Franklin D. Roosevelt

Faced with the Great Depression and World War II, Franklin D. Roosevelt, nicknamed “FDR,” guided America through its greatest domestic crisis, with the exception of the Civil War, and its greatest foreign crisis. His presidency—which spanned twelve years—was unparalleled, not only in length but in scope. FDR took office with the country mired in a horrible and debilitating economic depression that not only sapped its material wealth and spiritual strength, but cast a pall over its future. Roosevelt's combination of confidence, optimism, and political savvy—all of which came together in the experimental economic and social programs of the "New Deal"—helped bring about the beginnings of a national recovery.

I call for effort, courage, sacrifice, devotion. Granting the love of freedom, all of these are possible. And the love of freedom is still fierce and steady in the nation today. “Stab in the Back” Speech
“Stab in the Back” Speech

Legacy

The country continued to struggle in the midst of the Great Depression when Roosevelt ran for office. He promised despondent Americans a “New Deal” as he accepted the Democratic nomination. He further encouraged the people with his campaign slogan “Kick Out Depression with a Democratic Vote.” Roosevelt won the election by a landslide.

Roosevelt acted immediately to fulfill his promises. Upon taking office he proposed an innovative and extensive program of direct federal aid and reform, which he coined the New Deal. Congress approved the program. The New Deal provided employment to both skilled and unskilled workers through the Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration. The New Deal also provided direct aid to the poor through the newly created Federal Emergency Relief Administration. Roosevelt asserted, “It is the inherent duty of the Federal Government to keep its citizens from starvation.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Legacy

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