Franklin D. Roosevelt Biography
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) uttered the words “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” to reassure Americans in the midst of the Great Depression. Born into a wealthy New York family in 1882, Roosevelt entered politics early in his life, becoming a senator by age 28, then governor of New York, and finally president in 1932. A victim of polio and confined to a wheelchair, a fact many Americans never knew, Roosevelt became president at the depth of the Great Depression and strove to rescue the country from economic disaster. Working tirelessly, FDR revived the economy with his “New Deal” and simultaneously prepared the country for World War II. FDR died in office as the only man to be elected to four terms as president.
Facts and Trivia
- Roosevelt’s cousin Theodore had also served as president. He inspired FDR to enter public service.
- FDR’s “New Deal” program dramatically enlarged the federal government’s power and responsibility, creating our modern welfare and social security programs.
- Roosevelt is considered by many to be the “father” of the modern Democratic Party. The Democrats had been the conservative party prior to FDR, but his sweeping liberal reforms made the Democratic Party into the champion of the underprivileged in America.
- FDR married Eleanor Roosevelt in March of 1905. She was his fifth cousin, once removed, and they had known each other on and off since childhood.
- Prior to U.S. involvement in World War II, FDR created the “Lend Lease” program in order to provide England with equipment to fight the Germans. Though America sought to stay out of a European war, Roosevelt’s planning helped the United States prepare for a war he knew the country could not long avoid.
Biography
Article abstract: With remarkable fortitude and arguably unparalleled political acumen, Franklin D. Roosevelt held a transformative role in American governance, surpassing the tenure of any other U.S. president.
Origins and Education
Franklin Delano Roosevelt emerged from the privileged environment of Hyde Park, New York, on January 30, 1882, belonging to an affluent lineage. His parents, James and Sara Roosevelt, who were of Dutch and English descent, afforded him a refined upbringing with private educators and trips to Europe. At Groton School, Massachusetts, Franklin was influenced by Rector Endicott Peabody, who was committed to molding future leaders and instilling a lifelong dedication to public service.
By the time he entered Harvard University in 1900, Roosevelt was a striking figure—standing at six feet two, with a commanding presence. During his junior year, he became enamored with Eleanor Roosevelt, his fifth cousin, whose notable family features included a Rooseveltian smile. Eleanor, the daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt’s brother, Elliott, who succumbed to alcoholism, married Franklin in 1905, despite opposition from Franklin’s mother, who attempted to delay the union.
Following his Harvard years, Roosevelt briefly explored law but soon gravitated toward politics, his true passion. In 1910, he made his political debut, running for the New York State Senate. His candidacy was met with skepticism by fellow Democrats because of his aristocratic demeanor, condescending tendencies, and inexperience with working-class constituents of Hyde Park-Poughkeepsie. Yet, FDR capitalized on the call for reform by spotlighting corruption in the rival party, echoing his cousin Theodore's reformist zeal. His novel approach, including campaigning by automobile, won him the election, marking him as the second Democrat to secure a Senate seat from his district since the Civil War.
Political Growth and Challenges
Roosevelt’s journey in politics was marked by both success and setbacks. Serving in the New York Senate highlighted the challenges of enacting progressive reforms. His attempt to oppose Charles F. Murphy’s Tammany Hall over a Senate nomination ended in failure, teaching him the importance of moderation in reform. Reelected in 1912, he joined Woodrow Wilson’s administration as assistant secretary of the Navy, a role that allowed him to build political networks within the Democratic Party. His growing influence led to his vice presidential nomination alongside James M. Cox in 1920, though they lost to the Republican ticket of Harding and Coolidge. Despite these experiences, Roosevelt remained a young man lacking in strong convictions.
However, a transformative moment came in 1921 when he contracted polio, an event that reshaped his life. Stricken at his family’s retreat on Campobello Island, he battled paralysis from the waist down. Rather than retreat, he faced the illness head-on, with Eleanor and his secretary, Louis McHenry Howe, supporting his political ambitions. Eleanor became increasingly active, learning the intricacies of politics to support Roosevelt’s future endeavors.
Political Rejuvenation
The year 1924 marked a turning point when Roosevelt, despite his disability, delivered the "Happy Warrior" speech at the Democratic National Convention, nominating Alfred E. Smith. Although Smith lost, Roosevelt’s resolve only strengthened, and by 1928, he secured the New York governorship, even as Smith lost the state to Hoover. His decisive reelection in 1930 set the stage for his presidential campaign in 1932, where he promised a “new deal” for the American populace.
The presidential race against Herbert Hoover unfolded against the backdrop of the Great Depression's hardships. Roosevelt crafted a pragmatic campaign, allowing the dire economic circumstances to speak volumes against Hoover's record. His landslide victory, with a 472-59 electoral vote, reflected the nation’s desperate need for change.
The New Deal
Upon assuming office in 1933, Roosevelt faced a nation crippled by economic despair,...
(This entire section contains 1640 words.)
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with staggering unemployment and pervasive fear. His inaugural address emphasized courage over fear, setting the tone for his administration. During the first hundred days, Roosevelt launched the New Deal, focusing on finance, industry, agriculture, and welfare. Initiatives like the Emergency Banking Act and Glass-Steagall Banking Act stabilized finance, while the Truth-in-Securities and Securities Exchange Acts tightened Wall Street's regulation.
In industry, measures such as the National Industrial Recovery Act offered businesses and laborers a chance at self-governance, with further labor rights secured by the National Labor Relations Act. Agriculture saw intervention through the Agriculture Adjustment Act, providing subsidies to struggling farmers. For relief, Roosevelt initially focused on direct assistance through the Federal Emergency Relief Administration and employment via the Civilian Conservation Corps. As time went on, the focus shifted towards creating government jobs through agencies like the Works Progress Administration, which set a new standard for federal relief efforts.
Legacy and Controversy
Roosevelt’s New Deal initiatives invigorated the economy, fostering a sense of hope among Americans who credited him with averting hardship. However, his expansion of federal power was not without backlash. His attempt to pack the Supreme Court with allies and subsequent clashes with conservative Democrats drew criticism, suggesting authoritarian tendencies. Despite such challenges, Roosevelt’s influence endured, with many New Deal policies remaining integral to government operations.
As global tensions escalated, Roosevelt’s focus shifted to foreign policy. The rise of totalitarian regimes prompted a cautious shift away from isolationism, culminating in the United States’ entry into World War II following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. Roosevelt’s wartime leadership, which included forming alliances and supporting the creation of the United Nations, further cemented his legacy, despite controversies over decisions like those made at Yalta.
Historical Assessment
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency redefined the executive role, setting precedents for future leaders. His adept response to the Great Depression and World War II showcased his ability to adapt and guide the nation through crises. Though critics highlight his constitutional challenges and economic policies as contentious, his overall impact on American society and governance was profound.
Roosevelt’s leadership extended beyond domestic achievements, influencing international diplomacy and the eventual transition to a post-war global order. While he remains a polarizing figure, his contributions to the political landscape and his ability to inspire a nation in turmoil underscore his significance in history.
Bibliography
Abbott, Philip. The Exemplary Presidency: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the American Political Tradition. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 1990.
Burns, James MacGregor. Roosevelt: The Lion and the Fox. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1956. The best political biography of Roosevelt. Burns stresses FDR’s Machiavellian tendencies and his failure to implement an enduring reform coalition.
Burns, James MacGregor. Roosevelt: The Soldier of Freedom. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1970. One of the best books analyzing Roosevelt’s role as commander in chief during World War II.
Dallek, Robert. Franklin D. Roosevelt and American Foreign Policy, 1932-1945. New York: Oxford University Press, 1979. Dallek received the Bancroft Prize in history for this excellent analytical overview of FDR’s foreign policy.
Davis, Kenneth Sydney. FDR, Into the Storm, 1937-1940: A History. New York: Random House, 1993.
Divine, Robert A., ed. Causes and Consequences of World War II. Chicago: Quadrangle Books, 1969. Very good historiographical collection of essays and accompanying bibliography focusing on the prelude to and aftermath of World War II.
Freidel, Frank. The Apprenticeship. Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1952. The first of a projected six-volume biography. The Apprenticeship covers the period from Roosevelt’s birth through his tenure as assistant secretary of the Navy. Some reviewers thought this volume suffered from an overemphasis on FDR’s early life.
Freidel, Frank. Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Rendezvous with Destiny. Boston: Little, Brown, 1990.
Freidel, Frank. The Ordeal. Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1952. The second volume covers the era from 1919 to 1928, including FDR’s contracting polio in 1921, his comeback (firmly established by the “Happy Warrior Speech” in 1924), and his election as governor of New York in 1928.
Freidel, Frank. The Triumph. Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1956. The third volume addresses the subject of Roosevelt’s two terms as governor of New York, culminating with his election as president of the United States in 1932. This is a very dispassionate analysis of Roosevelt’s emergence as the master politician who crushed Herbert Hoover’s hopes in the 1932 presidential election.
Freidel, Frank. Launching the New Deal. Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1973. Focuses on the winter of 1932-1933 through the completion of the “One Hundred Days” Congress of June, 1933. This is a very detailed, well-documented study of the early New Deal, although it omits Harry L. Hopkins’ Federal Emergency Relief Administration. (Freidel’s four-volume series on Roosevelt provides an unusually well-balanced account. The first three volumes constitute the definitive analysis of FDR’s early years.)
Leuchtenburg, William E. Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal. New York: Harper and Row, 1963. This overview of Roosevelt’s foreign and domestic policy up to 1940, the best one-volume treatment of its subject, is scholarly yet highly readable.
Schlesinger, Arthur M., Jr. The Age of Roosevelt: The Crisis of the Old Order, 1919-1933. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1957. This is the first of four projected volumes focusing on the changes experienced by the United States during Franklin Roosevelt’s career. Essentially, the first volume analyzes the political, economic, and social currents of the 1920’s, culminating with FDR’s first presidential election in 1932. Somewhat flawed by the author’s tendency to allow his liberalism to prejudice his historical analysis of the period.
Schlesinger, Arthur M., Jr. The Age of Roosevelt: The Coming of the New Deal. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1959. The second volume of Schlesinger’s series analyzes the first two years of Roosevelt’s presidency and the New Deal from 1933-1935. The problem of Schlesinger’s pro-Roosevelt bias is less serious in this work than in his first volume.
Schlesinger, Arthur M., Jr. The Age of Roosevelt: The Politics of Upheaval. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1960. The third volume (to date) of Schlesinger’s multivolume study of Roosevelt carries the analysis of FDR through his reelection in 1936. As with the first and second volumes, this work is characterized by Schlesinger’s highly subjective analysis of political, economic, and social history, but it solidifies Schlesinger’s major contribution to the literature on Roosevelt.
