The Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute praised Taiwan's first lady Wu Shu-chen (吳淑珍) on Saturday for her encouragement and efforts regarding her husband's rise to the presidency.
In a citation presented to Wu, wife of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), the institute expressed its understanding of the "quiet heroism involved in providing leadership from a wheelchair and of the importance of a supportive spouse in making such leadership possible."
Wu was the guest of honor at a luncheon hosted by the institute's executive director, David Woolner, who compared the Chens to the Roosevelts in their dedication to freedom and democracy in their countries.
"As a historian, I know their deep and abiding affection for the people of Taiwan," Woolner said.
In response, Wu said she has long admired the institute, adding that she and her husband are truly honored to be compared with the Roosevelts as partners in democracy.
Pointing to Franklin D. Roos-evelt's rise to the US presidency after he was diagnosed with polio at the age of 39, Wu said it was Eleanor's indefatigable efforts that helped her husband win the support of the American public.
The first lady toured the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum before the luncheon and later visited the couple's grave in the backyard of the facility in Hyde Park, New York, to pay her respects.
Wu appeared weary throughout the days activities, coughing repeatedly and rubbing her neck throughout her speech.
But Presidential Office spokesman James Hunag (黃志芳), who is accompanying Wu on her US trip, told reporters that Wu was simply not used to New York's dry climate.
"The first lady's physical and psychological condition are good," Huang said. "We do not have any plans to shorten her journey."
Later on Saturday Wu attended a dinner party with representatives from overseas Taiwanese groups.
In an address at the dinner, Wu reiterated that China is still far from a free country.
"When we look at the map, China is obviously bigger than Taiwan. While China's territory looks like a steak, Taiwan looks like a diamond," Wu said.
"If we compare the population of Taiwan with other countries, Taiwan has more citizens than some European countries and Taiwan has everything that comes with being an independent state," Wu said.
"Therefore, Taiwan should not be excluded from the international community," she said.
Although more than 500 overseas Taiwanese attended the dinner party, many overseas Chinese groups in the New York area refused to attend because of recent controversial remarks by the first lady about Soong Mayling (宋美齡), wife of the late president Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石).
Before she departed Taipei, Wu told a reporter that she could not be compared with Soong because Soong's husband was a warlord and dictator, whereas her husband is a democratically-elected leader.
Wu did not back down on her position during her speech, saying Chiang and his wife kept aloof, distancing themselves from the people whom they expected to hail them with adulations such as, "Long Live President Chiang."
"If people in Taiwan had the right to elect their president back then, I don't believe that Chiang would have been elected," she said.
Wu is on an 11-day visit to the US that will also take her to Washington and Los Angeles.
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