Franklin D. Roosevelt

EARLY LIFE 

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born on January 30, 1882, in the Hudson Valley town of Hyde Park, Duchess County, New York.

His father, James Roosevelt (1828–1900), was a wealthy landowner and vice-president of the Delaware & Hudson Railway. Franklin was the only child from James' second marriage.

Roosevelt's mother Sara Delano (1854–1941) was of French Protestant (Huguenot) descent from an old merchant shipping family. Franklin was her only child, and she was an extremely possessive mother.

Since James was a rather remote father (he was 54 when Franklin was born), Sara was the dominant influence in Franklin's early years. He later told friends that he was afraid of her all his life.

President Theodore Roosevelt was his fifth cousin once removed.

Franklin grew up in an atmosphere of privilege. He went ice boating and tobogganing in the winter and during the summer, Franklin fished and sailed in his father’s boat and bird watched.

As a child, Franklin and his family spent a few months every year in Europe. In the summers they vacationed at their estate at Campobello, a small Canadian island in the Bay of Fundy neat Eastport. He continued this habit into adulthood.

Roosevelt in 1893, at the age of 11

The five year old Franklin was taken to the White House to meet the President, Grover Cleveland. The leader of America looked down at the boy and said "my little man, I am making a strange wish for you. It is that you may never be President of the United States."

Franklin's mother convinced of her son's future pre-eminence saved and marked for posterity his baby clothes and scholastic work books.

EDUCATION

Tutored at home until the age of 14, Franklin received his early education under his mother’s supervision.

As he grew older, Franklin, learned to ride, to shoot, to row and to play polo and lawn tennis.

Frequent trips to Europe made him fluent in German and French.

Franklin acquired a conventional set of upper class attitudes, and also a strong streak of anti-Semitism from his mother which he would later have to confront.

Between 1896-1900, Franklin was educated at the exclusive Groton School, an elite Episcopalian boarding school in Massachusetts. Franklin was a good pupil, he never rebelled and got very few bad marks for conduct.

He was heavily influenced by the headmaster, Endicott Peabody, who preached the duty of Christians to help the less fortunate and urged his students to enter public service.

At school Franklyn was active in several sports and in his last year was manager of Groton's baseball team.

Roosevelt graduated from Groton in 1900, and like all but two of his twenty one Groton classmates, Roosevelt went to Harvard College in nearby Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Roosevelt in 1900, at the age of 18

At Harvard Roosevelt studied history, economics, languages and science. His grades were good but not outstanding and in his last year he edited the student newspaper, The Crimson.

EARLY CAREER 

While he was at Harvard, his cousin Theodore became President, and his vigorous leadership style and reforming zeal made him Franklin's role model.

Roosevelt next attended the Columbia Law School. He passed the bar exam and completed the requirements for a law degree in 1907 but did not bother to actually graduate,

In 1908 Roosevelt took a job with the prestigious Wall Street firm of Carter, Ledyard and Milburn, dealing mainly with corporate law.

Franklin entered politics as a Democrat in 1910. He had dreams of following his cousin Theodore Roosevelt’s path to the White House. So, Franklin Roosevelt ran for and won a State Senate seat in New York.

Just three years later, Franklin was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 1913.

Roosevelt as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1913

During World War 1, Roosevelt wrote a long report to show that the English Channel and the North Sea could be closed by a mere barrier. A belt of mines was subsequently laid between Orkney Isles and Norway that helped put down the German submarine menace.

In 1921, Roosevelt contracted a paralytic illness, which left his legs permanently paralyzed.

Roosevelt founded the law firm of Roosevelt & Connor in 1924, which existed until Roosevelt's first Presidential inauguration in 1933.

Roosevelt successfully ran for Governor of New York in 1928. He was in office from 1929 to 1933 and served as a reform governor, promoting the enactment of programs to combat the depression besetting the United States at the time.

Despite his famous last name, before becoming president Franklin Delano Roosevelt inherited most of his wealth from his maternal grandfather Warren Delano Jr., who made his fortune trading opium in China.

PRESIDENCY

Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first presidential candidate whose mother was legally eligible to vote or him.

Roosevelt was elected President in 1932. His inaugural address statement on March 4, 1933: "Let me assert my firm belief. That the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

1932 electoral vote results

In February 1933, while he was President-elect, Roosevelt had a brief holiday in Florida. In Miami an unemployed bricklayer called Giuseppe Zangara fired five shots at Roosevelt, missing him but killing the Mayor of Chicago, Anton Cermak. Zangara, who was later executed, said he had shot at Roosevelt because "the capitalists killed my life."

Roosevelt campaigned in 1932 when there were 13 million unemployed and almost every bank was closed with these words "I pledge you, I pledge myself to a new deal for the American people."

The new deal program was introduced in the USA by Roosevelt to counter the depression of 1929. Roosevelt's "First 100 Days" concentrated on the first part of his strategy: immediate relief. From March 9 to June 16, 1933, he sent Congress a record number of bills, all of which passed easily.

The New Deal included employment on public works, farm loans at low rates, raising of agricultural prices by restriction of output. Combined with the program were the introduction of old age and unemployment insurance; prevention of child labor; protection of employees against unfair practices by employers; and loans to local authorities for slum clearance.

Roosevelt in 1933

Many of The New Deal's provisions were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1935-36, and full employment did not come until World War II.

In 1936 Roosevelt was re-elected by the large margin of 523 votes to 8 defeating Alfred M Landon, his Republican opponent.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech at the opening session of the New York World's Fair on April 30, 1939, was one of the earliest examples of a president speaking on television. It was broadcast to a national audience via the newly-created NBC television network. Roosevelt's speech was a call for peace and cooperation in the face of the growing threat of war in Europe. He spoke of the need for the United States to remain strong and united, and to work with other nations to build a better future for all.

The aristocratic Roosevelt was the first Politician to learn how to use the microphone properly with his common man fireside chats on the radio which inspired his people.

Once, Roosevelt went directly from a poker game carrying his chips to make a fireside chat to the nation. Throughout his speech he absentmindedly clicked his chips obliterating many of his words.

Albert Einstein sent a letter to Roosevelt suggesting USA start researching the atom bomb with war looking imminent to prevent Germany making it first. Roosevelt agreed to set up the project to build the bomb under Oppenheimer, with Einstein's special theory of relativity forming its theoretical basis.

The two-term tradition had been an unwritten rule (until the 22nd Amendment after Roosevelt's presidency) since George Washington declined to run for a third term in 1796. However, Franklin Roosevelt systematically undercut prominent Democrats who were angling for the nomination, including Vice President John Nance Garner. He won the 1940 election with 55% of the popular vote and 38 of the 48 states, and thus winning almost 85% of the electoral vote (449 to 82).

In response to critics calling him a "dictator," Franklin D. Roosevelt threw a toga party where he played Caesar.

After the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, antiwar sentiment in the United States largely evaporated overnight. On December 11, 1941, the Americans' declaration of war on the Empire of Japan. Hitler and Mussolini then declared war on the United States, which responded in kind. Roosevelt told his country during his war message "We are now in the midst of a war, not for conquest, not for vengeance, but for a world in which this nation and all that this nation represents will be safe for our children."

In Winston Churchill's Second World War cables, Roosevelt's codename was "Former Naval Person."

Roosevelt and Churchill at the Casablanca Conference (January 1943)

Franklin Roosevelt was re-elected for a record 4th term in 1944 432 to 99.

Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first US president to fly while in office when he took a historic flight on a Boeing 314 Clipper flying boat on January 14, 1943 to travel to Casablanca for a wartime conference. This marked the official start of presidential air travel for international business.

In 1945 Roosevelt along with Churchill gave Stalin ascendancy over Eastern Europe at the Yalta Conference. Unfortunately the American president was so weak and unwell with degenerating arteriosclerosis that he was unable to see through the Russian dictator's probable intentions for controlling the countries lying between Germany and Russia.

Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin at the Yalta Conference

Roosevelt was the last US President who was fluent in a language other than English - he spoke good French and German.

On the day of his death, Roosevelt broadcast a speech including "more than an end to war, we want an end to the beginnings of all wars."

BELIEFS 

Roosevelt had a simple Christian faith whereby he believed in God and could trust that if he prayed to Him for help he would receive guidance. An expression of his faith was the church services he inevitably insisted on holding on Inauguration Day, anniversaries, and during great crisis.

In a message to Congress in 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt outlined four freedoms:
1. Freedom of worship.
2. Freedom of Expression.
3. Freedom of speech.
4. Freedom from fear and want.

Roosevelt was acutely afraid of the number 13 and would never sit down to dinner with 13 people at a table.

POLIO 

On August 10, 1921, whilst on holiday at his summer home in Campobello, the 39-year-old Roosevelt went for a swim in the cold Bay of Fundy. Returning home he sat down in his wet swimming suit to read his mail and retired to bed with what he thought was a bad cold only to find polio gripping him. Soon his legs were paralyzed and for the rest of his life he was unable to stand up without the help of leg braces or walk more than a few steps.

From then on, Roosevelt managed to conceal his disability  While Governor of New York, Roosevelt went to such lengths to hide his reliance on a wheelchair that he had a secret elevator and entrance into his office in the state capital building.

Roosevelt concealed his disability so successfully many people did not realize the extent of it. His polio was the biggest deception in the history of presidential illnesses.

The deception was pulled off with the full co-operation of the press, newsreels never showed him being wheeled or carried and of the 35,000 photos taken of Roosevelt only two show him in a wheelchair.

Rare photograph of Roosevelt in a wheelchair, with Fala and his caretaker's little girl

Although the paralysis resulting from polio had no cure, for the rest of his life Roosevelt refused to believe that he was permanently paralyzed. He tried a wide range of therapies, but none had any effect (though he found swimming a beneficial exercise.) Nevertheless Roosevelt became convinced of the benefits of hydrotherapy, and in 1926 he bought a resort at Warm Springs, Georgia, where he founded a hydrotherapy center for the treatment of polio patients, and spent a lot of time there in the 1920s. This was in part to escape from his mother, who tried to resume control of his life following his illness.

Before his 1932 election as President, Al Capone made the following comment on his chances "Roosevelt is a good fellow, but I'm afraid his health is pretty shaky and a leader needs health."

RELATIONSHIPS 

Franklin saw his fifth cousin once removed Eleanor Roosevelt frequently at parties and social engagements. In 1903, Franklin asked Eleanor to marry him and she accepted. However, when Franklin's mother was told the news, she thought the couple too young to marry. Sara then asked them to keep their engagement a secret for one year. Franklin and Eleanor agreed to do so.

Franklin and Eleanor at Campobello Island, Canada, in 1904

The 22 year old Franklin and the gauche, garrulous charming but plain 20 year old Eleanor married in New York on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1905. Eleanor was the ugly duckling of the family, her beautiful mother called her “granny”. The orphaned bride was given away by her Uncle, President Theodore Roosevelt.

Franklin called Eleanor "Babs", short for "baby".

In total, the couple had six children in eleven years; however, the third, Franklin Jr., died in infancy.
The children were Anna (1906–75), James (1907–91), Franklin Jr (March to November 1909), Elliott (1910–90), a second Franklin Jr. (1914–88), and John (1916–81).

The five surviving Roosevelt children all led tumultuous lives overshadowed by their famous parents. They had between them fifteen marriages, ten divorces and twenty-nine children. All four sons were officers in World War II and were decorated, on merit, for bravery. Their postwar careers, whether in business or politics, were disappointing. Two of them were elected briefly to the House of Representatives but none attained higher office despite several attempts.

With an increasingly busy social schedule due to Franklin’s new political responsibilities, Eleanor hired a personal secretary, named Lucy Mercy. Eleanor was shocked when, in 1918 she learnt of her husband's prolonged public affair with Mercy.

Eleanor became temporary estranged from Franklin but they remained in a marriage of convenience with separate bedrooms in the White House.

Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt 1932

She campaigned for his election to American presidency but whilst he was in the White House Franklin took several mistresses including another secretary Marguerite “Missy” Lehand. Even on his deathbed he preferred the company of his mistress to his wife. Throughout his political career, Roosevelt successfully went to great lengths to avoid scandal about his adulterous affairs.

APPEARANCE AND CHARACTER 

As a youth, Roosevelt was tall, slim with light brown hair, blue eyes and an engaging grin. Charming and sunny, in his 20s he was an aristocratic playboy.

Stalin said of Roosevelt in 1934 "I do not in the least desire to belittle the outstanding personal qualities of Roosevelt, his initiative, courage and determination. Undoubtedly Roosevelt stands out as one of the strongest figures among all the Captains of the contemporary capitalist world."

Roosevelt didn't like the polite small talk of social functions so he would sometimes amuse himself by greeting his guests with the words "I murdered my grandmother this morning ". The response was invariably of polite approval. Nobody ever paid attention to what was actually said at these functions!

Franklin Roosevelt remarked around the time he was elected president of the United States that he has never in his whole life gone out of doors without his mother calling after him "Franklin! Are you sure you're dressed warm enough!"

HOBBIES AND INTERESTS

President Franklin Roosevelt mixed martinis with great enthusiasm. His cocktails included unconventional ingredients such as anisette or fruit juice.

Roosevelt conceived the idea for the 1936 thriller movie The President's Mystery.

Roosevelt enjoyed listening to hillbilly country tunes.

He collected ships and models and pictures about the sea and ships.

Roosevelt sailing with half-niece Helen and father James, 1899

Roosevelt owned a huge and valuable stamp collection.

Roosevelt had a lifelong interest in birds. He shot them and had them stuffed for collection. As president he often went to the Hyde Park Woods at dawn to watch birds and hear them sing.

PETS 

During Roosevelt's 12 years and one month as president, 11 dogs lived in the White House. They included a Bullmastiff, two Red Setters, a Retriever, a Bulldog, a Llewellyn Setter called Winks, a Scotch Terrier called Fala, a Great Dane called President, an English sheepdog called Tiny, and a German Shepherd called Major who tried to rip the pants off the British Prime Minister.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt's most famous canine companion was his Scottish Terrier, Fala, who officially moved into the White House on November 10, 1940. Falal is part of the Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, DC and was called the "most photographed dog in the world."

Eleanor Roosevelt and Fala

HOMES 

His mountain refuge in Maryland was nicknamed "Shangri La (which stands for "hidden Buddhist Lama paradise".)

Roosevelt has a holiday cottage at the top of the Pine Mountain, Warm Springs, Georgia. The little white house with its farm in Warm Springs is now owned by the State of Georgia.

DEATH AND LEGACY

On March 30, 1945 Roosevelt went to Warm Springs to rest before his anticipated appearance at the April 25th San Francisco founding conference of the United Nations. Among the guests was Lucy Mercer, his lover from 30 years previously (by then Mrs Lucy Rutherford), and the artist Elizabeth Shoumatoff, who was painting a portrait of him.

On the morning of April 12, Roosevelt was sitting in a leather chair signing letters, his legs propped up on a stool, while Shoumatoff worked at her easel. Just before lunch was to be served, he dropped his pen and uttered his last words "I have a terrific headache." Then he slumped forward in his chair and lost consciousness. A doctor was summoned and he was carried to bed—it was immediately obvious that he had suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage. At 3.31pm Franklin Roosevelt was pronounced dead. He was 63.

Last photograph of Roosevelt, taken April 11, 1945, the day before his death

Roosevelt's death was greeted with shock and grief across the United States and around the world.

Roosevelt should have known he would die in office. William Harrison elected 1840, Abraham Lincoln elected 1860, James Garfield elected 1880, William McKinley elected (2nd term) 1900, Warren Harding elected 1920, Roosevelt was elected for his 3rd term in 1940. They all died in office. In 1960 John F Kennedy was elected and of course he didn’t survive his presidency.

He was buried at Hyde Park, New York.

Roosevelt successfully tackled the depression. The New Deal was a “supreme assertion of the claim of all mankind to life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness” stated The Times in 1945. His New Deal became the model for today’s social safety net.

In 1999, The Time Magazine chose Roosevelt as their Man of the Century.

Sources ThoughtCo, The People's Almanac Presents The Books of Lists, No. 2, The Penguin Book of Interviews