Happy Birthday FDR!

One of the most gifted presidents to ever run the Oval Office, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, turns 130 today. After defeating Herbert Hoover, FDR became the 32nd President of the United States. During his first term in office, the United States was at the worst point of the Great Depression. With a quarter of the workforce unemployed, rising food prices, declining industrial production and over two million Americans homeless FDR had the daunting task of bringing the US afloat again. Roosevelt’s “first 100 days” came with a “new deal” for the American people. The series of economic programs focused on the relief for the unemployed and poor, recovery of the economy to pre depression levels and the reformation of the financial system to prevent a repeated depression.

Nevertheless, the United States slowly pulled out of the great depression solidifying FDR’s landslide re-election where he continued his recovery program during his second term in office. During this time Europe and Asia were on the verge of war as Germany annexed Austria and Czechoslovakia while Italy invaded and annexed Ethiopia and Japan invaded China. FDR however, promised his soldiers "you boys are not going to be sent into any foreign war."

World War II, however, would break out before the end of FDR’s second term. Roosevelt’s third term would be dominated by this event and the preparation for a possible conflict began by upgrading and training the Armed Forces. The United States would become the “Arsenal of Democracy” until the attacks on Pearl Harbor where war was finally declared against the Axis Powers.

The “Big Three”: Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin, Commanded the Allied forces in the European, African and Pacific theaters. The Allied Forces secured victories over the Battle of Midway, Britain, Stalingrad and El Alamein resulting in the impending victory for the Allies.

Unfortunately, less than a month before the fall of Germany, President Roosevelt passed. During his years in office FDR suffered from high blood pressure, systemic atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure. His death was met with grief around the world. FDR led his country out of its greatest economic collapse and victory in the greatest war in modern history. Franklin Delano Roosevelt will forever be remembered as one of our nation’s best and brightest. Happy birthday bro.

Want to learn more about FDR, try FDR AND THE NEW DEAL FOR BEGINNERS.