Franklin D. Roosevelt: 20 Things you didn't know about the 32nd president of the United States

Updated on April 24, 2024

Source: National Today

Franklin Delano Roosevelt will always be remembered as one of the most remarkable and exceptional presidents of the United States of America. You can’t go down the history of early America without mentioning America’s longest-serving President. From his early life, his service as a statesman, to his tenure as the 32nd president of the United States who lived with a disability, his phenomenal wife, and his accomplishments, Franklin D Roosevelt lived a very remarkable life.

But what are some of the things he did that made him stand out? Let’s delve into 20 things you didn’t know about the 32nd president of the United States.

Franklin D. Roosevelt was born on January 30, 1882, in Hyde Park, New York to James Roosevelt and Sara Delano Roosevelt. He had a difficult birth as his delivery presented major difficulties for his mother, and he was born lifeless until the doctor breathed air into his lungs, an act that brought him back to life. This difficulty made him an only child, and he was doted on by his mother.

Although privileged, Franklin lived a very sheltered and lonely life. His parents and private tutors taught him all he needed to know during his formative education. His father taught him special skills that would eventually become hobbies, like sailing and horseback riding.

At age 14, Franklin left his sheltered life in Hyde Park to attend boarding school at Groton School, Massachusetts. His confined childhood did not prepare him for rigorous boarding school life, and this caused him to struggle to fit in. He did not excel in school and on the field. He was always an average student, even in his tertiary education at the prestigious Harvard University.

While at Havard, he met his wife and fifth cousin, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, who, coincidentally, was the niece of President Theodore Roosevelt (The 26th U.S. president).

Source: National Park Service

The pair got married In 1905. The couple went on to have six children, and sadly, one of them died in infancy. Anna (1906), James (1907), Elliott (1910), Franklin, Jr. (1914) and John (1916).

Franklin Roosevelt’s first stint in politics was when he served in the New York Senate office between 1910 and 1913. Shortly after that, he became the United States Assistant to the Navy (1913-1920). His journey to becoming President started in 1920 after he won the Democratic presidential election. He became President of the United States on March 4, 1933, serving as the 32nd President of the United States and remaining in office until his death. FDR was elected to four terms, making him the longest-serving President in U.S. history.

In the summer of 1921, FDR went sailing when he suddenly fell overboard into freezing water, which felt paralysing to his body. FDR complained of lower back pain the following day and went swimming, hoping to ease the soreness. But his condition worsened; his legs became weaker, and he could no longer stand on his own by the third day. He felt great distress, and his wife had to seek the help of several medical practitioners.

Sometime in August 1921, a doctor eventually diagnosed him with infantile paralysis (also known as Polio). This diagnosis was surprising for a middle-aged man of 39 years old as Polio is often an infancy disease. Unfortunately, there was no cure at the time, and he had to find alternative ways to live with the disease.

He faced a significant challenge to his mobility but fought tirelessly to regain his ability to walk. FDR decided to remove himself from politics to begin his rehabilitation process, which took place at his home in Hyde Park for several years, and his focus became less on politics and more on recovering from his paralysis.

Source: Brittanica

. In the following years, after rehabilitation therapy and exercises. He eventually learned to walk with braces and a cane with supervised support. He also began to swim.

Eleanor Roosevelt, a source of support, played a crucial role in her husband’s decision to return to public service. She recognised his passion and commitment and knew a life outside politics wouldn’t fulfil him.

As he contemplated resuming his political career, natural speculations about his health rose from the public response. Since his absence from the public eye, many were unaware of his health and physical condition, leading to speculation about his well-being.

When Roosevelt became President in 1933, the Great Depression was at its worst. Jobs were scarce, farms were lost, and people feared banks would collapse. Roosevelt took quick action. He closed banks to stop panicking crowds and then worked with Congress to create programs like the AAA for farmers and the CCC to employ young people. These were the first steps of his “New Deal” plan to solve the crisis.

Throughout his presidency, FDR made sure he assisted those who suffered from Polio. He set up Warm Springs, where he went swimming during his rehabilitation period so that it became the centre for polio patients to receive therapy.

He was the pioneer sitting President to fly in an aeroplane air travel. Franklin D. Roosevelt first embraced the technology in 1932, flying to Chicago as a candidate to accept the Democratic nomination. 1943, during World War II, he made history as the first sitting president to travel outside the continental United States by plane. This groundbreaking journey took him from Miami to Casablanca, Morocco, for a conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. These bold steps paved the way for future presidents to properly embrace air travel and solidify Roosevelt’s legacy as a leader willing to embrace innovative approaches despite uncertainty.

After serving two terms as President, George Washington set a precedent that lasted around 150 years, limiting presidents to two terms. Some tried to break this rule, including Theodore Roosevelt, but only Franklin D. Roosevelt succeeded due to World War II concerns. His long presidency caused concern for democracy, leading to the 22nd Amendment in 1951, officially limiting presidents to two terms.

Despite his struggles, FDR became a prominent polio research and support advocate. One of FDR’s most notable contributions to polio support was the establishment of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (NFIP), later known as the March of Dimes.

In 1938, FDR founded the NFIP to fund polio research and financially assist patients. The foundation’s efforts were instrumental in funding the development of the polio vaccine, which ultimately led to the near-eradication of the disease.

Elenor often called her husband’s disability a “blessing in disguise” because she was optimistic and would often look at the big picture instead of worrying. She understood her husband’s battles in life were often more than what everyone saw.

Roosevelt died of a cerebral haemorrhage during a visit to Warm Springs, Georgia, a few months before the end of World War II, and his body was laid in his hometown of Hyde Park.