Franklin D.
Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt, often referred to by his initials FDR, was born on January 30, 1882, in Hyde Park, New York. He came from a wealthy and influential family, with his distant cousin, Theodore Roosevelt, serving as President of the United States from 1901 to 1909. After attending Harvard University and Columbia Law School, Roosevelt began his political career in the New York State Senate. In 1921, at the age of 39, he was struck by polio, which left him paralyzed from the waist down. Despite this setback, Roosevelt remained dedicated to public service and was elected as Governor of New York in 1928.

In 1932, amid the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt won the presidency in a landslide victory against incumbent Herbert Hoover. He implemented a series of programs known as the New Deal, aimed at providing relief, recovery, and reform to the American people. Roosevelt's policies helped to stabilize the economy and improve the lives of millions of Americans. He was elected to an unprecedented four terms in office and led the United States through World War II. Roosevelt's leadership during the war earned him a place in history as one of the country's greatest presidents. He passed away on April 12, 1945, just months before the end of the war.