Eleanor Roosevelt to Maude Gray, December 9, 1948
Tommy and Buzz get off this afternoon late & sail about 1 a.m. from Havre on the America, a seven day trip.
I hope the last lap of my work on the Declaration of Human Rights will end tomorrow and that we get it through the General Assembly plenary session with the required 2/3 vote. The Arabs and Soviets may balk. The Arabs for religious reasons, the Soviets for political ones. We will have trouble at home for it can't be a U.S. document and get by with 58 nations and at home that is hard to understand. On the whole I think it's good as a declaration of rights to which all men may aspire and to which we should try to achieve. It has no legal value but should carry moral weight.
I've just had a request from Cousin Susie to buy her son's fine all wool [Text missing. -Ed.] suits-but fat hay doesn't grow & all wool is unknown here. You get some materials as a rule and all findings are still inferior like zippers and hooks and eyes. Electricity and heat are scarce but is has been warm lately!
Anna and her family will be with us for Xmas as she is coming over for two weeks to do some broadcasts with me. They tell us we must do so are agreeing!
I must go to lunch with the President of France and then back to the Assembly. I leave 2 A.M. Sunday morning if the weather is good.
All my love to you and David.