The Real FDR

I came along in 1953, several years too

late to know firsthand about President

Franklin Roosevelt.  That didn't prevent

me from hearing many amazing things

about him during my formative years:

from my parents and grandparents, who

had all come through the depression and

World War II, and knew what our country

and the world owed to this man's leadership.

This 1950 pictorial history of the

president's life was among books and

 magazines long saved by my family.

The mischievous grin reminds me

of my grandmother, Mama Gaddis,

who was a great admirer of his.  When

she told me stories of his feats, the 

simple words "Mr. Roosevelt" were

spoken with reverence and awe.

That's what it was like for the Americans

who elected him to an unprecedented four

terms as our national leader.  Amazingly,

he was re-elected even as the Great Depression

continued.  People appreciated his herculean

efforts to ease their suffering.  And they knew

it was a world-wide depression, not one of

his doing, nor one totally within his power to end.

Sadly, there are revisionists today who try

to cast FDR as a socialist and an enemy of

capitalism.  Nothing could be further from

the truth.  But he was the inventor of our

"safety net," the idea that no one should go

hungry or without proper shelter in a great

and free country.  And virtually all Americans

agreed with him on that.

Two of his most impressive programs to me

were the CCC, Civilian Conservation Corps,

and WPA, Works Public Administration.

These and other programs offered work

with dignity that also served the country well.

President Roosevelt, though a man of great

personal wealth, had endured his own struggle

when stricken with polio.  His fighting spirit was

an inspiration to the public, and his victory gave

them hope for a better tomorrow.

These crowds in New York were singing

"Happy Days are Here Again" not because

his election suddenly gave them jobs, but

because his plans gave them a path to a

brighter future.

He took his oath of office on the 263-year-old

Dutch family Bible.

He endeared himself to a generation with

his heartfelt "Fireside Chats."  He shared

the nation's burdens and successes.

This is Franklin Roosevelt's famed

first inaugural address.  It reads in part:

"This great nation will endure as it has endured,

will revive and will prosper.  So first of all let

me assert my firm belief that the only thing we

have to fear is fear itself, - nameless, unreasoning, 

unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts

to convert retreat into advance."

(Click on the document to enlarge and read in entirety)

This last photo shows me better than any

of the rest that he was one of the people at heart.

The caption states:

"One of the most ardent hobbyists of all our presidents,

FDR would and did collect anything and everything.  

Here is his desk at the White House, on April 12, 1945,

the day he passed away."

As a collector of many things myself, I can

appreciate the pleasures he derived from this

pastime.  I remember when I learned of the 

President's love for philately. And I was proud

to be a stamp collector, too!

(Obviously, as president he had more

storage space than I do!) 

There are not many living people now who

remember Franklin Roosevelt nor his valiant

and bold leadership through our nation's most

trying days since the Civil War.  From all accounts,

far worse than the recession we are now recovering

from.  We can be thankful that elements of our

safety net such as Social Security and

Unemployment Insurance keep the least fortunate

from hitting bottom. And I'm thankful for the

lessons of history that have come to me through

books,documentaries, and the faithful testimony

 of those I love and trust most.