There are more ways than ever to listen to History Daily ad-free. Listen with Wondry Plus in the Wond in Washington, D.C., two days after President Franklin

D. Roosevelt took office. America's new first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, descends the

stairs from her private quarters and walks down a long hallway. She's about to do something

unprecedented, something many consider shocking or even scandalous, but she's determined to see it

through. At the end of the hall, an usher opens the door to the red room, a parlor typically used for entertaining.

Today, though, the red room is packed with reporters, 35 of them in all, and every one of them is a woman.

This is the first time a first lady has ever called her own press conference, and Eleanor has made the controversial decision to only include female

journalists. A hush falls over the room as the reporter spot Eleanor standing in the doorway.

There aren't enough chairs in the cramp space, so many of them sit on the carpet or lean against

the walls. Producing a box of candied fruit from a pocket in her dress, Eleanor asked the woman nearest her to pass it around before moving into the walls. Producing a box of candied fruit from a pocket in her dress, Eleanor asked the

woman nearest her to pass it around before moving into the center of the room. Cameras flash as she

collects her thoughts, and then Eleanor begins to speak. The reporter scribble on their notepads,

hanging on her every word. Calmly, Eleanor explains why she's called this press conference

and why she has excluded men from it.

She says that for too long, women have lacked a voice in America.

But from now on, she intends to use these meetings to speak to women directly,

and she promises to be their representative and advocate in her husband's new administration.

Having delivered this brief but powerful message, Eleanor exits the Red Room, leaving the

reporters to whisper and exchange excited glances. Many are very aware that they've just witnessed

something momentous.

Eleanor Roosevelt will become the most powerful first lady in American history and redefine the role for all who follow her. Her time in the White House would coincide with one of the

worst economic depressions in history as well as a traumatic world war. But her steady,

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