“Never before had a first lady taken to the road.” She traveled more than 40,000 miles during FDR's first year as president. Eleanor Roosevelt was born on October 11, 1884. | American Experience | PBS

On this day in 1884, Eleanor Roosevelt was born. Explore the life of the longest-serving First Lady on America in Color: The 1930s http://bit.ly/2zbMvmA | Smithsonian Channel

Born in 1884, Eleanor Roosevelt transformed tragedy into extraordinary courage. Orphaned young and dismissed for her looks, she became the eyes, ears, and conscience of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. As First Lady, she redefined the role—hosting press conferences, advocating for civil rights, and championing the marginalized. After his death, she chaired the UN Commission on Human Rights, shaping the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, earning the title “First Lady of the World.” Eleanor ne