FIRST LADY ELEANOR ROOSEVELT - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 11/05/1944 - HFSID 156845

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT
Eleanor Roosevelt sends a typed letter of birthday wishes.
Typed Letter Signed: "Cousin Eleanor" as First Lady, 1p, 6x9. Washington, D.C., 1944 November 5. On White House letterhead to "Dear Nancy" (her cousin, Mrs. H.C. Milholland, of New York City). In full: "I hope you will buy yourself something you want with the enclosed check. Best wishes on your birthday and many happy returns." In the year she signed this letter, Mrs. Roosevelt had actively campaigned for her husband's election to an unprecedented fourth term as President - he would be elected on November 7, just two days after this letter. In 1944, the First Lady had also visited the Caribbean and South America, touring hospitals and military installations and meeting state, religious and social leaders. She also wrote "Henry Wallace's Democracy" and "How to Take Criticism". Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) had married her distant cousin, Franklin D. Roosevelt, in 1905 (her uncle, President Theodore Roosevelt, gave her away). She would serve as First Lady for 12 years and 39 days (March 4, 1933 until her husband's death of a cerebral hemorrhage on April 12, 1945), longer than any other woman. During her tenure as first lady, Mrs. Roosevelt would break precedent by holding press conferences, traveling the country on her husband's behalf, lecturing, making radio broadcasts and writing a daily syndicated newspaper column, "My Day" (1935-1962). Eleanor, who had previously been First Lady of New York when FDR was Governor of the state (1929-1933), later became known as "First Lady of the World" for her humanitarian efforts, including getting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations. Appointed by President Truman, she had been a member of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations from 1945-1952. Lightly creased with folds, not at signature. Paper clip impression at upper left blank margin, paper clip stains at lower left blank margins, light stains at lower right margin beneath horizontal fold. Pencil notes (unknown hand) on verso (no show through). Overall, fine condition.