Franklin D.

Roosevelt
1. Early Life
FDR was an only child, born on January 30, 1882 to James and Sarah Roosevelt. The Roosevelt’s
were extremely wealthy, having made their fortune in trade and real estate. As a child growing
up on his estate in New York, FDR was surrounded by wealth and privilege.
2. Education
Groton:
Until the age of 14 Franklin was educated on his estate by tutors, then in 1896 he attended
Groton School for Boys, a private school located in Massachusetts. Since Franklin was not
athletic, he had a hard time fitting in with the other students. However, through the teachings
of Endicott Peabody, Franklin was introduced to the idea of helping the less fortunate through
public service.
Harvard:
In 1900 Franklin entered Harvard, while he completed his degree in three years, he was still
considered an average student.
Columbia University Law School:
Franklin continued his education at Columbia Law School and while he did not receive a degree,
he passed the bar exam in 1907. Over the next three years Franklin practiced law in New York
State but found it unfulfilling.
3. Eleanor:
It was during his last year at Harvard, that Franklin married his 5th cousin and former President
Roosevelt’s niece, Eleanor Roosevelt. However, in 1914, Franklin began a relationship with his
wife’s social secretary Lucy Mercer. When Eleanor found out she demanded he stop seeing
Mercer or she would divorce him. While Franklin told Eleanor, he would stop seeing Lucy, he in
fact continued a secret relationship with her for the rest of his life. Franklin and his wife Eleanor
went on to have six children, however, one son died as an infant.
Political Career
4. State Senator:
FDR ran for the New York Senate in 1910, as a Democrat in a district that had voted Republican
for 32 years. After a strong and tireless campaign Roosevelt wins the election, and it is during
his time as a State Senator that Roosevelt begins to establish himself as a political reformer.
5. Assistant Secretary of the Navy: (Bingo 1)
Although he ran for and won a second election as a Senator, he did not finish out his term.
Instead on March 12, 1913, he was offered and accepted the nomination to be Woodrow
Wilson’s Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Roosevelt accepted and was unanimously confirmed
by the Senate.
6. WWI (Bingo 2- End Game)
It is during his time as Assistant Secretary of the Navy that WWI began. From the beginning FDR
wanted to prepare the Navy to enter the war but was in opposition to President Wilson’s
position of neutrality. It wasn’t until late 1915, that the US Government invested 600 million
into expanding the Navy. In 1917 German U-Boats began open warfare on the oceans forcing
Wilson to go to Congress to declare war. On April 6, 1917, Congress agreed.
7. Polio
In 1921, at the age of 39 Franklin D. Roosevelt was struck down with polio, and over the course
of days lost the use of his legs. Now paralyzed from the waist down Roosevelt decided to leave
politics to focus on his recovery and rehabilitation.
FDR returned to political life in 1924 at the Democratic National Convention, where he
nominated New York Governor Alfred E. Smith for president; who ultimately lost. So, in 1928,
Roosevelt again nominated Al Smith and this time he won. After his win Smith encouraged
Roosevelt to run for his vacant seat as Governor. While Alfred E. Smith eventually lost to
Herbert Hoover, Roosevelt won his election, becoming New York’s new Governor.
8. The Great Depression
During Roosevelt’s term as Governor, the Stock Market crashed, leading to what would become
known as the Great Depression. In response to the economic crisis facing the people, Roosevelt
set up the Temporary Emergency Relief Administration to assist people with finding
employment and by 1932 the TERA program was helping 1 in 10 families.
9. 32nd President
During the Great Depression Roosevelt began his run for the Presidency, promoting
government reform, recovery and relief, and promising the American people “A New Deal.” In
1932 Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected the 32nd President of the United States and began the
first of his four terms in office.
10. 100 Days
In his first 100 days as President, FDR declared a bank “holiday,” effectively closing all banks
until they could prove solvent.
 11. The New Deal
With a Democratic President and a Democratic majority in both the House and Senate,
Roosevelt immediately began implementing reform with his “New Deal”. The New Deal was an
economic stimulus program designed to end The Great Depression, broken into three parts, it
consisted of 47 new government programs. Some of which include: The Security Exchange act,
Social Security, United States Housing act, Fair Labor Standards act, the FDIC and, the
Tennessee Valley Authority act. When the Supreme Court ruled many of his programs as
unconstitutional, FDR responded with a proposal to expand the Supreme Court and appoint 1
new justice for every sitting justice 70- years or older. Congress refused.
12. Fireside Chats
FDR was one of the first Presidents to utilize technology to reach the American People. Over the
course of his 12-year Presidency FDR broadcasted over 30 “Fireside Chats.” FDR used these
broadcasts to explain his policy plans, ease fear and build confidence with the People.
13. WWII
Until WWII, America operated under the Neutrality act. In effect, this act restricted America’s
involvement with foreign wars by prohibiting the export of “arms, ammunition and implements
of war.” Further, Americans were not allowed to travel on “belligerent ships or transport arms
to belligerents” even if those weapons were produced outside of the U.S. As the War continued
to grow FDR proposed the Lend-Lease act which allowed the President to supply arms or any
other material that congress appropriated money, to use for, “the government of any country
whose defense the President deems vital to the defense of the United States.”
14. Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941 Japan attacked US Naval Base, Peral Harbor killing 2,400 Americans and
wounding an additional 1,000. The next day FDR petitioned Congress to Declare war on Japan.
With Congress approval America officially entered WWII.
15. Executive Order 9066
Roughly two months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, FDR signed Executive Order 9066
calling for the removal of all people from military areas. Of course, the military deemed the
entire West Coast, home to a majority of Americans of Japanese descent, as a military area.
More than 110,00 Japanese Americans were forced to leave their homes and enter internment
camps where they lived for the next two years.
16. The United Nations
Nearing the end of WWII, FDR, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet Premier
Joseph Stalin attended the San Francisco Conference to discuss the first U.N. Charter. Attended
by 50 Nations, this first meeting laid the groundwork for the current United Nations.
The Death Of FDR
In March of 1944, FDR was diagnosed with atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease and
congestive heart failure. On April 12, 1945 Franklin D. Roosevelt suffered a cerebral
hemorrhage, passing away at the age of 63.
Interesting Facts
FDR issued 635 Vetoes, the most Vetoes issued by any President.
After FDR served an unprecedented 4 terms as President, the 22nd amendment was added to
the constitution limiting a President to two terms in office.
FDR hated wheel chairs, so he made his own by taking a regular chair and adding wheels. That
is why all the photos of him after he contracted Polio show him sitting in a chair.
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