T
he 1940s began with a dark omen over the
world. Nazi Germany occupied France,
most of Europe, and was effectively
attacking and weakening Britain. Japan was
expanding its war machine to its neighboring
countries.
President Roosevelt faced an American public
weary of European wars after the traumas of
World War I. Isolation made a lot of sense to
most people. But Roosevelt knew the very exis-
tence of a free western civilization was at stake.
He began a program to “lend” our fighting allies
arms and food. His entire administration began
to plan for war at every level of government.
The most important task he faced was to
persuade and ease an anxious American public
to support Europe. He asked first lady Elea-
nor Roosevelt to travel the nation, under the
auspices of the United War Relief Association,
to make it easier for Americans to accept the
upcoming war efforts.
Eleanor Roosevelt arrived in Peoria at the
Rock Island Train Depot on a beautiful sunny
morning on April 21, 1941. She had traveled
from Chicago in the Peoria Rocket. At a press
conference, reporters were very complimentary
towards her gracious demeanor and bubbling
personality. Every outfit she brought to Peoria
was blue and written about in minute detail in
the social pages.
After the press conference she was given a
tour of the newly built Warner Homes by Peoria
Housing Authority director Nathan Straus.
Warner Homes opened on February 9, 1941, and
Harrison Homes followed on June 15, 1941.
Mrs. Roosevelt was pleased to see the vast area
of slums cleared for the new three-story apart-
ments and two-story houses, all with reasonable
rents. She repeatedly emphasized the construc-
tion jobs created during the depression years. She
also met with the staff at the new Peoria Workers
Service Project, which re-educated and retrained
workers for new job opportunities.
In the afternoon, she received visits from her
personal central Illinois friends, notably the
Kemps and the Baileys of Delavan, whom she
had enjoyed many challenging all-night card
games when she was on the campaign trail. She
also enjoyed two British girls wearing Scottish
kilts who wished her well.
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT AND THE BEGINNING
OF WORLD WAR II FOR PEORIA
DR. PETER COURI
THE PAST
FIRST LADY ELEANOR ROOSEVELT, WIFE OF THEN-PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT,
STEPS UP TO THE MICROPHONE AT THE PEORIA ARMORY TO GIVE A SPEECH ON APRIL 21, 1941.
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