Franklin Delano Roosevelt Paper

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was a extraordinary American President in many ways. His Presidency was filled with many great accomplishments that reflect his leadership qualities. He got our country out of one of the biggest problems it has ever been in, The Great Depression. He also led us through much of World War Two. Franklin Delano Roosevelt led was also loved by the people. That is why he was elected President for four terms, which was unheard of.
 Our country’s Thirty Second President was born on January 30, 1882 was born at his parents estate in Hyde Park, New York. His fortunate parents were James and Sara Ann Delano Roosevelt. FDR spent his early childhood at his family home in Hyde Park. Since he traveled quite often with his family and was tutored at home, he did not spend much time with others that were his age. In 1896, at the age of 14, Roosevelt was sent to the Groton School, which is a private, prestigious, preparatory boarding school in Groton, Massachusetts. He received his first formal schooling there.
Roosevelt began attending the prestigious Harvard University in 1900. During his college years at Harvard he was very active in the The Harvard Crimson, which is the school’s newspaper. In fact, he became its managing editor in 1903. His involvement and especially his position as managing editor in The Harvard Crimson showed his sense of commitment as a leader. In 1903 Franklin D. Roosevelt also became engaged to his fifth cousin once removed, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, (Roosevelt was both her maiden name and her married one). They married two years later on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1905. Franklin and Eleanor had six children within the next 11 years. Franklin D. Roosevelt entered Columbia Law School in 1905; however, he left right after he passed the New York State Bar exam in 1907.
Franklin was asked to run as a Democrat for the state senate seat from Duchess County, New York in 1910. He worked extremely hard campaigning for that positron that had been held by Republicans for a long time, and in the end he managed to win the election. That election showed his perseverance as a leader. In fact, was then reelected in 1912. FDR’s career as state senator was cut short when President Woodrow Wilson appointed him as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 1913. Since the U.S was making preparations to join in World War One, Franklin’s positron became even more important. In 1920, Franklin D. Roosevelt was chosen to run as Vice President of the United States with Cox, and even though they lost the election, this shows Franklin’s desire as a leader to take on challenges and accept more responsibilities.
Having contracted Polio in the summer of 1921, at the age of 39, he became paralyzed and handicapped. He did not let his physical disability stop him from leading this nation through the Great Depression and later on through World War Two. All those who new him agreed that he faced his physical disability with courage, persistent determination, and hopefulness. FDR also led this country with those character traits. This shows that Franklin D. Roosevelt possessed a remarkably strong sense of character. When Franklin D. Roosevelt was asked to run for governor of New York in 1928, he had to determine if his body could withstand a strenuous campaign for the position. Refusing to let his physical disabilities hold him back he went for the positron and won the election for Governor of New York in 1928, and then again in 1930.
The Great Depression hit the United States when Roosevelt was holding the position of Governor of the State of New York. President Herbert Hoover took only small, limited steps to solve this gigantic economic problem as average citizens lost their jobs and their savings, and as a result of Hoover’s limited steps people became furious. American Citizens were demanding change in the Presidential election of 1932 and Franklin Delano Roosevelt promised to deliver it to them. As a result of his promise, Franklin was elected President of The United States of America in a landslide election. While President FDR does more to demonstrate his qualities as a extraordinary leader than he did in any other position that he previously held.
Roosevelt’s first two terms as President were spent taking steps to help get the U.S out of the Great Depression. The first three months of his presidency, which are popularly known as “the first hundred days,” were extremely active. Roosevelt offered the “New Deal” to Americans immediately after he took office. FDR declared a “Bank Holiday” with the passing of the Emergency Banking Act of 1933. The purpose of the “Bank Holiday” was to strengthen the banks and reestablish confidence in the banking system. He also quickly created many agencies (such as the AAA, CCC, FERA, TVA, and TWA) to help offer people relief during these difficult times. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s handling of the great depression showed that he was a great and creative problem solver, which is an extremely important leadership skill. It also greatly helped him gain support form the American people.
On March 12, 1933, just after a week in office, Roosevelt delivered his first Fireside Chat, in which he announced that the nations banks would reopen. The all of the banks had been closed with the Emergency Banking Act of 1933 which is popularly known as the “Bank Holiday,” because banks were failing by the masses. His address was so reassuring that over half a million letters were sent to the White House over the following week. This showed his charisma to connect with large numbers of American people. This “Fireside Chat” radio address, like the others that would follow it, helped calm citizens’ fears and worries, and instill confidence in the Government. Even though Franklin’s policies lessened the severity of the Great Depression, they did not bring it to an end.
The US would not get completely out of the Great Depression until W.W.I.I. FDR ordered an increased production of war machinery and supplies, once World War II began in Europe, which put many people to work. FDR went against what his advisers suggested early in the war regarding his support for Britain. His actions in this case have shown that he was extremely self confident. After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Hawaii, Franklin answered the attack with his famous "a date which will live in infamy" speech and a formal declaration of war. FDR was one of the “Big Three” (Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin) as he led the US into World War II. Roosevelt won his fourth presidential election in 1944; however, he unfortunately did not live through it. Franklin Delano Roosevelt died from a massive cerebral hemorrhage on April 12, 1945 at the age of 63.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s has shown remarkable leadership skills through out his life. From his