FDR served as the 32nd President of the United States and had the longest term in history (1933-1945). Franklin Delano Roosevelt is another one of the “great” presidents. He was a public charmer and a brilliant politician. With his “It’ll Be Better Tomorrow” slogan, FDR had the American public at “hello”. He was born into wealth, pampered as a child, a Harvard graduate (and C student), and the 5th cousin to the ever-memorable Teddy Roosevelt. FDR was also struck with polio and crippled at the age of 39 (the severity of which he carefully kept hidden from the public). He had a strong personality and an infectious charisma, but he was elusive and hard to know. FDR had a rather unorthodox even chaotic management style but this didn’t stop him from effecting so much change in a fast-changing landscape. His “New Deal” was a set of initiatives designed to impart a new degree of security and safety upon the American people. He joined the citizens every week in their living rooms during his “Fireside Chats” (he was a master radio broadcaster). Although ultimately it was the industrial mobilization for the war effort which brought America out of its depressed economy. At first, FDR aided allies but maintained a position of neutrality. Then came December 7, 1941 (“a day which will live in infamy”) when Pearl Harbor was attacked thrusting the U.S. into war. Roosevelt and General Eisenhower orchestrated the greatest logistical effort and massive assault on mainland Europe known as “D Day” (June 4, 1944). FDR was easily re-elected to a 4th term, but at this point his health was failing and he would die soon after. FDR is remembered for having the longest and one of the greatest presidencies in history – all future presidents would have to live in the enormity of his shadow. He was challenged with two of the largest crises in American history: the Great Depression and World War II – but as he said once: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself!”
