Born at Hyde Park, New York–now a national historic site–in 1882, Franklin D. Roosevelt attended Harvard University and Columbia Law School. On March 17, 1905, he married Eleanor Roosevelt.
Following the lead of his fifth cousin, President Theodore Roosevelt, whom he greatly admired, Franklin D. Roosevelt entered public service through the New York State Legislature and later through the Department of the Navy. By 1920 he was the Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States.
In 1921 poliomyelitis ravaged his body; he never regained the use of his legs. Demonstrating indomitable courage, he waged a relentless campaign against his handicap, gracefully accepting public aid, but privately compensating through swimming and the use of traction.
In the 1920’s and 1930’s Roosevelt perfected his country-wide organization and entered the political arena again, winning Governor of New York in 1928 and re-election in 1930.
In November 1932 he was elected President of the United States and during the next three months he prepared a masterly program to meet the overwhelming problems caused by the great depression of 1929.
In F.D.R.’s first term the Nation experienced dramatic recovery from depression and war clouds were gathering in Europe and in the Pacific. On November 3, 1940, he was re-elected President. The United States formally entered the conflict in December 1941 and despite the strain of war he was elected for a fourth time in 1944.
At the opening of his fourth term Franklin D. Roosevelt had reached what many believe was his greatest stature both as a man and as a political leader. On April 12 the strain of war finally overtook him, and he died at Warm Springs, Georgia–now a national monument.