Lorena Hickok was mentioned in our book. She was hired to tour around the country to report the hardships of everyday Americans back to the White House.
Her childhood was tough, her father beat her and her sisters and they were constantly moving around so that her father could find work. At the age of 14, she ran away and was a maid. Her mother's cousin saved her from this life and she went back to high school and enrolled in Lawrence College but flunked out a year later. She worked for a couple of different newspapers mostly writing the society section, the only position that was available to women. During the war, she moved to New York City in the hopes of being a journalist covering the stories but was fired within a month.
She enrolled in the University of Minnesota but left school without completing it. Thomas J. Dillon recognized her talents and mentored her allowing her to cover more dramatic stories at the Minneapolis Tribune. The Associated Press hired her and she came to fame.
She covered the Roosevelts during the presidential campaign and formed a close friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt. Harry Hopkins hired her to visit 32 states to give detailed reports on living conditions following the New Deal. She was very valuable to Eleanor Roosevelt, editing her columns and accompanying her on diplomatic visits. Eleanor invited her to live at the White House but Hickok had to leave as her diabetes worsened.
Her ability to overcome adversity and to continue trying after failure is what stands out to me today. Despite multiple setbacks, she would always look for a new way or a new angle.
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