Franklin d. Roosevelt

1. Franklin d. Roosevelt 32nd President 1933-1945

2. Background and family • Born – January 30, 1882 • Died – April 12, 1945 in Warm Springs, Ga of a massive stroke • Wife- Eleanor (Niece of Theodore Roosevelt– married in 1905) • Franklin was raised in his family’s Hyde Park estate on the Hudson River in New York • Children- • Anna • James • Franklin • Elliot • Franklin Delano Jr • John

3. Overview • Democrat • Vice Presidents: John N. Garner; Henry A. Wallace; Harry S Truman • Occupations: Lawyer and politician • Religion: Episcopalian • Stricken with polio at the age of 39 which left him paralyzed • Adored being President

4. As President • Took an activist approach to government • Broke the precedent set by George Washington by running for a third term • The only President who will EVER serve 12 years in office • New Deal program changed the role of the government in the lives of the people • Brought the US to the status of a world superpower • One of few political mistakes came in 1937 when he tried to tip the balance of the Supreme Court in what is known as the Court Packing Bill

5. Interesting facts • Most Americans didn’t realize he was paralyzed • Members of the press never mentioned or photographed him being carried up stairs, being lifted in and out of automobiles, or using a wheelchair. • Messy management style– chaotic and unorganized • Collected stamps • Appointed the first woman to the cabinet • The only disabled president

6. A ladies man… • His mother Sara– extremely controlling and often manipulative– moved to Boston to be near him while he was in college and tried to delay his marriage to Eleanor • Eleanor– wife and political ally – one of the centuries greatest public figures • Lucy Mercer (Eleanor’s social secretary) – Franklin’s mistress during WWI who almost ended the Roosevelt marriage but remained a part of Franklin’s life visiting the White House during the 40’s and Warm Springs on the day he died. • Missy LeHand– Franklin’s secretary who lived at the White House and was his frequent companion • Anna– his firstborn child and only daughter– especially close with her father and often served as White House hostess when Eleanor was away

7. Major world events during his political career • July 17, 1936– General Francisco Franco mutinies against the Spanish government beginning the Spanish Civil War • September 1, 1939– World War II begins as Germany invades Poland • December 7, 1941– Japan bombs Pearl Harbor • June 6, 1944– Allied forces begin the D-Day invasion of German occupied France • February 4-11, 1945– With the defeat of Nazi Germany close at hand, the Big Three meet at Yalta to debate the future of Europe. Critics will charge that Roosevelt obviously in poor health ceded too much to Stalin.

8. Major events in US history • February 25, 1933 – First aircraft carrier is launched • 1936 – Jesse Owens wins 4 gold medals at the Berlin Olympics • July 2, 1937– Amelia Earhart disappears • 1939– The Wizard of Oz is released • December 8, 1941– Day of Infamy Speech Given • February 20, 1942– Roosevelt approves the relocation of Japanese Americans to internment camps • June 6, 1944– the Allied invasion of Europe begins– D-Day

9. Criticisms of fdr • Internment of 112,000 Japanese Americans despite no evidence of disloyalty • Ignored the annihilation of Europe’s Jewish population • Court packing scheme and breaking of George Washington’s precedent show too strong a desire for power– “King FDR” • Big growth of federal power and taxes that came with it angered many conservatives

10. Presidential legacy • Ranked third in The Times • In US polls ranks anywhere from 1st to 3rd in political greatness (1st in 1982, 1990, and 1994 Sienna polls) • An ABC poll of 1000 adults in 2000 ranked him at the third position