94fdr May 2026

In 1994, viewers were reminded of FDR’s ability to unify disparate groups, a lesson that remains poignant today. The series emphasized his empathy, whether comforting families during the Dust Bowl or advocating for civil rights through Eleanor’s fierce activism. While FDR’s name dominates history books, Franklin & Eleanor rightly spotlighted Eleanor’s revolutionary role. A champion of women’s rights, racial equality, and refugee support, she was FDR’s moral compass. Judy Davis’s performance underscored her evolution from reluctant First Lady to a global advocate for the UN Declaration of Human Rights—a legacy she would carry long after FDR’s death in 1945.