Introduction

Raised according to the tenets of the gospel of wealth, Roosevelt assumed social responsibility upon entering the world of politics. As an activist politician—even when only a freshman state senator—he honed his political skills. In 1921 he was forced to retire from public life due to a debilitating case of poliomyelitis. However, when he returned to politics he was warmly welcomed and his charisma and political skill enabled him to deal with the fallout of the Great Depression and, eventually, as president, to meet the challenges of World War II.