Little Known Facts

· As a child, Eleanor wanted to be a singer.

· Eleanor's grandmother made her take ballet lessons to make up for being tall and awkward.

· Eleanor counted making the first team in field hockey at Allenswood as one of the proudest moments of her life.

· Eleanor used to bite her nails and had difficulty breaking the habit.

· Eleanor learned to love traveling during her time at Allenswood Academy.

· During the last three months of every pregnancy, Eleanor would feel very ill, but she would never allow illness to prevent her from getting work done.

· Eleanor appeared in a commercial for Good Luck Margarine.

· Her grandchildren referred to her as "Grandmêre."

· The only food she knew how to cook were scrambled eggs and toast.

· She refused protection from the secret service.

· She carried a pistol in her purse and knew how to shoot.

· Teddy Roosevelt considered her to be the daughter he never had.

· She spoke French before she spoke English.

· She was often referred to as "Mrs. Roosevelt" or "Mrs. R" and hardly ever as "Eleanor."

· Val-Kill is the only place Eleanor referred to as home.

· On the second floor of the Stone Cottage, there is a closet that Eleanor called the "Christmas Closet," where she would store all the family presents she collected throughout the year.

· She swam laps daily.

· She was an avid horseback rider.

· She loved picnics and served hot dogs, no matter whom she was entertaining.

· She is credited with serving Nikita Krushchev and the King and Queen of England their first hot dog.

· She had twenty-two grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.

· She helped arrange a concert for black singer Marian Anderson for 75,000 people at Lincoln Memorial.

· She teamed up with her daughter, Anna, and ABC on a daytime radio discussion program.

· She worked with her son, Elliot, and NBC on a television and radio show featuring famous guests Albert Einstein and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

· Eleanor persuaded Congress to have a national teacher day.

· She joined the board of directors of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.