Franklin D. Roosevelt: Leading America Through Crisis
Few presidents in history are as iconic as Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States who steered his nation through two of the most tumultuous eras in history: the Great Depression and World War II. He embodied a stalwart and strong leadership style, guiding his country through unavoidable disasters and ensuring America’s safety, prosperity and success. His efforts to combat the economic immobility of the 1930s and protect the nation in the event of an international conflict are certainly the stuff of presidential legend.
A Look at the Man Before He Took Office
The man known to the world as FDR was born in Hyde Park, New York in a well-heeled family. In 1882, he was born to Sara Ann Delano and James Roosevelt, a diplomat and prosperous businessman. His family had strong connections to several US presidents prior to FDR ascending to the role. As a young man, he went to Harvard before enrolling at Columbia Law School, though he never officially graduated.
At the same time, he was politically active, even when he was physically unable to be. In 1921, he contracted polio and was left without the ability to walk without assistance. This didn’t deter his ambition for a career in politics, however, and he announced his candidacy for Governor of New York in 1928, winning the election.
Rise to the Presidency
Stepping into his first term in 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt was now the US President, and he had to summon the nation’s courage to combat the Great Depression, a period of economic recession which would place the US in a vulnerable state for years to come. His popularity was assured during his first term as he applied the New Deal which promised economic improvement and delivered a set of reforms to reduce poverty.
Rhodes scholar-turned-historian John Garraty notes that the New Deal was revolutionary in its debate on economic justice and would shape the approach of lawmakers for many years to come. As well as this, the new president’s renowned Radio Fireside Chats – which included a number of speeches directed to the nation – achieved a 93% approval rating amongst Americans with the president’s sympathetic understanding of the economic situation almost universally beloved.
FDR’s Accomplishments
Though the New Deal was easily FDR’s most significant achievement in his role as President, his career is littered with numerous accomplishments. Chief among them were his efforts in creating a wide range of government agencies to help relieve the country from the grips of unemployment, poverty and a rapidly growing national debt.
Below is a list highlighting some of FDR’s most iconic achievements and reforms – a testament to the perseverance and leadership style of one of America’s most beloved Presidents:
• Social Security Act – passed in 1935, it was the core of a series of programs developed under the New Deal to benefit all Americans.
• Bank Holiday – aiming to protect funds from dubious investments, FDR passed an executive order declaring a four-day national banking holiday.
• WPA – the Works Progress Administration saw the construction of hundreds of schools, hospitals, bridges and government buildings across the US to alleviate unemployment.
• FCC – the Federal Communications Commission was established in 1934, creating rules and regulations covering radio, television and other communication tools.
• Monetary Reform – a crucial move to stabilize the US economy, FDR raised gold prices and decreased the nation’s reliance on the gold standard.
• Court-Packing Plan – this attempt enshrined FDR’s authority as president as he proposed to add an extra justice to the Supreme Court to speed up proceedings on New Deal policies.
FDR vs Hitler: Konfrontation Through War
FDR was immensely popular before the US entered World War II in 1941. Once war had begun, FDR used his radio addresses to evoke patriotism in Americans and provide a sense of optimism that the nation would be victorious over the Axis forces. As commander-in-chief in a time of great crisis, FDR was praised for his ability to steer the attention away from the horror of battle and encourage the country’s involvement in a collective struggle.
Through his ‘Four Freedoms’ – which sought to protect freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear – FDR set up the core principles for what would later become the Universal Declaration of Human Rights when the war had finally ended in 1945. This vision for freedom of expression and well-being framed much of what had been achieved during the war in terms of globalized democracy.
FDR’s Legacy
There’s no denying the far-reaching legacy of Franklin D. Roosevelt, a legacy underlined by his efforts in leading the country through the Great Depression and WWII. He remains the longest-serving president in the White House, a record which stands to this day. His ‘No man is above the law’ attitude was admired and echoed by those who experienced his leadership, and his battle against the state of emergency and fight for international peace will inspire generations to come. His spirit lives on in many aspects of modern American life, most notably in the United States Department of Homeland Security and the FAA, both of which were inspired by his embrace of government-sponsored emergency relief.
A few decades after his death in 1945, FDR’s image was chosen by the US Congress to appear on American postage stamps, a fitting homage to the man who led America through crisis with aplomb. His last words, ‘I have a terrific pain in the back of my head’, will echo in the hearts of anyone who cherishes his near-unparalleled leadership and commitment to his country and its citizens.
