Final answer:
Eleanor Roosevelt expanded the role of the first lady by advocating for civil rights and hosting significant diplomatic events. She raised the profile of the position through her active engagement in social causes and her support for gender and racial equality.
Step-by-step explanation:
Eleanor Roosevelt's Impact on the Role of the First Lady
Eleanor Roosevelt significantly expanded the role of the first lady during her time in the White House. She was instrumental in advocating for civil rights and played a prominent role in shaping public policy on social issues. Among her notable activities, she organized events and hosted diplomatic events, which greatly increased the visibility and importance of her position. Roosevelt also broke with tradition by holding press conferences, writing a newspaper column, traveling extensively to promote liberal causes, and only admitting female reporters to her press conferences, thus opening new opportunities for women in journalism. Her advocacy went beyond the norm for the time, including her strong stand against segregation laws and her support for the inclusion of African American nurses in the Army Nurse Corps.