Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born on January 30, 1882. He was the 32nd President of the United States. He also served as Vice President to President Harry Truman. Other political positions he held were Assistant Secretary of the Navy (during Woodrow Wilson's presidency), and was the 44th Governor of New York. He is the only President to ever be physically disabled. He was diagnosed with polio in August of 1921.
Early Life and Education
His father was James Roosevelt and his mother was Sara Ann Delano (maiden name). The two were sixth cousins and were both born into wealthy families from New York. Franklin was their only child. He had many of hobbies, including rowing and riding horses. He took up the sport of golf in his teen years. He attended the Groton boarding school in Massachusetts in his early years. He went to Harvard for further education. He also attended Columbia Law School in 1904, but he dropped out once he passed the New York State Bar exam in 1907.
Political Life
FDR was appointed the position of Assistant Secretary of the Navy by Woodrow Wilson in 1913. He served under Josephus Daniels. During this time he pushed to expand the Navy. While doing this he founded the United States Navy Reserve. He was an advocate for submarine warfare with the Germans during WWI. When WWI ended there were plans made to disband the Navy. FDR opposed this strongly.
FDR helped Albert E. Smith win the election for governor of New York in 1922. Smith returned the favor and backed FDR in the election of 1928. He barely won by a 1% margin! He was an active reformer, establishing many new social programs. He won his re-election by a 14% margin.
His popularity as the New York governor and with Herbert Hoover struggling to keep the economy afloat, he won the Democratic nomination, and he went on to win the Presidential Election of 1932. He proposed a New Deal coalition for the US government, planning to help the people out of the Great Depression. He has been both criticized and praised for the work he did as President with his New Deal. Unemployment definitely went down during his years as President, so his New Deal plan has mostly been deemed successful. His third term as President was dominated by WWII--he declared war on Japan after the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941. His fourth term inauguration was held on the White House lawn due to his declining health and the "ongoing state of war".
Death and Legacy
On April 12, 1945 FDR died after having a massive stroke just a few weeks earlier. A funeral was held at the White House on April 14. Since then a monument has been built in his honor in Washington D.C. and he is highly regarded by historians as one of the greatest Presidents of his day.
Extra Facts
*At the time of his death, Roosevelt had been sitting for a portrait. This portrait by Elizabeth Shoumatoff became known as the "Unfinished Portrait of FDR"
*Roosevelt's dog Fala was called the "most photographed dog in the world" during his time as President. He became Roosevelt's well-known companion in the White House.
*FDR was the first President to speak on TV.
*He has been the only President to serve more than two terms. He was in his 4th term at death.
*He was the first President whose mother was allowed to vote for him.
*He was the first President to fly in an airplane.
Sources
http://winners.virtualclassroom.org/0501/leaders/roosevelt/facts.html
Comments
Great info but no personal thoughts!