Today In HIstory -- 1921: FDR Contracts Polio

On August 10, 1921, a 39 year old FDR fell mysteriously ill while vacationing at Campobello Island, New Brunswick. Roosevelt was not diagnosed with poliomyelitis for another two weeks as symptoms including fever, protracted symmetric ascending paralysis of the upper and lower extremities, facial paralysis, bladder and bowel dysfunction, numbness, and dysesthesia gradually worsened.


Learn more about our 32nd president in our new book, FDR And The New Deal For Beginners, out now.