That night at the Peoria Armory, a crowd of
3,500
people roared with excitement when the
first lady took the stage. Her flowing blue gown
and exquisite pearl necklaces draping her neck
were dwarfed by the enormous spray of yellow-
crimson orchids she wore on her left shoulder.
Her speech was covered by the Peoria Journal
Transcript and is excerpted here:
"
Advocates of isolationism are advocates of
lower living standards for the people of the
United States. Foreign trade
is largely responsible for
the high living standards we
now enjoy, and any discon-
tinuance of that trade would
bound to be ref ected in our
daily existence.
Those who build a wall
around this country should
study the history of the last
20
years. The cost of isolat-
ing ourselves, of cutting
ourselves off from commer-
cial intercourse with other
nations, must be carefully
considered.
It is the next generation, not
the present one, which must
be depended upon to ce-
ment a real and permanent
friendship between the two
continents. It is a great op-
portunity. It requires prayer
–
a prayer for wisdom and a
prayer for courage.
Cultural ties in themselves are more impor-
tant than business or political ties because
they lead to these in a more lasting manner
when taken f rst, and specif cally, instead of
only business and politics. As a nation, we
are very slow to realize this. Other nations
have grasped it and have taken advantage
of it. Things have taken a turn for the better,
however, for just a few years ago the United
States woke up to the fact it was not par-
ticularly liked by some of its neighbors, and
began doing something about it."
The crowd gave her a thunderous applause.
After a small reception, Eleanor boarded the
train at midnight. She optimistically wrote in
her diary "Arriving in Chicago early this morn-
ing. The sun is shining and we look out of our
windows at a very calm lake with ships passing
in the distance. I always enjoy this view and
the sight of the gardens and the trees along the
drive with the incessant stream of cars going
past. We start across the continent toward Los
Angeles."
Eleanor Roosevelt did her part to help Peoria
begin to meet the challenges of World War II.
MRS. ROOSEVELT SPEAKS WITH SOME OF THE GUESTS AT THE DINNER.
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