Basic Information
Name: Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Nicknames: FDR
Born: January 30th, 1882
Died: April 12th, 1945
Nationality: American
Hometown: Hyde Park, New York
WORK & EDUCATION
Occupation: President of the United States (Among Many Other Things)
Education: Groton School, Harvard College
FAMILY & FRIENDS
Parents: James Roosevelt I, Sara Ann Delano
Siblings: Half-Brother James Roosevelt Roosevelt (Yeah, Double Rosy)
Spouse: Anna Eleanor Roosevelt
Children: Anna Eleanor, James II, Franklin, Elliott, Franklin Delano Jr., John Aspinwall
Friends: Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin (Sometimes)
Foes: Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Hirohito
Analysis
Introducing a Man Who Needs No Introduction
It's four-time winner of the presidential election, author of "Four Freedoms," and forefather of the United Nations Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Perhaps one of America's most impressive historical figures (if for no other reason than he stuck around so long), FDR came to office at a time when the country was what you would call a mess. But he cleaned it up faster than a Swiffer.
Swift and savvy, he made short work of a clingy and lingering economic crisis. A diehard Democrat, his domestic and international policies were rooted in his staunch belief that all humans deserved freedom and dignity…and he used this belief to rally Americans against the injustices of World War II.
Yeah. There's a reason that FDR gets the bronze medal for best American president ever (coming in just below Lincoln, who had that whole Civil War/Emancipation Proclamation thing going for him, and Washington, who gets points for being the OG).
FDaRen't You Cute
From the beginning, Roosevelt's life was geared toward patriotism and prestige. Attending exclusive boarding schools and summering in Europe, he became a well educated, worldly, and multilingual young man. (He also wore some silly outfits.)
Once of age, he set aside the silver spoon that was always hovering at the edge of his fancy, wealthy lips and—surprise!—attended Harvard. His academic career was characterized by lousy grades, incomplete studies, and overall mediocrity.
The one thing he did seem to like about school, however, was the extracurricular activities—where he solidified his love of politics, basket-weaving, macaroni art, and improvisational comedy. (Source)
Okay, so maybe not all of those things are true...but the part about politics most definitely is. It was during this time that FDR pledged his allegiance to the Democratic Party and started the engines of his political career.
Keeping It in the Family
Coming from a wealthy and powerful background, FDR was no stranger to politics. In fact, he wasn't even the first U.S. president in his family. His fifth cousin, Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt, served as president from September 4th, 1901 (after the assassination of William McKinley), until March 4th, 1909. Though Teddy was a member of the Republican Party, the two remained friends in life and politics throughout their lives.
A family man, or at least a man with a big family, FDR married Anna Eleanor Roosevelt in 1905. You might notice that she had the same last name. That's because they were cousins...but very distant ones, so it's cool.
Eleanor, as she was commonly known, pursued an active social and political career herself, and while she and Franklin were apparently never very close (they lived in separate houses for most of their marriage), they still managed to have six children. Which is something.
Early Career
FDR entered national politics early, winning the election for the New York State Senate in 1910 and retaining the seat for a second term in 1912. From there, he continued to rise in the ranks of politics and government, with notable positions of power overseeing the U.S. Navy. In 1920, he campaigned for the position of vice president under James M. Cox, but they lost the election to Calvin Coolidge.
Despite this slight career setback, it might seem that FDR generally had all the luck…but that's not quite the case. He was frequently stricken with severe illnesses.
In 1921 (while on vacation in Canada of all places), FDR contracted polio, which left him wheelchair-bound for the rest of his life. He was 39 years old.
But FDR wasn't going to let a little thing like polio ruin his fun, or his ambition. In 1924, he returned to politics, building his reputation and refining his public-speaking skills. Eight years later, he would campaign again for big-ticket politics, this time with his sights set on the presidency.
The Reign of Roosevelt I
After totally annihilating President Herbert Hoover in the 1932 presidential election, FDR stepped into the White House on March 4th, 1933, and essentially didn't leave until his death 12 years later.
During his first term, he grappled mostly with the financial crisis that was hindering the nation. The Great Depression was getting deeper every day, and the public was dissatisfied with the leadership failures of the previous administration. The fact that many of them were out of work and going hungry definitely didn't help, either.
(Also, a war was brewing on both edges of the Eastern Hemisphere, which was bad news.)
FDR's First New Deal program of 1933 and Second New Deal program of 1935 put America back on its feet for the first time in years. People had jobs, people had food, and people had a president they could rely on when things got tough. When it came time for re-election, FDR didn't even have to think about buying moving boxes because he knew he wasn't going anywhere.
The Reign of Roosevelt II
During his second term, from 1937 to 1941, FDR kept things afloat with his continued social programming started with the New Dealz. With things running more smoothly at home, he was able to peek over the fence and check out the situations in Europe and Asia.
Ugh. Not good.
Nationalism had taken hold of powerful political movements on the far sides of the Atlantic and the Pacific. In July 1937, Japan waltzed right into China like it owned the place. Germany had taken a fascist cue from Italy and was about to rampage around Europe. And at home, the Neutrality Acts meant that nobody wanted anything to do with it.
Anticipating the unavoidable, FDR wore down the strong isolationist sentiment that secluded the United States from the rest of the world. It was this interventionist agenda that was the primary focus of his "Four Freedoms" State of the Union address given at the conclusion of his second term in office.
The Reign of Roosevelt III
In December 1941, America witnessed what Roosevelt had feared and warned might happen: the geopolitical kitty litter hit the American fan. The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, and the United States was launched fully into World War II…and it was thanks to FDR's insistence on preparedness and allied protection that America was ready for it.
FDR's third term as president was entirely occupied by the war. His diplomatic schedule alone was insane. Frequently flying all over the world to meet with Allied leaders, FDR, along with Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin, was hellbent on defeating the Axis powers.
In addition to his wartime strategies, he also looked to the future (as was his way) in anticipation of an Allies-led postwar world. Working with Churchill, he articulated a vision of universal human rights in a statement called the Atlantic Charter. Yeah, to say the guy was good at multitasking is a serious understatement.
Now a historic precursor to the formation of the United Nations, the Atlantic Charter bears some striking resemblances to FDR's Four Freedoms, and it's a major cornerstone in the development of humanitarian justice to this day.
The Reign of Roosevelt IV
If there was any doubt, FDR's wild popularity was forever secured when he began his fourth and final presidential term in 1945. At the time, the war was beginning to wind down. D-Day had brought a sea change (hey-o!) to the shores of Europe, and though the Axis powers were still holding strong, it would only be a matter of time before they fell.
FDR, however, wouldn't see the final days of the war. After a period of extensive travel in March 1945, he became ill, and a few weeks later died of a cerebral hemorrhage on April 12th. Later that day, Harry S. Truman became the 33rd president of the United States and guided America to the end of the war.
All of that is kind of why people tend to think of FDR as the third-best American president. And we definitely think he deserves that bronze medal.