Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Roosevelt in 1904
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born on January 30, 1882. He was born in Hyde Park, New York to James and Sara Roosevelt. As a young boy he attended expensive private schools and received private tutoring for many of his early school years. Later, he received more education at Groton School, a famous preparatory school, from the years of 1896-1900. After attending Groton, he attended Harvard University; then, after graduating from Harvard, he began attending Columbia Law School. In 1905, he married his distant cousin Eleanor Roosevelt, who was also the niece of the former President Theodore Roosevelt. They had six children together.
In 1910, Roosevelt entered the world of politics, as a Democrat. He was elected to the New York Senate. Three years later, President Woodrow Wilson appointed him as assistant secretary of the U.S. Navy. In 1920, he was the Democratic nominee for vice president.
During the summer of 1921, Roosevelt's life took a disasterous turn. At age 39, he was struck with poliomyelitis, a type of polio that usually affects children. Also known as infantile paralysis, the disease attacked his spinal cord, nearly killing him. He spent years in Georgia completing physical therapy, trying to regain strength and the use of his legs. The place where he received most of his treatment is now called the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation. With his wife's encouragement, he continued his political career, and was elected governor of New York in 1928. A few short years later, he began to campaign for the 1932 presidential election.
In 1910, Roosevelt entered the world of politics, as a Democrat. He was elected to the New York Senate. Three years later, President Woodrow Wilson appointed him as assistant secretary of the U.S. Navy. In 1920, he was the Democratic nominee for vice president.
During the summer of 1921, Roosevelt's life took a disasterous turn. At age 39, he was struck with poliomyelitis, a type of polio that usually affects children. Also known as infantile paralysis, the disease attacked his spinal cord, nearly killing him. He spent years in Georgia completing physical therapy, trying to regain strength and the use of his legs. The place where he received most of his treatment is now called the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation. With his wife's encouragement, he continued his political career, and was elected governor of New York in 1928. A few short years later, he began to campaign for the 1932 presidential election.
An Unprecendented Presidency
This portrait of Roosevelt was being painted when he collapsed.
Roosevelt received the Democratic nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1932. He accepted the nomination, at that time, in a very unusual way. He flew from Albany, New York to the Convention in Chicago through stormy weather and accepted the nomination in person. His acceptance speech and his unusual way of accepting his nomination got people excited about his candidacy. In his candidacy, "he talked about creating an administration that understood the needs of the people...Roosevelt said that he understood that the American people wanted jobs and a sense of personal and financial security." (Fitzgerald 35)
People responded well to Roosevelt's campaigning, and Roosevelt won the 1932 election with 57.2% of the nation's votes. On March 4, 1933, President Roosevelt was inaugurated. He was not slow in taking action to help the country, for the days between his election and his inauguration showed exactly how severe of a situation the country was in. Between the election and inauguration, twelve states had to close a total of more than 5,000 banks.
Roosevelt served an unprecedented four terms as president. During his presidency, he introduced the extraordinary programs that made up the New Deal. These programs would help millions of Americans as they suffered through the Great Depression. Roosevelt also led the country through most of World War II. He pulled the nation through its worst of times, and the United States emerged stronger than ever. On April 12, 1945, he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, and died hours later. He was 63 years old.
People responded well to Roosevelt's campaigning, and Roosevelt won the 1932 election with 57.2% of the nation's votes. On March 4, 1933, President Roosevelt was inaugurated. He was not slow in taking action to help the country, for the days between his election and his inauguration showed exactly how severe of a situation the country was in. Between the election and inauguration, twelve states had to close a total of more than 5,000 banks.
Roosevelt served an unprecedented four terms as president. During his presidency, he introduced the extraordinary programs that made up the New Deal. These programs would help millions of Americans as they suffered through the Great Depression. Roosevelt also led the country through most of World War II. He pulled the nation through its worst of times, and the United States emerged stronger than ever. On April 12, 1945, he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, and died hours later. He was 63 years old.