freedman in Eleanor Roosevelt: a life of discovery, “[. . .] Eleanor quickly became known as the hardest-working and best-informed member of the American delegation.  Nothing could make her miss a meeting (148).”  She immediately set the tone proving who she was, and did not let anyone take it away from her.  This type of commitment and involvement gained her the utmost respect in the United Nations.  As part of Committee Three, Mrs. Roosevelt was responsible for the location of freed refugees after World War II, which turned out be a controversial issue due to the conflicting opinions amongst the delegates (Freedman 148).  It was her job to speak for the U.S. in a debate against a potent Russian speaker (Freedman 150).  However, she won the debate without any notes and “emerged as one of the world’s foremost spokesperson for human rights” (Freedman 150).  By sticking up for what she believed in, she became admired by her opponents as well as her previous supporters, and became extremely influential in the United Nations.

     Mrs. Roosevelt’s commitment to her job and the good of humanity was widely recognized during her time at the Untied Nations.  She continued to believe that the United Nations could bring the world peace (Freedman 150).  In 1946, Mrs. Roosevelt was voted by her fellow delegates on the Commission of Human Rights to be the chairperson of eighteen delegates in the making of an international document concerning human rights.  She was widely recognized for her efforts and this type of respect gained her supporters and allowed her to have a large amount of influence over many people.  She used her political life with Mr. Roosevelt to help persuade the minds of people who opposed her.  She used these skills to win people over to her side This sentence is repetitive. -Amy Kohler 11/12/09 7:43 PM .   This type of personality was needed in the United Nations since there were many different views and opinions.  She worked to make peace not only outside the United Nations, but inside it as well.  She kept the mood light-hearted and was good at convincing people to take her side, similar to a presidential election.  These personality traits were a necessity in being liked by many of the delegates.  This also helped her advance in the United Nations, since she created harmony between the groups.  Mrs. Roosevelt pushed her committee to work hard every day to make the document an international success (Freedman 152). 

    As Mrs. Roosevelt continued to compose and improve the Declaration of Human Rights, she maintained her dignity and composure despite the continuous problems and situations that she faced.  These traits were the foundation to making her into a commissioner for the Declaration of Human Rights, which was unanimously voted for by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10^th, 1948.  Mrs. Roosevelt had faith in the document and believed it would have an effect on all of mankind.  She worked exceedingly long days and nights to make a document which would be accepted by all countries, but her task was not finished.  She then had to follow through and make sure that the rules were put into effect and that people followed what she wrote.  She used all of her political skills and everything she acquired with the United Nations to complete this task.  Eleanor Roosevelt: a life of discovery by Russell Freedman states Mrs. Roosevelt’s outstanding work and determination earned her a reward never given to a United Nations delegate before.  “The delegates rose to give a standing ovation to a single delegate- a moving tribute to Eleanor Roosevelt’s leadership” (152).  This portrays the amount of influence Eleanor had on the entire UN.  She created a document that is known in every country to preserve human rights across the world.  More importantly, her hard work paid off.  Her continuous efforts and hard work was finally recognized and acknowledged.  She made some of the most important decisions in the making of an international document.

I could be wrong, but didn't Dr. Gen want a story and the story would show how the person was a catalyst for change?  You may also want to use the words "catalyst for change" somewhere in your essay just because they were the key words in the prompt.  Other than that, it was a good essay! Good vocab...a couple times I though you could have used simultaneously, so if you want, you can! -Amy Kohler 11/12/09 7:46 PM