January 30 – Happy Birthday, FDR!

nPostedn on January 30, 2017

nIn could ask a bunch of questions with the same answer:

nWhon is one of the most revered presidents of all time? (Most praised,n most important, most influential, most honored…)

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nWhon is one of the most hated presidents of all time?

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nWhon is one of the richest presidents?

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nWhichn president was most despised by rich people?

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nWhon served as U.S. President longest?

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nWhichn U.S. President was the weakest, physically speaking?

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nComen on – there is no way that all of those questions could have then same answer! And of course, the secret is, it depends on who youn ask…

nFranklinn Delano Roosevelt, who was born on this date in 1882, grew up in an prominent (important) and wealthy family in New York. He went inton politics but then was stricken with polio. That illness so weakenedn his legs, he had to rely on wheelchairs and braces and canes inn order to get around. However, his personal victory over polio gaven Roosevelt a kind of strength and optimism when faced withn difficulties.

nAndn when he won the presidency of the United States, in 1932, he had ton face a lot of difficulties! The nation and the world were in then middle of the Great Depression. Later on in his presidency, then world plunged into World War II, and the U.S. was attacked by Japan.n n

nFDRn was bold with his depression-fighting policies, called the New Deal,n and he radiated a kind of calm positivity in the face of beingn attacked and entering into the WWII. Those traits are a major reasonn why Roosevelt won a record four elections (although he died duringn his fourth term). And those traits are a big reason why FDR oftenn ends up among the top five American Presidents. (On this listn – which takes into consideration a bunch of other lists – he isn ranked #2, higher than George Washington, even!)

nButnRoosevelt’s bold moves to combat the depression also made the UnitednStates into more of a “mixed economy” than it had been, withncapitalistic and socialistic aspects. In other words, a lot of jobsnand monies were involved with privately-owned businesses andncompanies and corporations, but a lot of other jobs and monies werenbased on public programs – everything from government programs tonbuild roads and bridges to government-run schools and parks. Somenpeople with power and money hated that – they complained about highntaxes, they complained about “redistribution of wealth,” theynfelt strongly that those that had money deserved money, and those whondidn’t should earn it with hard work rather than having any sort ofnsafety net provided by society. n

n(Ofncourse, a lot of people that don’t have money CAN’T earn money withnhard work. They are babies, or they face severe illness, or they aren80 years old, or or or…Enough said.)