Franklin D. Roosevelt Essays (3391 words) - Delano Family

Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt is among the most remembered U.S. Presidents. Serving as President for more than twelve years, he was the only President to be elected four times. Roosevelt led the United States through its worst depression and its worst war. He tried his best to stay optimistic with our country and the decisions he made. In Roosevelt's first inaugural address, he asked for faith in America's future. He told the country, The only thing we have to fear is fear itself (Burns 1970, p. 238). That is the lesson that he taught our country to live by. Franklin was born on January 30, 1882, in Hyde Park, New York. He was the only child of James and Sara Roosevelt. Born into a very wealthy family, he grew up on his father's estate called Springwood. Being an only child, his parents adored him, but brought him up with a loving firmness. His father taught him that being wealthy also brought with it the responsibility of helping people who were not so lucky (Johnson 1967, p. 38). Franklin D. Roosevelt was always a very smart and educated young man. Growing up, Franklin's parents took him on many trips to Europe, where he studied and learned how to speak many different languages. He graduated from Harvard University in 1903 and then went on to get a degree from Columbia University Law School. But he never seemed to show an interest with doing legal work. In 1905, he married his distant cousin, Eleanor Roosevelt, whom he had been courting for some years before that. Franklin and Eleanor had six children together. Franklin took much pride and companionship in them. It wasn't until this time that Franklin decided to get involved with politics. In 1910, Roosevelt accepted an invitation from state Democratic leaders to run for the New York Senate. This was going to be a difficult task for Franklin because Republicans had controlled his district for over fifty years. But he was determined to do it. Roosevelt wanted a clean government and strongly opposed big city officials. With those requests, that was all he needed to win the election. Franklin became a state senator at the age of 29, and from then on, he was known as a very bold and skillful political fighter (Abbott 1990, p. 103). In 1913, President Wilson appointed him as assistant secretary of the Navy. This was the perfect job for FDR, as he said, I now find my vocation combined with my avocation in a delightful way. Politics being my 'vocation' and ships and naval history being my hobby or avocation' (Abbott 1990, p. 104). This job taught him, not only a lot about national politics, but especially about ways to get along with Congress. In 1914, Roosevelt ran for the D emocratic nomination as a candidate for the U.S. Senate, but lost by a large margin. He wanted to enter the military service in 1917, when the U.S. was involved in World War I, but was convinced instead to visit the battlefields and meet with military leaders overseas. This is how he became a national figure to the world. In the 192, Roosevelt was nominated for Vice-President under James M. Cox, who together, called for a campaign concerning U.S. membership in the League of Nations. They ended up getting defeated by Coolidge, though. This defeat did not really harm Roosevelt. By that time, he was already a well-established leader among the Democrats. Life seemed to be going all too well for FDR and his family until tragedy struck. In August 1921, Roosevelt fell into the water while sailing, which left him, not only partially paralyzed, but also with a severe case of polio. Many people thought that his career in politics had ended. But he continued his political activity out of his home, eventually gaining back the use of his hands, arms, and developed strong shoulders. He was determined to fight this disease with his best effort and he surely did. While doing this, he helped others do so, as well. In 1924, he established the Warm Springs Foundation, where people could go to get proper treatment for polio, even if they couldn't afford it. When he returned to politics