Ivanka's got nothing on Anna

One of the truly unsung heroes in American History is Anna Roosevelt (1906-1975), first child of FDR. In 1943 she moved into the White House during her publisher husband's military duty, where she changed history. She became her dad's personal assistant, also functioning as First Lady during Eleanor's frequent travels. In early 1944, she saved FDR's life, enabling him to soldier on to a fourth term, overseeing the victorious Allied juggernaut, and most importantly, birthing the creation of the UN with England and Russia. In February she realized FDR was rapidly failing. She commandeered his first heart exam by Naval cardiologist, Howard Bruenn, who quickly concluded FDR was dying. No dummy, Roosevelt drastically curtailed his work, eating and smoking habits, determined to preside over first, the end to WWII, then the birth of the UN. He almost made it; showing immense vitality to win his fourth term that November, then paving the path to the UN at Yalta in February, 1945, two months before expiring. Anna almost certainly added a year to FDR's life and many contributions to the American Story.

Seventy-three years later another devoted daughter appears to be reprising the role Anna played. Ivanka Trump is filling in for her stepmom Melania, the Slovenian born fashion model who simply doesn't fit the First Lady image and and apparently won't even move into the White House. When Melania served as glittering eye candy for the rapacious business mogul Trump, she was just fine. Enter Ivanka who has the charm and grace Trump needs to burnish his sputtering presidential image.

The contrast between Anna and Ivanka couldn't be more stark. Anna extended FDR's life a year, critically maintaining continuity in both war and peace. And Ivanka? Her main task is to put lipstick on a pig.