Interesting Facts about Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt served as the 32nd President of the United States from 1933 until his death in 19
2. He was the only U.S. President to serve four terms in office.
Roosevelt was born on January 30, 1882, in Hyde Park, New York.
He was a distant cousin of former President Theodore Roosevelt.
Roosevelt was known for his fireside chats, where he spoke directly to the American people over the radio.
He led the United States through two of its greatest crises: the Great Depression and World War II.
Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law in 1935, creating a nationwide system of old-age pensions and unemployment benefits.
He was one of the main architects of the United Nations and played a key role in the creation of its predecessor, the League of Nations.
Roosevelt was elected Governor of New York in 1928 before running for President.
He was paralyzed from the waist down due to polio, which he contracted in 19
Roosevelt founded the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, which later became known as the March of Dimes.
He was a great lover of sailing and spent many summers on his sailboat, the USS Sequoia.
Roosevelt was the first President to appoint a woman to a cabinet position, Frances Perkins, who served as Secretary of Labor.
He implemented the New Deal, a series of programs and reforms aimed at getting the United States out of the Great Depression.
Roosevelt was known for his charismatic personality and ability to connect with people from all walks of life.
Interesting Facts about Franklin D. Roosevelt part 2
He was an avid collector of stamps.
Roosevelt’s famous quote, The only thing we have to fear is fear itself, was from his first inaugural address in 19
He established the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which provided employment for young men during the Great Depression.
Roosevelt was the first President to travel by airplane while in office.
He was the first President to have a Presidential library, which is located in Hyde Park, New York.
Roosevelt was related to 11 other U.S. Presidents, including his fifth cousin, Theodore Roosevelt.
He was assisted by his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, who was a prominent diplomat and advocate for civil rights.
Roosevelt was an influential figure in shaping the Democratic Party and its progressive wing.
He was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America and served as the organization’s honorary president.
Roosevelt received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1945 for his efforts to establish a lasting peace.
He contracted malaria while visiting a military base in Panama in 19
Roosevelt was the first President to appear on television, during a 1939 speech at the New York World’s Fair.
He was an avid stamp collector and once said, I owe my life to my hobbies, especially stamp collecting.
Roosevelt took office during the Great Depression, with more than 12 million Americans unemployed.
He implemented the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided jobs for millions of Americans during the Great Depression.
Roosevelt signed the Federal Housing Act in 1934, which established the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).
He led the United States into World War II after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Roosevelt met with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill multiple times to discuss war strategy.
He was the first President to fly in an airplane while in office.
Roosevelt delivered his famous Four Freedoms speech in 1941, outlining goals for a post-war world.
He appointed his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, as his eyes and ears, sending her on fact-finding missions across the country.
Roosevelt was an ardent supporter of the arts and established the Federal Art Project, which employed thousands of artists during the Great Depression.
He established the National Labor Relations Board, which protected workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively.
Roosevelt was the first President to have a vice president serve three terms, with John Nance Garner serving from 1933 to 19
He established the Rural Electrification Administration, which brought electricity to rural areas across the country.
Roosevelt was known for his sense of humor and often used it to diffuse tense situations.
He was the first President to have his inauguration broadcast on television.
Roosevelt’s New Deal programs helped to bring economic relief to millions of Americans during the Great Depression.
He appointed the first female judge to the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice Frances Perkins.
Roosevelt’s leadership during World War II helped to secure victory for the United States and its allies.
