PIVOTAL PRESIDENTS PROFILES IN LEADERSHIP FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT Edited by Lorena Huddle LILLEL ITALIE F ANWHILHILITY Britannica we Educational Publishing IN ASSOCIATION WITH ROSEN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
Introduction 6 During his presidency Franklin D Roosevelt spoke directly to the American people in regular national radio broadcasts that became known as fireside chats
Franklin D Roosevelt was the only U S president elected to the office four times In his 12 years in office Roosevelt was both hated and loved His opponents criticized him for the way he expanded the powers of the federal government Most people however hailed him for his efforts to lead the United States through two of the great est crises of the 20th century the Great Depression and World War II Roosevelt started his career in politics in 1910 when he was elected as a Democrat to the New York Senate In 1913 he was appointed assistant secretary of the Navy by President Woodrow Wilson During World War I 1914 18 Roosevelt helped lead the Navy to victory over German sea forces In 1920 he ran for vice president but the Democrats lost the election In 1921 Roosevelt was stricken with polio myelitis a disease that paralyzed him from the waist down In later years he could walk a little using a cane and leg braces but he usually used a wheelchair although not in public In 1928 and again in 1930 Roosevelt was elected governor of New York During his 7
