Franklin D Roosevelt
The Gleaming Hope of a Darkened America
Life Influences
Uprbringing
- Born into a wealthy family; The Roosevelts had been prominent for several generations
- Cousin of Teddy Roosevelt (FDR would eventually idolize him)
- Entire household revolved around him, surrounded by privilege
- Mother always took care of him (remained influential throughout his life)
- Taught by tutors and governesses until the age of 14
- Attended Groton School, a prestigious Episcopalian preparatory school
- Did not fit in with other children, so aimed to impress adults
- Became heavily influenced by Headmaster Endicott Peabody
- Peabody encouraged his students to help the less fortunate through public service
- Attended Harvard College of Law in 1900, then studied law at Columbia
- Married Eleanor Roosevelt in 1905
- Bored by law practice, decided to go into politics.
- In 1918 Eleanor discovers FDR's affair with Lucy Mercer
- Convinced to stay, but marriage becomes non-emotional committment
Political Career:
- Became state senator in 1910
- Supported Woodrow Wilson in his presidential campaign
- Rewarded with role of Assistant Sec. of the Navy
- Ran as Vice President to James M. Cox in 1920, lost to Warren G. Harding
- VP run gave him experience to national exposure
- Urged to run for Governor of New York in 1928, and won
- Saw a negativity around the Republican party and saw opportunity for presidency
- Ran and won in 1932
Presidential Career:
- First 100 Days - instated New Deal policies with "Brain Trust"
- "Brain Trust" - committee dedicated to creating the alphabetical economic policies (FDIC, NRA, AAA, PWA, etc.)
- Faced criticism for large government spending and socialist ideologies
- Economic focus - social matters covered by Eleanor, who represented White House in many social situations
- WWII: ran for third term for sole purpose of leading a country at war (knew war was coming)
- As Commander-In-Chief, worked with and sometimes around military advisors
- Manipulative, liked complete control of strategies (ex: Operation Torch was his idea)
- Became very politically involved with Winston Churchill, who initially encouraged FDR to join the war
Polio:
- Diagnosed in 1921
- Devastated, thought that political career was over
- Inspired him to overcome his physical deficiencies
- Strategy w/ press - no pictures in wheelchair or of legs
- Reason Eleanor was spokesperson for him
Eleanor Roosevelt
Endicott Peabody
FDR and Winston Churchill
"Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds."
FDR in modern-day America
Political Cartoon: "But above all, try something."
Because me must try, Roosevelt 2016
If I had FDR's skills.
Speech: First Inaugural Address, 1933
S - Newly-elected President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt
O - Inaugural Address, his first chance to address the nation as its new leader
A - The entire tattered and weary Great-Depression-Era America
P - To incite hope for the near future and invoke support for his big plans for the nation
S - The goal of his presidency and the start of the journey to recovery
Tone - Hopeful, ready, progressive, and ready for the future
Historiography
In a review of The Mantle of Command: FDR at War, 1941-1942, Thomas Mullen summarizes the analytical strategies employed by author Nigel Hamilton. He explains how President Roosevelt was able to manipulate the war to produce an outcome he desired, even when that meant having to override decisions made by his Secretary of State. One such example was Roosevelt's decision to attack the Axis powers located in North Africa, a decision that went directly against what the Department of Defense has already decided to do. Nonetheless, Roosevelt used his executive power to override this decision, leading to the start of Operation Torch. Operation Torch was a cornerstone part of Hamilton's argument for the influence and solid decision-making by Roosevelt. The historian point of view Hamilton is able to use given the time that has passed assists in his ability to clearly and effectively analyze Roosevelt's actions in wartime America. It is easy to jump to conclusions when something is happening in the present, but when one observes an event from the past, it is far easier to analyze the influences and strategy behind each political decision. Such is the case with Nigel Hamilton and FDR's decisions. It seems that he is correct with his analysis, too. FDR was very manipulative in every aspect of his presidency, though at the legislative level, his word was not final. Therefore, complete control and manipulation was not necessarily an option for him there. In military decisions, his word was final, given his status as Commander-In-Chief. FDR used this to his advantage, assuming complete control of major decisions. This manipulative style of leading was a major reason for America's success in the war.