From the Archives: Eleanor Roosevelt and Senator Margaret Chase Smith on "Face the Nation" in 1956

Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and the first woman to have served in both the House and the Senate Sen. Margaret Chase Smith appeared on "Face the Nation's" second anniversary show in 1956. The two were the first women to appear as guests of the program. They discussed the upcoming Presidential election where President Eisenhower ran for reelection against Adlai Stevenson.
#eleanorroosevelt #facethenation
"Face the Nation" is America's premier Sunday morning public affairs program. The broadcast is one of the longest-running news programs in the history of television, having debuted November 7, 1954, on CBS. Every Sunday, "Face the Nation" moderator and CBS News senior foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan welcomes leaders, newsmakers, and experts to a lively round table discussion of current events and the latest news.
Subscribe to the "Face the Nation" KZbin channel: bit.ly/1SUQc68​
Watch full episodes of "Face the Nation": cbsn.ws/20pbkSF​
Follow "Face the Nation" on Instagram: bit.ly/23Xuhk4​
Like "Face the Nation" on Facebook: on. 23Xmz9E​
Follow "Face the Nation" on Twitter: bit.ly/1o3QDQo​
Subscribe to our newsletter: cbsn.ws/1RqHw7T​
Download the CBS News app: cbsn.ws/1Xb1WC8​
Try Paramount+ free: bit.ly/2OiW1kZ
For video licensing inquiries, contact: [e-mail]

[@jamesrichardreavis]

Hearing Eleanor Roosevelt talking about the need to repeal the Senate filibuster to protect civil rights in 1956 is absolutely mind-blowing.

[@mikew.2549]

I think this was considered the first unofficial tv presidential debate. Didn't include the candidates but was definitely a debate likely used as the foundation for future debates by the candidates themselves.

[@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288]

Thank you, Eleanor Roosevelt, for the United Nations! 🌍🗽🌎

[@robertmariano]

This was a fascinating episode from over 66 years ago. I wish there was a version of this style of show today, I mean with the decorum of the 50s. It would be interesting to watch

[@cliffgaither]

robertmariano 📌 "... the decorum of the 50s." ? Do you have any idea of what was happening in the United States in the 50s ? There was no decorum in the lives of many people. This was 60 Minutes, in the 50s with Eleanor Roosevelt !! Not the streets of America.

[@robertmariano]

@@cliffgaither I meant the style of speech on the TV show

[@cliffgaither]

@@robertmariano ::: My bad ! Sorry ! ( I hated the history of the 50s/60s/70s/80s/90s/00s ... ) 😊

[@cliffgaither]

@robertmariano :: I don't even know the difference between 60Minutes & Face the Nation. You were too much of a gentlemen to point that out !

[@amandasutton3717]

This is so much better than our recent debacle of a debate....

[@doreekaplan2589]

She remains one of my personal heroines No other 1st lady ever did anywhere near to all she accomplished all on her own volition.

[@cliffgaither]

doreekaplan :: She was the greatest First Lady.

[@AndrewNorbert-ms9mq]

Well said Doree, amazing. How are you doing!!!

[@jacobmorris3295]

I wish people spoke in 2024 like they did in 1956. Perhaps we will have an increase in grace and decorum in 2056 compared to today :)

[@josefernandovillanuevahida8620]

Roosevelt was 72 at the time.

[@yvonneplant9434]

This and Meet the Press are the oldest TV shows still on the air.

[@terredee]

It’s interesting that the women smile during their answers, especially Ms. Roosevelt, but the men do not smile. Social conditioning to soften a woman’s opinions, I guess. Goes along with the moderator referring to a great lady in her own right as “Mrs. Franklin Delano Roosevelt”. Some women still refer to themselves with their husband’s names, but they are almost all very old.

[@terredee]

Eleanor Roosevelt, longest serving First Lady, whom President Truman called ‘First Lady to the World” in tribute to her record on advancing human rights. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_Roosevelt?wprov=sfti1#

[@terredee]

Sen. Margaret Chase Smith, an extraordinary person who IS the Mrs. Smith who went to Washington. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Chase_Smith?wprov=sfti1