Franklin D. Roosevelt
Political leader and 32nd US president - the only one who was elected to the office 4 times.
(See: Capitalist Democracies)
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Jan. 30, 1882 - April 12, 1945
Early Years
FDR was on only child in an affluent family – Franklin Roosevelt was home schooled until the age of 14. From there he went to Groton School for boys which proved difficult for him as he was unlike the other boys who attended the school. It is there, through the teachings of Endicott Peabody where Roosevelt set the roots for his service to the less fortunate through means of public service. He then moved on to Harvard – where he completed his degree in a mere 3 years.
Roosevelt began his foray into politics at the age of 28, in 1910 when he was invited to run for a Senate seat in New York. He ran as a Democrat in a historically republican district and claimed a landslide victory. While a member of the Democratic Party Roosevelt opposed his party in many ways, much to the ire of the senior leadership. However, it helped him gain national recognition. We was eventually appointed Secretary of the Navy and then became the Democratic nominee for Vice president in 1920.
FDR and the Depression
Roosevelt was elected President in 1932 as a Deocrat when Republicans were being blamed for the Depression. When he was elected there were over 13 million unemployed and many banks closed – the next 100 days would be critical for Roosevelt. During this time he proposed economic reform – this was what was referred to as the New Deal. During this time he:
· Halted run on all deposits to banks
· Formed the brain Trust consisting of economic advisors
· Created many “alphabet” agencies
o Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA)
o Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
o National Recovery Administration (NRA)
Roosevelt in World War II
In the Post World War I era, the US had an isolationist approach to world events, and Roosevelt sought out to change that. He had pledged the US to a “good neighbor” policy which basically set up arrangements for action against hostile aggressors. While pushing for support of countries in Europe under threat of Hitler, he also fought to keep America out of the war. After the fall of France – Roosevelt sent all the military aid he could muster to Britain, short of actual boots on the ground.
The isolationist attitude in the states was over shortly after Pearl Harbor in 1941 – all available resources were put towards the war effort in Europe. Roosevelt helped devise a strategy to push back the Germans through an onslaught of invasions;
· North Africa, November 1942
· Sicily and Italy in 1943
· D-Day invasion in 1944
· Successfully pushed back the Japanese on the Pacific Front
In addition to his success on the war front, he also contributed and advocated greatly for the creation of the United Nations, The United Nations was created to promote international cooperation and avoid another World War in the future. He -with other world leaders we able to get 51 countries to sign onto the Unite Nations effectively were creating a deterrent for any future World War.
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."