FDR, the early years

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FDR, the early years

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How do our experiences affect how we act in life?
Are some more drastic than others?

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Family deep in US History

• -Roosevelt grew up a fairly privileged life.
• -His father was good friends w/ George McClellan,
  a civil war general
• -His great-great Grandfather was a patriot,
  fought in the rev. war, and was good friends with
  Alexander Hamilton
• -Father contributed to Grover Clevelands
  campaign, FDR met him while he was in office as a
  small boy
• -Cleveland said to him I am making a strange
  wish for you. It is that you may never be
  president of the United States

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Rich Boy, Big Values

• Most kids who grew up with the kind of privilege
  that FDR had would end up arrogant, and spoiled,
  but FDR dodged that bullet.
• Parents raised him to be a gentleman, to be kind,
  and considerate for others.
• He also learned not to complain, and accept
  things in life. This would help later

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Schoolin

• -FDR went to Havard, then Columbia Law School, as
  was expected of him
• -His parents expected him to take an easy life,
  after all, his family was ridiculously rich.
• -It wasnt in his nature to take it easy, even in
  college he wrote letters to southern colleges to
  tell them that they should incorporate African
  American students as well
• -He got this drive from his favorite cousin,
  Teddy Roosevelt

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TRs affect on FDR

• -FDR loved to spend time with his older cousin
  and his kids in their home in Long Island.
• -Teddy, always the energetic one, loved playing
  w/ FDR and his kids in his huge yard.
• -FDR knew he wanted to grow up to be just like
  his cousin
• -TR taught him to care about people less
  fortunate then himself, and taught him to try to
  make the world better for everyone.

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Into politics he goes!

• -Easily found himself elected as a NY state
  senator.
• -Shortly thereafter, Woodrow Wilson named him the
  secretary of the Navy.
• -in 1920, he ran with James as vice president,
  but lost.
• -Even though he lost, he still made a name for
  himself for future elections.

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FDRs adult life

• Before he knew it.. He was living the dream he
  had of being like FDR, strong, tall, muscular,
  popular.
• He had a busy wife, a daughter, and four sons.
• He was also very active with his kids
• He was very much on track to be president

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Illness strikes

• -One night FDR went to be, not feeling so great
• -When he woke up the next morning, he couldnt
  move
• -He was only 39 years old, and was struck w/
  polio.. A disease that usually affects young
  children. it is sometimes called infantile
  paralysis.
• -Initially, he couldnt move at all

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Fighting back

• -Through several years of slow and pain therapy,
  FDR regained the use of his upper body.
• -When he walked it was with heavy braces on and
  long painful steps
• -Franklin refused to not live a normal life, he
  still had ambitions in life.
• -Some people saw problems, he saw challenges

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Effect on him

• -It gave him focus, made him more determined.
• -Made him realize there was very little he
  couldnt overcome.
• -Regardless, he kept his light spirts, and easy
  going manner about him

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Rehab

• -FDRs rehab mostly consisted of swimming and
  weight lifting.
• -He had to learn to manipulate and move around
  seven pound braces on each leg.
• -His slim torso became muscular and powerful.
• -He took a 7 year hiatus from politics to
  recuperate.
• -He kept his inner feelings on the inside, would
  let people know things were bothering him.
• His disease made him a smarter, stronger, and
  more serious person, he was no longer the amateur
  and happy go lucky guy he was before, he was
  changed for the good.

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Running for President

• -FDR didnt want anyone to know he was
  handicapped.
• -He had Henry Ford built a Model A with hand
  controls so he could drive.
• -He had his upper body straight so he could hold
  himself up at a podium.
• -He promised American a New Deal when it came
  the Depression.
• -Hoover didnt stand a chance.
• -Roosevelt won 42 of 48 states.