FDR was the only U.S. president elected to four terms, serving from 1933 to 1945.1)
He was diagnosed with polio in 1921 at the age of 39, which left him paralyzed from the waist down.2)
FDR's New Deal programs were aimed at helping the U.S. recover from the Great Depression.3)
He signed the Social Security Act in 1935, creating the Social Security system.4)
During World War II, FDR introduced the Lend-Lease Act to supply Allied nations with vital war materials.5)
FDR communicated with the American public through a series of radio broadcasts known as “Fireside Chats.”6)
His wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, was a prominent political figure and activist in her own right.7)
In 1945, he met with Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin at the Yalta Conference to discuss post-war reorganization.8)
FDR was a key advocate for the establishment of the United Nations.9)
He declared war on Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.10)
He attempted to expand the number of Supreme Court justices, a plan known as the “court-packing” scheme.11)
The PWA was created under his administration to fund large-scale public works projects.12)
The CCC provided jobs for young men to work on environmental conservation projects.13)
The TVA was established to provide flood control and electricity to the Tennessee Valley.14)
He introduced the Emergency Banking Act to stabilize the banking system.15)
His first inaugural address included the famous line, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”16)
FDR led the U.S. through most of World War II until his death in 1945.FDR led the U.S. through most of World War II until his death in 1945.17)
He established a rehabilitation center for polio patients in Warm Springs, Georgia.18)
His foreign policy aimed to improve relations with Latin American countries.19)
He issued Executive Order 9066, which led to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.20)
He authorized the secret project to develop the atomic bomb.21)
In 1944, he proposed a second Bill of Rights focused on economic security.22)
Before becoming president, he served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy and Governor of New York.23)
He was born into a wealthy and influential family in Hyde Park, New York.24)
FDR graduated from Harvard University in 1903.25)
He established the first presidential library, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.26)
His administration supported the Wagner Act, which strengthened labor unions.27)
In a 1941 speech, he articulated the Four Freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.28)
He died on April 12, 1945, in Warm Springs, Georgia.29)
His vice president, Harry S. Truman, succeeded him after his death.30)
FDR's Scottish Terrier, Fala, was a popular presidential pet.31)
He was posthumously nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in founding the United Nations.32)
He supported educational programs and funding during his presidency.33)
He was known for his ability to unite diverse groups within the Democratic Party.34)
His administration established the FSA to combat rural poverty.35)
His use of radio was groundbreaking, making him a pioneer in mass media communication.36)
He was a distant cousin of President Theodore Roosevelt.37)
He had three different vice presidents: John Nance Garner, Henry A. Wallace, and Harry S. Truman.38)
He took steps to assist European refugees during World War II, though his administration faced criticism for not doing enough.39)
He enjoyed sailing and was an avid stamp collector.40)
He traveled extensively for wartime diplomacy, including trips to Casablanca and Tehran.41)
His administration created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to protect bank deposits.42)
He was instrumental in the creation of the March of Dimes, initially focused on combating polio.43)
Despite his own disability, he rarely used a wheelchair in public to avoid appearing weak.44)
Numerous schools, streets, and institutions are named after him, reflecting his lasting legacy.45)