Remember to write…
During her time as First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt traveled the country gathering information for her husband on economic conditions and the impact of New Deal legislation.
During these trips, she asked people to write to her, telling her about their life.
Mrs. Roosevelt repeated this request on the radio and later, in her daily newspaper column.
And the people responded, sending Mrs. Roosevelt more than 300,000 letters each year while she was in the White House and hundreds of thousands more after she left.
Here is one, written in January 1936.
Dear Mrs. Roosevelt,
My name is A.S.
I am 12 years old.
I go to the Allen School and I am in the sixth grade.
My sister D. is 11 years old.
She and I both love to listen to radio but we have none.
The only time we have a chance is when we go to our aunts.
And if you would send me some kind of one I would be very happy.
I know where I can get one for $14.00 but I have no money.
The best program I like is the gang busters.
And Eddie Cantor.
Yours truly,
A.S.
Kansas City, Mo.
P.S.
Please do not put me in jail.
*******************************
I’ll see you tomorrow.
— Brenda