Active Quote by William A. Rusher
“I think that it is true that Eleanor Roosevelt, by being so active on that front, contributed to that impression very substantially. And it's to her credit that she was interested in this, let me say. But once again, I'm not sure the extent to which Roosevelt - I guess he did use her really, particularly on the civil rights front. No question about it, because she was well identified out there, and brought a good many blacks into the Administration, into the White House, into his presence and so on.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on political influence, 1970s
Roosevelt’s visibility helped shape public perception of her involvement in civil‑rights policy, though the exact impact is debated.
In simple terms: She boosted the image of Black participation in government.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how representation can affect policy perception.
Themes
politics
civil rights
representation
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
historical
political commentary
When to use this quote
- government appointments
- civil‑rights advocacy
- media analysis
Key Concepts
media influence
public perception
political legacy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does visibility translate to real policy change?
- What evidence would clarify her influence?
A Different Perspective
Impact may be overstated without concrete evidence.
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![“That was a general impression that one got, that she [Eleanor Roosevelt] was always flitting around the country and descending on some place in the Ozarks that she decided was disadvantaged, and announcing that something had to be done. And she had a very active social conscience, which I think in…” quote by William A. Rusher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa0/william-a-rusher-20922_active_that-was-a-general-impression-that-one-g_1572497.jpg)
![“I think the fact that she [Eleanor Roosevelt] was a woman probably in those days would have been an additional criticism, although first ladies by definition in those days were women. There's always been a problem and still is, about the role the first lady should play, of course. Everybody's seen…” quote by William A. Rusher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dbf/william-a-rusher-20922_clinton_i-think-the-fact-that-she-eleanor-roosev_133419.jpg)
![“One has to say that they [Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt] were pioneering to some extent. They didn't know that some of the housing projects that they were putting up for the poor were going to turn into crack dens and rapists' bowers and things of that sort, which they have since become. But you…” quote by William A. Rusher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/564/william-a-rusher-20922_cracks_one-has-to-say-that-they-eleanor-and-fra_1164374.jpg)
![“I think she [Eleanor Roosevelt] never was called because she probably didn't know an awful lot. The whole burden of the criticism of her on the subject of Communism is naiveté, not participation. And again, being a public figure and our representative at the UN, there was nothing Communist about…” quote by William A. Rusher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c01/william-a-rusher-20922_awful_i-think-she-eleanor-roosevelt-never-was_1605673.jpg)
