FDR: The Rest of the Story

Hillary Gibbs & Meg HansonESOC 7420Spring 2011

Review• 32nd President of the United States• 1933-1945• Served a longer term in office than any other

president (12 years) • President during the Great Depression and World

War II• Married to Eleanor Roosevelt• Suffered from Polio (more to come later!)• Addressed the nation through Fireside Chats• Created the New Deal

Let’s Begin!• Take out a sheet of paper• During the video, listen for facts that you did not

know before and write them down

Roosevelt Rap

Now for the rest of

the story…

His mother made him wear a dress everyday until he was around five

years old.

FDR held many political titles prior to becoming President of the United

States.• Including:

• New York State Senator• Assistant Secretary of

the Navy• Ran a failed campaign

for Vice President• Governor of New York

FDR had many hobbies; but, throughout his lifetime, his favorite

one was collecting stamps.

FDR attended Harvard for college. It has been said that he maintained a “Gentleman’s C” while in school.

Also, he passed the New York State Bar Exam before ever finishing law

school.

Franklin D. Roosevelt came from a long line of wealthy individuals and politicians. He was related by either

blood or marriage to eleven other presidents:

• John Adams• John Qunicy Adams• Ulysses S. Grant• William Henry

Harrison• Benjamin Harrison

• James Madison• Theodor Roosevelt• William Taft• Zachary Taylor• Martin Van Buren

• George Washington

Theodore Roosevelt, Eleanor’s uncle and the 26th President of the United States, gave away Eleanor during

her marriage ceremony to FDR. She and Franklin were 5th cousins. FDR’s

mother opposed the marriage.

FDR and Eleanor had six children throughout their marriage.

• Anna• James• Franklin

• (died at 7 months)• Elliot• Franklin• James

FDR enjoyed the company of women. Throughout his married life, he had a relationship with Eleanor’s social

secretary, Lucy Page Mercer Rutherford.

Eleanor knew about the romance, but

the two did not want to ruin FDR’s

political career.

FDR was the first president whose mother, Sara Ann Delano Roosevelt, was allowed to vote for him during

the election of 1932.

FRD was the first president to fly in an airplane. Also, he was the first

president to have his own presidential aircraft.

Most Americans did not know that FDR had trouble walking. He had a “gentleman’s agreement” with the members of the press - there are

only 3 known pictures of FDR in his wheelchair.

Because of FDR’s illness, he bought a compound in Warm Springs,

Georgia. He swam in the mineral pools throughout the retreat

grounds and felt as though they had healing powers.

FDR was the first president to speak to the nation on television.

Pearl Harbor Speech

He addressed the nation through Fireside Chats to attend to their fears and concerns during the

challenging times throughout his presidency.

Activity Time

1. Think about a problem the United States is facing today. Write your own fireside chat to FDR

addressing your concerns and ask him what advice he has for our current president.

2. Think about a problem FDR faced during his lifetime or presidency that we have learned

about during this activity or previously. Write a fireside chat letter to FDR addressing your

concerns.3. Draw a picture or cartoon to either FDR or

President Obama to provoke his thoughts for preparing a fireside chat with the nation

concerning issues we have learned about in this activity.

- Choose One of the Below Options -

Lastly, FDR is one of eight presidents to die while in office. He died of

cerebral hemorrhage at his retreat in Warm Springs, Georgia while

having his portrait painted. Lucy, his mistress, was with him the day

he died.

ResourcesButche, Robert. (2008). Responsible Adults, Speaking Clearly. Newsroom Magazine.

Retrieved from http://newsroom-magazine.com/2008/academic/history/responsible-adults-speaking-clearly/.

Eleanor Roosevelt’s coming out portrait taken in New York, New York. 1902. Courtesy of Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Retrieved from http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/education/resources/pdfs/roospictures_slideshow.pdf.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt – Pearl Harbor Address. YouTube. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VqQAf74fsE&feature=related.

Franklin D. Roosevelt at 16 months old sitting upon his father James Roosevelt’s shoulder in 1833. Courtesy of Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Retrieved from http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/education/resources/pdfs/roospictures_slideshow.pdf.

Franklin D. Roosevelt seated next to a pool in Warm Springs, Georgia. 1925. Courtesy of Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Retrieved from http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/education/resources/pdfs/roospictures_slideshow.pdf.

Governor Roosevelt swimming at Warm Springs, Georgia. 1930. Courtesy of Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Retrieved from http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/education/resources/pdfs/roospictures_slideshow.pdf.

LeDandy. (2009). Roosevelt Cigarette-Holder. Retrieved from http://dandync.blogspot.com/2009/01/cigarette-holder.html.

President Roosevelt in his wheelchair aboard the Nourmahal. Credit to Robert Cross-Sailor in the White House. 1935. Courtesy of Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Retrieved from http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/education/resources/pdfs/roospictures_slideshow.pdf.

Resources (cont.)President Roosevelt in his wheelchair with Fala and Ruthie Bie at Top Cottage in Hyde Park, New

York. 1941. Courtesy of Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Retrieved from http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/education/resources/pdfs/roospictures_slideshow.pdf.

Smith, J.E. (2007). An Elegant (and Mythic) Portrait of FDR. The New York Observer. Retrieved from http://www.observer.com/2007/elegant-and-mythic-portrait-f-d-r.

Syracuse.com. (2008). Roosevelt Talk on Unstable Economy Oddly Prescient. Retrieved from http://blog.syracuse.com/today/2008/10/large_biz_081001_FDR.jpg.

The Lathrop Brown Interviews: Part IV – 1905 -1920. FDR Suite Restoration Project @ Adams House. (2009). Retrieved from http://fdrsuite.org/blog/?p=844.

The Future of Collecting Stamps. Retrieved from http://www.coneysstamps.com/content/articles/col-future.htm.

Warm Springs, Georgia; Roosevelt, Franklin D. Photograph. (2011). Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/Ebchecked/media/33187/The-Little-White-House-residence-of-US-President-Franklin-D.

Young Franklin D. Roosevelt with his mother Sara Delano Roosevelt. 1893. Courtesy of Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Retrieved from http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/education/resources/pdfs/roospictures_slideshow.pdf.