Eleanor Butler Alexander-Roosevelt
Encyclopedia
Eleanor Butler "Bunny" Alexander-Roosevelt (1888-1960) only daughter of Henry Addison Alexander, a prominent New York lawyer and Grace (Green) Alexander. Eleanor Alexander was a great granddaughter of the late Theron Butler.
She died 29 May 1960 at Oyster Bay, Nassau Co., Long Island, NY.
She married 29 June 1910, at New York City, Presbyterian Church, 59th Street Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
, son of President Theodore Roosevelt
, a Brigadier General
who was awarded the Medal of Honor
and was the only general officer to land in the first wave on D-Day
. During her husband's service as Governor of Puerto Rico
and Governor-General
of the Philippines
, she served during three years as First Lady
of Puerto Rico
(1929-1932) and the Philippines
(1932-1933).
Throughout her life Eleanor Alexander not only supported "Ted" Roosevelt (the only general officer to land in the first wave on D-Day
) in his career, but also proved a highly organized, socially conscious person in her own right. She helped improve the conditions of Puerto Rican women while her husband was governor of the island (1929-31); she organized the first American women's committee for China Relief (1937); and she directed the American Red Cross Club in England (1942). Eleanor received citations and commendations from, among others, the French government, Gen. John J. Pershing, and the U.S. War Department. She also wrote a fascinating account of her life in her memoirs, Day Before Yesterday.
Mrs. Roosevelt had four children, Grace Green Roosevelt (1911-1993), Theodore Roosevelt III
(1914-2001), Cornelius V. S. Roosevelt (1915-1991) and Quentin Roosevelt II
(1919-1948). She died in 1960, sixteen years after her husband, who had died of a heart attack shortly after the D-Day
invasion of France
.
She died 29 May 1960 at Oyster Bay, Nassau Co., Long Island, NY.
She married 29 June 1910, at New York City, Presbyterian Church, 59th Street Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
Theodore D. Roosevelt, Jr. , was an American political and business leader, a Medal of Honor recipient who fought in both of the 20th century's world wars. He was the eldest son of President Theodore Roosevelt from his second wife Edith Roosevelt...
, son of President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
, a Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
who was awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
and was the only general officer to land in the first wave on D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
. During her husband's service as Governor of Puerto Rico
Governor of Puerto Rico
The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Since 1948, the Governor has been elected by the people of Puerto Rico...
and Governor-General
Governor-General
A Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, she served during three years as First Lady
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
(1929-1932) and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
(1932-1933).
Throughout her life Eleanor Alexander not only supported "Ted" Roosevelt (the only general officer to land in the first wave on D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
) in his career, but also proved a highly organized, socially conscious person in her own right. She helped improve the conditions of Puerto Rican women while her husband was governor of the island (1929-31); she organized the first American women's committee for China Relief (1937); and she directed the American Red Cross Club in England (1942). Eleanor received citations and commendations from, among others, the French government, Gen. John J. Pershing, and the U.S. War Department. She also wrote a fascinating account of her life in her memoirs, Day Before Yesterday.
Mrs. Roosevelt had four children, Grace Green Roosevelt (1911-1993), Theodore Roosevelt III
Theodore Roosevelt III
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt III was the grandson of United States President Theodore Roosevelt and the son of politician and World War II military leader Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt II.-Early years:...
(1914-2001), Cornelius V. S. Roosevelt (1915-1991) and Quentin Roosevelt II
Quentin Roosevelt II
Quentin Roosevelt II was the fourth child of Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. and Eleanor Butler Alexander-Roosevelt. He was the namesake of his uncle Quentin Roosevelt who was killed in action during World War I in 1918...
(1919-1948). She died in 1960, sixteen years after her husband, who had died of a heart attack shortly after the D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
invasion of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
See also
- Soldiers’, Sailors’, Marines’, Coast Guard and Airmen’s ClubSoldiers’, Sailors’, Marines’, Coast Guard and Airmen’s ClubThe Soldiers’, Sailors’, Marines’, Coast Guard and Airmen’s Club is a private social club founded in 1919 and located at 283 Lexington Avenue in the Murray Hill neighborhood of Midtown Manhattan. It is the only private organization in the New York area accommodating U.S. servicemen and servicewomen...