ER: She Wore the Union Label; A Review of She Was One of Us

She both listened to and criticized the labor movement. She adopted its opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment because the elimination of all sex-specific laws would remove the protective labor laws union leaders believed women needed to curtail workplace exploitation. She also chastised unions for the lack of women in leadership positions and for policies and practices which excluded African-Americans from unions or limited their job opportunities.

Although ER’s road to prominence had been through her powerful husband, she became an opinion leader in her own right. Initially attacked by many for breaking the mold of proper behavior for first ladies, after FDR’s death, she became an icon. She supported striking workers in her column even when it meant opposing President Truman’s request for legislation to curtail strikes.

ER wasn’t a big fan of Truman, but he needed her, so he appointed her as a delegate to the United Nations. She chaired its Human Rights Commission, where she argued that the right to join a labor union was "an essential element of freedom." She left the UN when the Republicans took power after the 1952 election, but didn’t give up writing, lecturing or bringing people together.

The years after WWII were difficult ones for organized labor. Labor strife generated adverse laws. Major battles of the Cold War took place in unions, which were attacked for having Communists in their midst. Some unions responded by becoming militantly anti-Communist, while others refused to purge their Communist members even though it meant losing some legal protections. ER argued that union leaders should not be put in this double bind, but should be able to do what they thought best.

This is a very rich book. Thoroughly researched and well written, it blends labor history, women’s history and political history. Through it all, Eleanor Roosevelt is one who thoroughly cared about making the world a better place for everyone. Even if you think you already know much about ER, this book is well worth the read.

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ER: She Wore the Union Label; A Review of She Was One of Us

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