Franklin D. Roosevelt

Early Life

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born on January 30, 1882, in Hyde Park, a small town in the Hudson Valley. He was the only child of James Roosevelt and Sara Ann Delano, both of whom came from wealthy old New York families. His father, a businessman and investor, was a distant cousin of Theodore Roosevelt, who would become the 26th president of the United States.

A black and white photograph of a young Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Education

Roosevelt received his early education from private tutors and attended Groton School, an elite preparatory school in Massachusetts. He then went on to Harvard University, where he studied history and became editor of the 'Harvard Crimson'. After graduating from Harvard in 1903, Roosevelt entered Columbia Law School, although he did not complete his law degree. Despite this, he passed the New York bar exam in 1907 and began practicing law.

Political Career

Roosevelt's political career began in 1910 when he was elected to the New York State Senate. As a state senator, he gained a reputation as a progressive reformer. In 1913, President Woodrow Wilson appointed him Assistant Secretary of the Navy, a position he held until 1920.

In 1920, Roosevelt was nominated as the Democratic candidate for Vice President, alongside presidential candidate James M. Cox. However, the Cox-Roosevelt ticket was defeated by the Republican ticket of Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge.

Polio and Return to Politics

In 1921, at the age of 39, Roosevelt was diagnosed with poliomyelitis, commonly known as polio. The disease left him permanently paralyzed from the waist down. Despite his disability, Roosevelt returned to politics and was elected Governor of New York in 1928.

As governor, Roosevelt implemented a series of progressive reforms known as the 'New Deal for New York'. These reforms, which included unemployment insurance and old-age pensions, were seen as a model for the federal New Deal programs that he would later implement as president.

A black and white photograph of Franklin D. Roosevelt as Governor of New York.

Presidency

Roosevelt was elected President of the United States in 1932, during the height of the Great Depression. He implemented a series of programs and reforms known as the 'New Deal', aimed at providing relief for the unemployed, reforming the economy, and stimulating economic recovery.

Roosevelt's presidency was also marked by significant foreign policy events, including the start of World War II. Despite initial efforts to keep the United States out of the war, the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 led to the country's entry into the conflict.

Roosevelt was elected to an unprecedented four terms in office, serving from 1933 until his death in 1945. He remains the only U.S. president to have served more than two terms.

Legacy

Roosevelt's legacy is marked by his leadership during one of the most difficult periods in U.S. history. His New Deal programs helped to mitigate the effects of the Great Depression and set the precedent for future government intervention in the economy. His leadership during World War II also helped to establish the United States as a global superpower.