New president invested

In November 1951 Regent Roscoe Bonisteel (right) congratulates newly invested President Harlan Hatcher.  Photo courtesy Bentley Historical Library.

This week in history (71 years ago)

In his autobiography, former U-M President Alexander Ruthven recalled a time when he learned first lady Eleanor Roosevelt would stay at the President’s House. Ruthven expressed concern, as the Ruthven family had a pet dog named Eleanor: “What to do?” he wrote. “The students were agog, the family nervous. Would the guest object to having an English bulldog as a namesake? Could the family get through the visit without using the name? Evidently, anyone calling ‘Eleanor’ might create an embarrassing situation.” Ruthven reported the visit was a success, as the first lady addressed 6,000 people at Hill Auditorium, and the two Eleanors became fast friends. — Bentley Historical Library

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