Facts About President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, also known as FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States. He guided the country through the tumultuous years of the Great Depression and World War II. Here are some interesting facts about this iconic leader.
- Roosevelt was born into a wealthy family in Hyde Park, New York in 1882. He was the only child of James and Sara Roosevelt.
- Roosevelt was a distant cousin of former President Theodore Roosevelt, whose wife Edith was Franklin’s aunt.
- In 1921, at the age of 39, Roosevelt contracted polio, which left him paralyzed from the waist down. Despite this setback, he continued in politics and eventually became President.
- He served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy during World War I, and was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 1920.
- Roosevelt was elected Governor of New York in 1928, and served in this role until 1932, when he was elected President.
- One of Roosevelt’s most famous achievements was the New Deal, a series of programs and policies aimed at addressing the economic problems caused by the Great Depression. These programs included Social Security, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
- Roosevelt was the first President to serve more than two terms in office. He was elected to a third term in 1940, and a fourth term in 1944.
- Roosevelt is credited with creating the modern presidential press conference. He held over 1,000 press conferences during his time in office, and used them as a way to communicate directly with the American people.
- Roosevelt was married to Eleanor Roosevelt, who was his distant cousin and a fierce advocate for civil rights and social justice.
- Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945, just weeks before the end of World War II. He was succeeded by Vice President Harry S. Truman.
Overall, Franklin D. Roosevelt was a transformative President who led the United States through some of its most difficult times. His legacy continues to inspire leaders and citizens around the world today.