Franklin Delano Roosevelt

“The only thing to fear is fear itself”



I selected Franklin Roosevelt because he was the only good person left that I felt would be good to do research on. I thought that this would be easy to do. It was not easy to do. I learned a lot of things that I never knew before. I found one thing that was quite disgusting about Franklin. He married his cousin! I thought that he was just any old president. He was not just any old ordinary president.

Facts in brief

Birth January 30,1882
Parents (Dad) James Roosevelt (mom) Sara (Delano Roosevelt
Education home schooled until he was 14, then went to Groten school, which was a boarding school, attended college at Harvard, then graduated from Columbia Law School
Died April 12, 1945

Early Life

Franklin was born at Hyde Park, in New York. He was a child from his dad’s second marriage. The Roosevelt family had been wealthy for generations. his father was 51, and his mom was 28 when he was born. His dad was semi-retired from railroad presidency. Franklin’s childhood was secure and tranquil. He spent summers in Europe, and much time at his dad’s vacation home in New Brunswick, Canada. He developed a love for natural history and sailing. He was an expert swimmer.

He was in the care of governesses and tutors until he was 14. He then went to Groten School. Groten School was a boarding school located in Massachusetts. While he was at Groten School, he received a solid classical, historical, and mathematical training. His education there instilled him with a belief that children of the upper classes had a duty to society. He was not good at athletics, because of his size and ungainly frame.

He then entered Harvard in 1899. He was an above average student. He devoted a great deal of his time to extra curricular activities. He completed his course work for his B.A. in only three years. He returned the fourth year as editor for the college newspaper. The newspaper was entitled “Crimson.”

In 1900, he joined a republican club with enthusiasm for his distant cousin, Theodore Roosevelt, whom was running for vice-president. While he was at Harvard, he married his cousin ,Eleanor Roosevelt. Eleanor had a difficult life. She was orphaned at ten years old. she lived with her maternal grandmother. She felt rejected and ill at ease to society, thinking herself ugly. She was flattered when Franklin Roosevelt paid her attention. In 1904, he cast his first vote in a presidential election for his cousin Theodore Roosevelt.Theodore was running for presiden. aftHe had become president in 1901, after President McKinley was assasinated.

In 1904, Franklin entered law school at Columbia University. He got married while attending law school. On March 17, 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt gave away his niece in marriage to Franklin Roosevelt.The marriage was successful on surface. with in the next eleven years, Franklin and Eleanor produced six children. The names of the children are: Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (1906-1975)‚James Roosevelt(1907-1991), Elliot Roosevelt (1910-1990), Franklin Delano Roosevelt jr. (1914-1988), and John Aspinwall Roosevelt (1916-1981). Franklin’s mom’s possessive and domineering attitude toward her son caused much strife in his early marriage. Franklin Roosevelt had an affair with Eleanor’s social secretary. The secretary’s name was Lucy Mercer. Despite these problems, Eleanor still remained a supportive spouse.

While at Columbia University, he prepared for bar examinations without taking a degree. He became a lawyer and entered clerkship in the wall street firm of Carter, Ledyard, and Milburn. He took his duties lightly. It was remarked from fellow clerks that he said he would enter politicsand become president.

His chance for politics came in 1910. He ran for New York senate, and won impressively. He made an impact on state legislature. He had the Typhoid fever. He never even had a chance to campaign. He still won.

He then entered national politics. He took part in Woodrow Wilson’s campaign. Wilson won the presidency. Franklin got appointed to Assistant Secretary of the Navy. He did seven years of service. He resigned to campaign for the democrat vice-president. He returned to private life after Harding and Coolidge beat the democrats. He formed a law firm and became vice-president of Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland.

In 1921, he was diagnosed with Polio. He was never able to walk again with his legs. Under the care of his wife, a friend, and his campaign manager; he fought back.

While at Warm Springs in 1928, he came back to politics. He really didn’t want to run for governor, but the New Yorkers insisted. he became governor of New York. During two terms, he battled republican legislature, and named people to important positions.

\ He was the leading contender for the democratic nomination for president. He took the nomination on the fourth ballot. In November, at the presidential election, he captured 22,821,857 votes to President Hoover’s 15,761,841 votes. He won the electoral votes with 472 to 59 electoral votes. He was inaugurated at the height of the depression. He inspired many Americans. He launched the “new deal,” instituting social security, brought work to the unemployed, and restored their confidence in the government. His public works projects included the Tennessee Authority, Civilian Conservation Corps, and the Works Progress Administration. Congress, following his lead, sponsored reform measures such as, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which insured deposits, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC),which began regulation of stock exchanges. Citizen would never be with minimum incomes again.

With his mobility, hampered by Polio, he reached millions by radio in "FiresideChats ", while Eleanor tirelessly toured the country.

He was re-elected in 1936. He had also won a third term. Americans loved Roosevelt. He even won a fourth term in 1944.

In 1940, he responded to Hitler’s aggression in Europe. He sent the British fifty destroyers in exchange for military bases.This was followed by a massive “Lend-Lease” aid. On December 7,1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. That was when America entered World War II.With Stalin and Churchhill, he laid the groundwork for post-world war. He then formed the United Nations (U.N.)

During his campaign for his fourth term, his doctors knew that he was suffering from Heart-Disease, Hypertension, and Cardiac failure. His advisors persuaded him to accept U.S. senator from Missouri, and Harry Truman for vice-president, feeling him suited for presidency.

The campaign and election were a strain on Roosevelt. In the early spring of 1945, he went to Warm Springs, Georgia in an effort to recapture his flagging health. He was really exhausted. At the end of his fourth term, he was still finishing signing papers on the morning of April 12,1945. Within hours, he suffered from massive cerebral hemorrhage that killed him. Harry Truman took oath of office and became president that same day.

A special train carried his body to Washington D.C. He laid there in the White House until he was taken to Hyde Park and was buried. The park was donated to the nation. His wife Eleanor , is buried right beside him.

Bibliography:
Book research:
Encyclopedia Britannica pages 277-279
Internet research:
www.hotbot.com and typed in Franklin Roosevelt and www.franklinroosevelt.com
Franklin Roosevelt picture from Amazing Pictures, which is located on the home page. I typed in Franklin’s name in the place where it says “Type text Here”.I went to Franklin Roosevelt. Under Franklin Roosevelt,I went to black and white image (39K,640x514 pixels,jpeg. I got the information about Franklin from“Http://hotbot.lycos.com/?MT=franklin roosevelt&SM=MC&DV=0&LG=any&DC=10&De=2&AM1=MC&srch
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