4 Things You Don’t Know About Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt

The Hudson Valley is home to many famous and historic people. There are articles every week about one of them. These can be an actor or actress who has purchased a local business? A movie or TV show that is currently filming and causing traffic issues?

Maybe the talk is about a historic military person who attended (or is buried) at West Point Military Academy? Or famous people who are buried at one Poughkeepsie Cemetery? What about one of the OG famous women who spent a great deal of time in Hyde Park, New York?

What do many people not know about former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt?

What a lot of people don't know is something I only found out when I moved to the area. Eleanor loved hot dogs. In fact, she made it a 'thing' to host a hot dog 'luncheon' once a year and even entertained other heads of foreign state, serving them hot dogs.

There is a High School in Hyde Park named after her husband, Franklin D. Roosevelt High School? Does she have a school named after her?

While more people in the Hudson Valley are more familiar with the high school named after her husband, what about a school named after Eleanor? Yes, there is a high school named after the first lady and it is located in New York City.

Was Mrs. Roosevelt known as a rabble-rouser? Did she cause controversy?

I think if we were to describe Mrs. Roosevelt using 2022 vernacular, she would be called a Tough Old Bird. That doesn't sound too flattering, right? But it is meant with respect. Mrs. R was the first First Lady (according to her website) to hold a press conference. We don't think much about that today, right? Mrs. R also insisted that the press conference only be attended by female reporters, male reporters were not welcome at that event.

Mrs. Roosevelt was one of the tallest First Ladies.

Mrs. Roosevelt was one of the tallest first ladies. She was 5 feet 10 inches tall. How would she stand up next to other first ladies? Hillary Clinton is 5'5. Michelle Obama is 5'11. Laura Bush 5'5. Barbara Bush is 5'8. Nancy Reagan 5'4. Melania Trump is 5'11, Rosalynn Carter 5'5. Betty Ford 5'2.

Check out: Eleanor Roosevelts Grandmothers House which is currently on the market.