| Franklin D. Roosevelt | |
|---|---|
| File:Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Portrait.jpg | |
| Order | 32nd President of the United States |
| In office | March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945 |
| Vice President | John Nance Garner, Henry A. Wallace, Harry S. Truman |
| Preceded by | Herbert Hoover |
| Succeeded by | Harry S. Truman |
| Born | January 30, 1882 Hyde Park, New York, United States |
| Political Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Eleanor Roosevelt (m. 1905–1945) |
| Children | 6 (including James, Franklin Jr., Elliott) |
| Profession | Lawyer, politician |
| Alma mater | Harvard University, Columbia Law School (no degree) |
| Signature | File:Franklin D. Roosevelt Signature.svg |
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882 – April 12, 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was the 32nd president of the United States. He is the only U.S. president elected to four terms and served from 1933 until his death in 1945. Roosevelt is widely regarded as one of the most influential presidents in American history.
Early Life and Career
Born into a wealthy New York family, Roosevelt was a fifth cousin of former president Theodore Roosevelt. He attended Harvard and began a career in law and politics. He served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy during World War I and was elected Governor of New York in 1928.
Presidency (1933–1945)
Roosevelt took office during the Great Depression and launched the **New Deal**, a series of economic and social programs aimed at recovery and reform. He led the U.S. through World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor and played a central role in establishing the United Nations.
Health and Disability
FDR contracted polio in 1921, which left him paralyzed from the waist down. Despite his disability, he maintained a strong public image and rarely appeared in public in a wheelchair.
Legacy
Roosevelt transformed the role of government in American life, expanded the welfare state, and led the nation through its gravest economic and military crises. His leadership left an enduring legacy in both domestic and foreign affairs.