Helen Keller met every President from Grover Cleveland to Lyndon Johnson.... that's 13 Presidents!
Grover Cleveland
When Helen was only 7 years old, around 1888, she met Grover Cleveland. There are no pictures of this meeting. Interestingly it is the year the first Kodak portable camera is invented. See information here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_camera
William McKinley
No one really knows the date of this meeting. It is obviously assumed that it was during McKinley's presidency. (Some time between 1897 and 1901)
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt met Helen in 1903. Roosevelt praised her book and her perseverance.
An image can be found of a letter sent to Helen from Theodore Roosevelt by clicking here.
The picture is not very clear, but the letter says:
"My dear Miss Helen,
Your book pleases me very much, and most of all the inscription. I am so glad that I met you. I shall always remember your call at the White House.
Sincerely yours,
Theodore Roosevelt"
An image can be found of a letter sent to Helen from Theodore Roosevelt by clicking here.
The picture is not very clear, but the letter says:
"My dear Miss Helen,
Your book pleases me very much, and most of all the inscription. I am so glad that I met you. I shall always remember your call at the White House.
Sincerely yours,
Theodore Roosevelt"
William Taft
William Taft did a lot of work for the blind. He opened a lighthouse for the blind with Helen, and "cut the red ribbon" on opening day with her.
The article can be seen here
The article can be seen here
Woodrow Wilson
Helen remained civil when speaking with Wilson. Even though she was cordial to him in this letter, she did take up the struggle against him and his "hypocritical war machine."
Warren G. Harding
As for President Harding, she did not say much. Information on this relationship is very limited.
Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge and Grace Coolidge became close, long-time friends with Helen.
Coolidge didn't talk much. He was called "Silent Cal" and noted for saying "I have noticed that nothing I have never said ever did me harm." and "No man ever listened his way out of a job."
When Helen and Coolidge met, Keller read the President's lips by placing her hand on his mouth. She complimented him on letters he had written for the American Foundation for the Blind, "Your words on behalf of the blind are bright jewels in my dark casket." Then she said "They say you are cold, but you are not. You are a dear President." She made President Coolidge smile. He responded "You have a wonderful personality and I'm glad to meet you."
Coolidge didn't talk much. He was called "Silent Cal" and noted for saying "I have noticed that nothing I have never said ever did me harm." and "No man ever listened his way out of a job."
When Helen and Coolidge met, Keller read the President's lips by placing her hand on his mouth. She complimented him on letters he had written for the American Foundation for the Blind, "Your words on behalf of the blind are bright jewels in my dark casket." Then she said "They say you are cold, but you are not. You are a dear President." She made President Coolidge smile. He responded "You have a wonderful personality and I'm glad to meet you."
Herbert Hoover
Helen and Herbert Hoover were both very involved with work for the Foundation for the Overseas Blind.
Helen wrote a letter to Hoover in thanks for his donation to the Foundation for the Overseas Blind.
Picture: Helen Keller and international delegates. This was from a Conference for the International Delegates of the Blind.
Helen wrote a letter to Hoover in thanks for his donation to the Foundation for the Overseas Blind.
Picture: Helen Keller and international delegates. This was from a Conference for the International Delegates of the Blind.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Helen and Roosevelt were both trying to make the world a better place. With similar worldviews and passions, we understand that Helen and FDR got along quite well. This is a foggy part of history, because neither of them left written words of this encounter.
Harry Truman
Truman admired Helen, there is no doubt about that. In this letter we see his sincere admiration of her work, and apologies for the political climate of the time. Her letter which prompted this can be seen here. And Helen's response can be seen here.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
(This is a great video to watch, with footage from her meeting with Calvin Eisenhower)
A very sweet "happy 75th birthday" letter can be found here
The two were close friends, and Eisenhower was very impressed with her work.
A very sweet "happy 75th birthday" letter can be found here
The two were close friends, and Eisenhower was very impressed with her work.
John F. Kennedy
Her meeting with John F. Kennedy was sincere. I can not think of a better word for it!
This footage of their meeting is just incredible. She told him during this meeting to "send a kiss to Carolyn", his three year old daughter.
This footage of their meeting is just incredible. She told him during this meeting to "send a kiss to Carolyn", his three year old daughter.
Lyndon Johnson
The very last president that Helen met awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The highest civilian award in the United States.