Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd President, is a monumental figure in American history, the only president to be elected to four terms. He took office during the darkest days of the Great Depression and led the nation through the immense challenges of World War II. With his signature optimism and unwavering confidence, FDR fundamentally reshaped the role of the federal government in American life and guided the country to its position as a global superpower.
Table of Historical Contents
At Hail to the Chiefs we’re excited to walk you through the life and legacy of this transformative leader, whose “New Deal” and wartime leadership continue to shape our nation today.
From Hyde Park in New York to the White House
Born on January 30, 1882, into a wealthy and well-connected family in Hyde Park, New York, Franklin Delano Roosevelt seemed destined for a life of privilege, not political struggle. A fifth cousin of former President Theodore Roosevelt, FDR grew up admiring his famous relative’s energy and commitment to public service. He graduated from Harvard University and Columbia Law School, but his true passion was politics.
FDR’s political career began with a seat in the New York State Senate, where he made a name for himself as a progressive reformer. He went on to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Navy under President Woodrow Wilson, a position his cousin Theodore had also held. In 1920, he was the Democratic nominee for Vice President, a race he and his running mate lost.
Then, in 1921, tragedy struck. At the age of 39, Roosevelt was diagnosed with poliomyelitis, which left him paralyzed from the waist down. Many assumed his political career was over. But with incredible courage and the steadfast support of his wife, Eleanor, Roosevelt refused to give up. He painstakingly taught himself to stand with the aid of heavy steel braces and projected an image of vigor and strength, rarely allowing himself to be seen in public in his wheelchair. He returned to politics, was elected Governor of New York in 1928, and in 1932, at the depth of the Great Depression, he was elected president in a landslide, promising the American people a “New Deal.”
| Franklin D. Roosevelt: Fast Facts | |
|---|---|
| Birth Date | January 30, 1882 |
| Death Date | April 12, 1945 |
| Political Party | Democrat |
| Term in Office | March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945 |
| Vice Presidents | John Nance Garner (1933-1941); Henry A. Wallace (1941-1945); Harry S. Truman (1945) |
| Key Achievement | Implemented the New Deal and led the U.S. to victory in World War II |
| Nickname | “FDR” |
The New Deal: A Government in Action Under Roosevelt
Taking office in a nation on the brink of collapse, Roosevelt immediately declared, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” In his first “Hundred Days,” he launched a whirlwind of legislation aimed at relief, recovery, and reform. This collection of programs, known as the New Deal, represented a bold experiment in government intervention to help the American people regain faith in their future as a nation.
Major Policies and Initiatives from the FDR White House:
- The Emergency Banking Act: On his second day in office, FDR declared a “bank holiday,” closing every bank in the country. This act was passed to stabilize the banking system, allowing federal inspectors to reopen sound banks and close insolvent ones, thereby restoring public confidence.
- The Social Security Act (1935): This is arguably the most enduring legacy of the New Deal. It established a national system of social insurance for Americans, providing unemployment benefits, aid to dependent children, and retirement pensions for the elderly.
- The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC): This program put millions of unemployed young men to work on environmental conservation projects, such as planting trees, building state parks, and fighting soil erosion.
- The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA): A massive public works project, the TVA built a series of dams to control flooding and generate inexpensive hydroelectric power for the impoverished Tennessee Valley region.
- The Works Progress Administration (WPA): This agency created millions of jobs for the unemployed, building roads, schools, and airports. It also famously employed artists, writers, and musicians in cultural projects.
From the Great Depression to Global War
While the New Deal dominated his first two terms, FDR’s presidency was ultimately defined by his leadership during World War II. As totalitarian regimes rose in Europe and Asia, he skillfully navigated a nation committed to isolationism toward becoming the “arsenal of democracy.”
Significant Domestic and Foreign Events:
- The “Fireside Chats”: FDR was a master of communication. He used the radio to speak directly to the American people in a series of “fireside chats,” explaining his policies in a calm, reassuring tone that built a powerful bond with the public.
- The Dust Bowl: A severe drought combined with poor farming practices turned the Great Plains into a dust bowl during the 1930s, forcing hundreds of thousands of “Okies” to migrate west in search of work.
- The Lend-Lease Act (1941): Before the U.S. entered the war, this act allowed Roosevelt to sell, transfer, or lease military equipment to any nation deemed vital to the defense of the United States, primarily Great Britain.
- The Attack on Pearl Harbor (1941): On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The next day, Roosevelt declared it “a date which will live in infamy” and asked Congress for a declaration of war.
- The Yalta Conference (1945): In one of his last major acts, FDR met with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin at Yalta to plan the final defeat of Germany and shape the post-war world order, including the formation of the United Nations.
Accomplishments and Challenges
FDR’s long presidency was filled with monumental achievements and profound challenges. He guided the nation through two of its greatest crises, but his expansion of presidential power also drew sharp criticism.
Key Accomplishments and Challenges:
- Preserving Democracy: In a time when dictators were rising around the world, FDR’s New Deal offered a democratic response to economic crisis, preserving the nation’s political institutions while providing relief to its suffering citizens.
- Victory in World War II: As Commander-in-Chief, he forged the Grand Alliance with Great Britain and the Soviet Union, leading the Allies to victory over the Axis powers.
- The “Court-Packing” Plan: Frustrated by the Supreme Court striking down several New Deal laws, FDR proposed a plan in 1937 to add new justices to the court. The plan was widely seen as a power grab and was defeated in Congress, marking a major political blunder.
- Japanese-American Internment: In one of the most controversial decisions of his presidency, Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 in 1942. This order authorized the forced relocation and internment of over 120,000 Japanese Americans from the West Coast, a policy now widely condemned as a violation of civil liberties.
FDR’s Cabinet and His Three Vice Presidents
FDR’s long tenure meant he worked with a wide array of talented and influential figures. He valued loyalty and competence, and his “Brain Trust” of academic advisors was legendary.
Vice Presidents John Nance Garner, Henry A. Wallace, and Harry S. Truman
FDR had three different Vice Presidents, each reflecting a different phase of his presidency. John Nance Garner (1933-1941), a conservative Texan, helped pass early New Deal legislation but later broke with FDR over his liberal policies and the court-packing scheme. Henry A. Wallace (1941-1945) was a true liberal, a former Secretary of Agriculture, and a key wartime administrator. However, his perceived mysticism and ultra-liberal views made party bosses nervous, and they replaced him on the ticket in 1944. Harry S. Truman (1945), a moderate Senator from Missouri, was chosen as a compromise candidate. Roosevelt and Truman barely knew each other; they met only a few times before FDR’s death thrust the presidency upon Truman.
Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau Jr.
A close friend and neighbor of Roosevelt’s from New York, Henry Morgenthau Jr. served as Treasury Secretary for most of the presidency. He oversaw the financing of both the New Deal and World War II, managing the massive expansion of the national debt required to fund these endeavors.
Secretary of State Cordell Hull
Cordell Hull was Secretary of State for 11 years, the longest tenure in U.S. history. He was a champion of free trade and is best known for his foundational work in creating the United Nations, an achievement for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins
Frances Perkins made history as the first woman ever to serve in a presidential cabinet. As Secretary of Labor, she was one of the principal architects of the New Deal, playing a key role in drafting the Social Security Act and other landmark labor legislation enacted during the time President Roosevelt was in office.
The Final of Four Terms as President
In 1944, with the war still raging, Roosevelt ran for and won an unprecedented fourth term. But his health was failing. On April 12, 1945, while resting at his retreat in Warm Springs, Georgia, he suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage and died. The news shocked the nation and the world.
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s legacy is immense. He led the country through its worst economic crisis and its greatest global conflict. His New Deal programs created a social safety net that continues to shape American society, and his wartime leadership established the United States as the leader of the free world. More than any other president, FDR redefined the relationship between the American people and their government.
For more information on Franklin D Roosevelt, read our FAQ section below or visit the FDR Library website here.
Frequently Asked Questions – The FDR FAQ
1. Why was FDR elected four times?
Franklin D Roosevelt was elected in 1932, 1936, 1940, and 1944. There was no constitutional limit on presidential terms at the time. FDR’s first two re-elections were due to the popularity of his New Deal policies. His third and fourth term victories were largely because the public did not want to “change horses in midstream” during the crisis of World War II. The 22nd Amendment, limiting presidents to two terms, was passed in 1947, largely in response to his long tenure.
2. What were the “fireside chats”?
The fireside chats were a series of evening radio addresses given by FDR between 1933 and 1944. He used the radio—the dominant mass medium of the time—to speak directly to the American people in a reassuring and informal manner. These speeches were crucial for explaining his complex New Deal policies and for maintaining public morale during the Depression and World War II.
3. What was the “New Deal”?
The New Deal was the name for the series of programs, regulations, and public works projects enacted by FDR’s administration between 1933 and 1939. The goal was to provide relief for the unemployed, recovery for the economy, and reform of the financial system to prevent another depression. Key programs included Social Security, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
4. Why did FDR try to “pack” the Supreme Court?
In 1937, after the Supreme Court had declared several key New Deal programs unconstitutional, a frustrated Roosevelt proposed a bill that would have allowed him to appoint an additional justice for every sitting justice over the age of 70. This would have allowed him to add up to six new, pro-New Deal justices. The plan was widely condemned as an attack on judicial independence and was defeated in Congress.
5. How did FDR hide his paralysis from the public?
Roosevelt went to great lengths to conceal the extent of his disability. He used a wheelchair in private but in public, he would use heavy leg braces, a cane, and the support of a son or aide to appear to be walking. The press corps at the time had an unwritten agreement not to photograph Roosevelt in a way that would emphasize his paralysis, helping him project an image of physical strength and vitality.
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