The Success of Franklin Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was President of the USA during a period
encompassed two of the most significant events of recent history- the
American Depression and the Second World War. In this essay we will
look at the qualities that made FDR such a notable President; we will
also examine some of the circumstances surrounding the Presidency to
discover if perhaps that also had an impact on perceptions of both the
man and his Presidency.
We will also be looking at Eleanor Roosevelt, his wife and one of his
strongest political assets. Eleanor’s terms in the White House formed
a bridge between the First Ladies of the past, where domesticity and
duty to family were the main requirements, and modern day First
Ladies such as Hilary Clinton who have successful careers and
ambitions of their own. We will Eleanor’s role as First Lady, whether
it changed over the twelve years her Husband was in office, and how
(and whether) she redefined it.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was in many ways fortunate to inherit a
country desperate for a leader. Herbert Hoover, President 1929 -1932,
was a straight laced, prohibition supporting President who favoured
the Laissez Faire approach to governing the country. He took up
office at a time when America was complacent over it’s economic
future, and did not regard economic policy as of major importance in
the elections. He did have a humanitarian side, having been President
of the American Citizens’ Relief Committee in London during the war
(Peter Clements, Access to History). However, he lacked the
imagination and flexibility to cope with the demands placed upon him
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...anklin’s success, I would choose ‘confidence’. Franklin
managed to propose radical measures and deal with failures because he
believed in himself. America may indeed have been saved by the War,
but Franklin had the confidence to halt the escalating Depression, if
not reverse it. As for Eleanor, as she said, ‘the future belongs to
those who believe in the beauty of their dream’
(Womenshistory.about.com).
Bibliography:
WWW.Womenshistory.about.com/library/qu/blurrier.htm, November 27th
2004
WWW.Time.com/time/time100/leaders/profile/fdr2.html, November 27th
2004
WWW.Poppolitics.com/articles/2000-06-19-presidents.shtm, November 27th
2004
WWW.lesbianlife.about.com, November 27th 2004
Clements Peter, Prosperity, Depression and the New Deal (second
edition), Hodder and Stoughton, London, 2001
She traveled throughout the United States, one in particular she became a voice for those people in need, such as, the youth, African Americans, tenant farmers, and also the working women. These groups had been greatly affected by the economic crisis of the 30’s known as The Great Depression. During Franklin’s run as President he tried to battle the series of social programs known as the New Deal. Eleanor became a key contact within the administration for the officials that were seeking support from the President.
Putting on a "Show" for all of America, she let no one know the severity of his sickness, and handled many government issues by her self. Edith Wilson stayed involved with politics after her husbands death, and was a very strong, woman who took charge of things, and supported her husband, and his efforts. Eleanor Roosevelt was the wife of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Eleanor was such a Strong and out-going person that she held her very own press conference just two days after FDR was inaugurated. In fact she held the first press conference ever held by a First Lady.
Herbert Hoover, elected as president in 1928, was a president who was not actively involved with the lives of the people in his country. His
The New Deal provided much needed relief for many families across the nation. Eleanor Roosevelt did her best to help children throughout the entire country though she never actually replied to all of the letters that were sent to her from children she did help by creating such programs as the National Youth Administration (NYA) giving kids that were in high school and college, money and grants in return for work in the school or on farms, this also help provide job skills for in the future. Eleanor also created the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which helped provide nursey schools for working mothers, nutrition programs in school, created stores that provided clothing, food, toys, etc. to families that deserved it and recreational and educational programs for disadvantaged children. Together both President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt helped create a better nation in the time of need for many children and adults and for some future generations to
Because of the plague known as the Great Depression, Herbert Hoover is often seen as one of the worst presidents in American history. He enacted policies such as the Hawley-Smoot Tariff that flushed America deeper into the depression. Hoover didn't understand that to solve a crisis such as a depression, he needed to interact directly with the people by using programs such as social security and welfare. Instead, Hoover had the idea that if he were to let the depression run its course, it would eventually end. There are three things that can be used to define Hoover's presidency during the depression, his actions, his mentality toward fixing things, and the fact that he helped pave the way for the “New Deal”
Assuming the Presidency at the depth of the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt helped the American people regain faith in themselves. He brought hope as he promised prompt, vigorous action, and asserted in his Inaugural Address, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Despite an attack of poliomyelitis, which paralyzed his legs in 1921, he was a charismatic optimist whose confidence helped sustain the American people during the strains of economic crisis and world war.
When her husband became the President, Eleanor Roosevelt made herself a strong speaker on behalf of a wide range of social causes, including youth employment and civil rights for blacks and women. She also had compassion for the Jewish and helped them go through the time when Hitler had power. She did all of her work with self-confidence, authority, independence, and cleverness. Eleanor Roosevelt is one of the greatest women who ever lived because of her accomplishments, her benefits to mankind, and her motives to accomplish her goals.
Eleanor Roosevelt was a First Lady during the time of the Great Depression. She made huge differences in the lives of women, youth and minorities.
In the book Theodore Roosevelt by Louis Auchincloss, I learned a great deal about the twenty-sixth President of the United States of America. Former President T. Roosevelt made many accomplishments as president, and did not have a high number of scandals. Roosevelt did very well in keeping the peace between the different countries, which earned him many admirers and the coveted Nobel Peace Prize. The author’s purpose for writing Theodore Roosevelt was to tell his readers all about America’s former president, Theodore Roosevelt’s life. Louis Auchincloss did a great job at describing President T. Roosevelt’s life from Teddy’s childhood, his life before presidency, to all of Teddy’s accomplishments as president, and finally to his life after his
Eleanor Roosevelt, whose life did not look promising in the beginning with the loss of both her parents early on, ended up changing a worldShe then went to live with her grandmother who sent her to Allenswood Academy for girls. Described as an astute and observant child who had self confidence issues. There Eleanor studied under Marie Souvestre, a dedicated feminist. Eleanor would not finish school there as she hoped. Being called home Eleanor returned, at the age of 19 , as the niece of the president of the United States of America, Teddy Roosevelt. Eleanor began a relationship with her fifth cousin Franklin, the following year he proposed. They married in 1905. Their marriage was tested when Franklin cheated on Eleanor, she offered him a
The modern presidency reached its initial fulfillment during the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt. Under the stimulus of the New Deal, World War II, and the entrepreneurial leadership of Franklin Roosevelt, there was a huge expans...
From the very beginning of his time in the presidential spotlight, Theodore Roosevelt signified the Progressive goal and ambition. Often times, Roosevelt’s presidency is labeled as accidental or ironic. This irony is present in the fact that he was given the role of vice president to William McKinley simply because Roosevelt’s rising popularity and progressive ideals were seen as a threat by McKinley. The McKinley administration figured that they could silence the growing progressive voice Roosevelt embodied by giving him the menial position of vice president. So, it was seen as a shock when McKinley was suddenly assassinated, six months into his second term, and Roosevelt rose to power bringing with him new excitement and power to the Presidency (Theodore Roosevelt ). It is exactly this surge of excitement and charisma which made Roosevelt one of America’s most unforgettable presidents. His presidential career and attitude can be described by the phrase “steward of the people” which he aimed to embody throughout his term, this meant that Roosevelt made his primary goal to maintain the public good to the fullest extent of his power (Theodore Roosevelt ). Roosevelt’s character and contributions to the Progressive campaign are both equally important parts of American history and will be explored throughout this paper.
President Herbert Hoover was the conservative Republican president of America when the Great Depression occurred, and was given the burden of rebuilding the economy. He believed the federal government should not intervene, and instead believed that helping the needy was the obligation of private organizations and donors, whom he pressured. In addition, Hoover granted loans to big businesses, hoping that the money would “trickle down” and that more employees would be hired.
The third edition of ”Eleanor Roosevelt: A Personal and Public Life”, written by J. William T. Youngs, was published in 2005 by Pearson Longman Inc. and is also part of the Library of American Biography Series, edited by Mark C. Carnes. The biography itself and all of its contents are 292 pages. These pages include a table of contents, an editor’s and author’s preface, acknowledgments, illustrations, study and discussion questions, a note on the source, and an index. The biography of Eleanor Roosevelt (1884 – 1962), wife of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882 – 1945), pays great respects to whom Youngs believes to be the most influential woman during the 20th century. By writing one third of the book on E. Roosevelt’s early life, Youngs is able to support his thesis which states that E. Roosevelt’s suffering, and the achievements of her early years made it possible for her to be known as the greatest American woman of the twentieth century. While Youngs was able to support this theory throughout the book, he failed to tie his original thoughts up towards his conclusion, making his original thesis hard to follow.
In November 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected President of the United States of America. He had beaten his Republican opponent Hoover with 89% of the electoral votes to 11%. Roosevelt also gained 22.8 million popular votes to Hoover's 15.8 million. For Roosevelt to be elected into his presidential role, it had taken several events and reasons for Roosevelt to reach that position. The previous presidential elections to 1932 were in 1928.