Selwa Roosevelt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Selwa Roosevelt
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Selwa "Lucky" Roosevelt
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| 23rd Chief of Protocol of the United States | |
| In office April 16, 1982 – January 20, 1989 |
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| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Leonore Annenberg |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Verner Reed Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Selwa Carmen Showker
January 13, 1929 Kingsport, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Spouse |
Archibald Bulloch Roosevelt Jr.
(m. 1950; died 1990) |
| Occupation | Journalist |
Selwa Carmen Showker, known as "Lucky" Roosevelt, was born on January 13, 1929. She is an American journalist and a supporter of the arts. She also served as the Chief of Protocol of the United States under President Ronald Reagan. She held this important role longer than anyone else, from 1982 to 1989. She is also the Chairman Emeritus of the Blair House Foundation.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Selwa Showker was born in 1929. Her parents were immigrants from Lebanon. She grew up in Kingsport, Tennessee, and went to public schools there. She was the top student in her high school class.
After high school, she went to Vassar College. She graduated with honors in 1950.
Starting a Journalism Career
Selwa began her career in journalism when she was just 16 years old. She worked for her local newspaper, the Kingsport Times. She continued to work there every summer while she was in high school and college.
Career Highlights
After finishing college, Selwa, who was now called "Lucky," worked for Ladies' Home Journal magazine. In September 1950, she married Archibald Roosevelt Jr. He was a grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt. Soon after they married, her husband, who worked for the CIA, was sent to Istanbul, Turkey. They lived there from 1951 to 1953.
Working as a Journalist
Lucky Roosevelt has worked as a journalist for many years. She wrote for The Washington Evening Star newspaper. She also wrote articles for several magazines. These included Family Circle, McCalls, and Town & Country. She was a contributing editor for Town & Country for seven years.
Role as Chief of Protocol
Selwa Roosevelt served as the Chief of Protocol of the United States from 1982 to 1989. This means she was in charge of welcoming foreign leaders and making sure official visits went smoothly. She held this position for a longer time than anyone else.
In 2012, President Barack Obama praised her for her service to the government. He also thanked her for helping to "save" Blair House. Blair House is a historic building where foreign guests of the President stay.
Published Works
Selwa Roosevelt wrote a book called Keeper of the gate. It was published in 1990.
Additional Information
Her letters and other writings from Fleur Cowles are kept at the University of Texas at Austin.
