Basic Information
Name: Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Nickname: FDR
Born: January 30th, 1882
Died: April 12th, 1945
Nationality: American
Hometown: Hyde Park, New York
WORK & EDUCATION
Occupation: President of the United States of America
Education: Groton School, Harvard College
FAMILY & FRIENDS
Parents: James Roosevelt I, Sara Ann Delano
Siblings: James Roosevelt Roosevelt (yeah, double Rosy)
Spouse: Anna Eleanor Roosevelt
Children: Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, James Roosevelt II, Franklin Roosevelt, Elliott Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Jr., John Aspinwall Roosevelt
Friends: Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin (sometimes), Henry L. Stimson, John L. DeWitt
Foes: the Axis Powers
Analysis
A Golden Childhood
Born basically lying on a bed of money, FDR lived in an environment of privilege and influence. His upbringing ensured that he was well educated in both the bookish sense and the worldly sense. Fluent in several languages, FDR spent his youth traveling the globe and being overall very fancy.
A member of one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in the United States, his path to the presidency seemed almost inevitable.
Once of age, he embarked upon a rather mediocre academic career at Harvard, one of the country's premier institutions. (Maybe you've heard of it?) More a fan of extracurricular programs than going to class, FDR discovered his love of politics and a fondness for the ladies among the variety of after-school clubs he attended. The outcome of these activities at Harvard was two-fold: 1) he officially joined the Democratic Party and 2) he fell in love with his cousin and future wife, Eleanor, whom he married in 1905. (Source)
Don't worry, they were distant cousins.
Quite the Up-and-Comer
FDR entered professional politics starting in his late 20s and steadily climbed the ranks in the years leading up to World War I. In 1910, he won a seat in the New York State Senate and held that position through a second term when he was re-elected two years later. In 1920, he campaigned for election as vice president, sharing the bid with James M. Cox, but lost to the Republican opponent, Calvin "not so" Coolidge. (Source)
This loss marked the beginning of a difficult time for FDR. A few months later, while enjoying what was probably a much-needed vacation in Canada, he contracted polio. At the age of 39, he became wheelchair-bound…and would remain so for the rest of his life.
Bouncin' Back
Not one to be deterred by a life-altering illness, FDR made a remarkable recovery. Though limited in his mobility, he proved to be unlimited in his capacity for public and political life. In 1924, he threw himself back into the game and for the next eight years developed his reputation as a political powerhouse and overall force of nature.
His efforts culminated in a victory over incumbent Herbert Hoover in the 1932 presidential election. And, truth be told, he totally crushed the competition. Hoover didn't have a chance.
Stepping into the White House on March 4th, 1933, FDR began his long run as president. And we mean it when we say "long run."
A Savvy, Chatty President
Over the course of his 12-year presidency—which, by the way, is the longest anyone has ever served in the position—FDR pulled the country out of the Great Depression and strategically guided it through all-out war. And these are just a couple of the things he's known for.
A great public speaker and thoughtful statesman, he often spoke directly to the people about the state of the nation via radio addressed known as "fireside chats." In his 1941 State of the Union address, he presented the "Four Freedoms," which outlined the pillars of human dignity and cemented his reputation as an advocate for human rights.
More Like Uh-Oh 9066
However, not everything about FDR's remarkable presidency was always sparkling clean. Yeah, we're talking about Executive Order 9066.
It seems surprising he would sign such an order given his adamant support of civil liberties. But while the president is the boss of the country, at the same time, the country is the boss of the president.
Occasionally, public opinion and the opinions of other government officials hold sway and can't be ignored—even when they're misguided and offensive. Some will argue that FDR's decision to ratify E.O. 9066 was tactical, but that doesn't mean it wasn't damaging.
A few years later, when the perceived threat of Japanese Americans began to dissipate, FDR suspended E.O. 9066. The release of the prisoners was carefully timed for December, however, so as not to interfere with the public's focus on the 1944 presidential election, occurring a month earlier. It was an election that FDR would once again win—his fourth and last.
That White House in the Sky
FDR remained a strong leader until the end, but by the spring of 1945, it was clear that he was starting to wear down. Likely, the extensive travel to meet with other Allied leaders during World War II and the stress of being president for more than a decade (plus wild amounts of chain-smoking) took a toll on his health.
Just a few months into his fourth term, FDR suffered an intracerebral hemorrhage that led to his death on April 12th, 1945. Later that day, Harry S. Truman became the 33rd president of the United States and steered America through to the end of the war.