Franklin Delano Roosevelt, often referred to simply as FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States. FDR served from 1933 until his death in 1945 and is only president to serve for more than two terms. He is most remembered for his “New Deal” programs and reforms.
Early Life and Family
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born in 1882 in Hyde Park, New York. The only child of James and Sara Delano Roosevelt, FDR was born into wealth and privilege. He attended Harvard University and then Columbia Law School. In 1905, Roosevelt married Eleanor, the niece of President Theodore Roosevelt. They had six children, one of whom died in infancy.
Political Career
Roosevelt entered the political arena as a Democrat. In 1910, he elected to the New York Senate. President Wilson later appointed him Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and he was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 1920.
In the summer of 1921, FDR contracted polio. Through tremendous effort, he was able to regain the use of his legs. He returned to public life and dramatically appeared on crutches at the 1924 Democratic Convention to nominate Alfred E. Smith. In 1928, Roosevelt became Governor of New York.
During his second term as governor, Roosevelt was nominated to represent the Democratic party in the Presidential election. Upon accepting the nomination, FDR famously committed to “a new deal for the American people.” With the country’s economy in turmoil, he easily defeated incumbent President Herbert Hoover.
Presidency
FDR assumed the presidency during the height of the Great Depression. More than 13,000,000 Americans were unemployed, and nearly every U.S. bank was closed. In the first inaugural address to be widely broadcast on the radio, Roosevelt assured the public that “This great nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and prosper. He also famously told the nation, “[T]he only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
In his first 100 days, Roosevelt proposed, and the Democratically-controlled Congress passed, a series of sweeping reforms intended to stabilize the economy, bolster business and agriculture, and help struggling Americans. They included the establishment of the Tennessee Valley Authority, Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA), the Public Works Administration (PWA), the Civilian Conservations Corps (CCC), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). To restore public confidence, Roosevelt also conducted a series of “fireside chats,” which were broadcast on the radio.
After the economy began to rebound, FDR proposed a new set of reforms, known as the “Second New Deal.” These included the Social Security Act, as well as the Works Progress Administration. While popular with Main Street, the Roosevelt Administration’s social reforms and corporate tax hikes were met with resistance by the business community.
After his overwhelming re-election in 1936, Roosevelt sought to expand the composition of the U.S. Supreme Court, which notably critical several New Deal programs. His “court-packing” plan was ultimately unsuccessful. However, the Court did subsequently uphold the Social Security Act and the National Labor Relations Act.
In foreign relations, Roosevelt adopted a “good neighbor” policy to improve relations with Latin America. While he worked to keep the United States out of the European war, the President pledged to provide allies like Great Britain with all possible aid short of actual military involvement. However, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Roosevelt officially committed the nation’s military to fight alongside the allies in World War II. As the war drew to a close, FDR was instrumental in forging a key alliance between Britain, the Soviet Union, and the United States. The coalition created the framework for the United Nations.
After winning re-election to a fourth term, Roosevelt’s health deteriorated. He died in April 1945 of a cerebral hemorrhage, just 11 weeks into his fourth term.
