Franklin Roosevelt became one of the most successful presidents in U.S. history due to the three character traits of optimism, perseverance, and leadership. Roosevelt's optimistic attitude gave Americans hope to keep fighting through the Great Depression and World War Two, were most Americans were ready to give up. Jean Smith presents this idea when he quotes Roosevelt in his Presidential Biography FDR writing, “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 only thing to fear is fear itself… The effect of the speech was electrifying, the praise all but unanimous. No one doubted that a new era had begun” (Smith 302-303). Franklin Roosevelt lit the fire back …show more content…
One of his greatest feats of leadership was when he first became president he started a program called the New Deal were he totally reshaped the economic system in the United States eventually getting America out of the Great Depression. Franklin Roosevelt also joined forces with Britain and the Soviet Union to help stop the axis powers in World War Two. Despite the hardships of his presidency Roosevelt overcame them and became one of the most influential presidents in American history through the character traits of optimism, persistence, and leadership. Although Franklin Roosevelt was a great President nobody is perfect and due to that Roosevelt did have some traits that made him a weaker president these included being dominant and unethical. On February 5, 1937, Franklin Roosevelt Revealed his controversial plan to allow the president to appoint an additional Supreme Court justice to any current Supreme Court Justice Member that was over the age of seventy. With six new Supreme Court Justices picked by Roosevelt, he would be able to control the Supreme Court to pass his New Deal Legislations. Jean Smith writes about this issue in his biography FDR when he says, “FDR overplayed his hand. To attack the court was wrongheaded to persist after the cause was won was petulant. Roosevelt paid dearly. Not only did he squander public support, but the Court fracas ruptured the Democratic party” (Smith 390). Roosevelt's fight against the Supreme Court ended badly not
Since the founding of the United States of America, many presidents have worked tirelessly in their posts to change our country for the better. Some have seen abounding success, while others have met a slow decline from glory. Of all of these generally noble and brave men, one especially has stood out; Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a remarkable idealist of a man and an amazing vehicle for change in America. While in office, this dignified man demonstrated many positive qualities, such as unrelenting optimism, heartfelt concern for both the populace and the land of America, and fierce determination to accomplish his goals.
The President of the United States of America often faces many challenges in his work of area as a leader. More often than not, these powerful chiefs have very notable characteristics that help them overcome those problems. In the past, Presidents have had to be headstrong, brave, the ability to be empathetic towards their people, and many more. Today, our country holds a rich diversity of civilians from many nations. Some may be here illegally, but they are here. In our present times, we need a new president to represent the new generation of Americans, and with that comes a variety of characteristics that will lead our new and improved country.
Franklin D. Roosevelt became the thirty-second president of the U.S. in 1933. He was one of the most skillful political leaders and it showed as he led the people out of the Great Depression. The U.S. was in a state of depression when Roosevelt took office, but through his New Deal program, the federal government became much more involved socially and economically in peoples' lives in contrast to its traditionally passive role. The government's responsibilities in peoples' lives changed and individuals' responsibilities changed too. The role of the government in peoples' lives expanded greatly during the New Deal era.
Much of Roosevelt's success was a result of his cheerful personality. Beginning with his inaugural address- in which he assured the American people that "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself"- he projected an infectious optimism that helped alleviate the growing despair.
In November, 1936, FDR was given a second chance at presidency by an overwhelmingly large majority vote. After he experienced the disapproval by the Supreme Court, Roosevelt took matters into his own hands, and created a “court-packing” plan, which stated that for every justice above the age of 70, he was allowed one new justice – of his approval, meaning that he (female justices were not present in the Supreme Court just yet) would pass all acts that Roosevelt created. After this act, he placed 5 new justices on the Supreme Court, bringing the overall make up of justices in his favor3. Many citizens thought this was Roosevelt’s way of increasing the executive power, and portraying a dictatorship-like government, claiming that “Stalin had governed his country for 17 exacting years, Roosevelt his for 12 years nearly as exacting” (168)5. Franklin Delano Roosevelt finished 3 terms as president, and died of a cerebral hemorrhage during his 4th, putting Harry Truman, his Vice President at the time, in charge.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was a well-educated, controversial leader that made a lasting impression on the United States of America. He was extremely effective in office due to several strong attributes he possessed. Roosevelt was the only president to serve more than two consecutive terms in office, and he even captured a fourth term before he died. The continuous reelections would prove that Franklin Roosevelt was a man of the people for the people. Franklin Roosevelt’s leadership skills guided the United States through two major events in the country’s history. He guided the country through the Great Depression in the 1930s and the majority of World War II. Franklin Roosevelt would have a major impact on the United States economy and people. Roosevelt would create plans and programs to get the country and its people back on track during hard times. The United States would become a global super power after World War II. The leadership skills that Roosevelt utilized allowed him to become one to the greatest presidents in history. Even through Roosevelt was one of the greatest Presidents, he still had his critics that questioned the outcomes of his plans when looking at the future of the United States.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was a man who besides his intelligence, charm and strong confidence, he was able to sustain the nation through the most overbearing crisis know as the Great Depression as well as World War II. While managing to stay optimistic, Franklin Roosevelt helped people regain faith in themselves. Despite all the chaos going on at the time, “he was met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory (pg. 90).” He was praised for pushing the government to help those who were underprivileged. This was a new beginning in time for Americans known as the New Deal. He told the country to live by; “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself (pg 90).” Franklin Roosevelt made a very
He was good with knowing when to attack. He always found the right time and place to make an action. He liked to plan ahead because this gave him the edge to breaking the monopoly or trust. He never gave up on breaking a trust or a monopoly. Even after he failed he never gave up. He tried everything he could to break trusts and monopolies. Roosevelt tried to use his Presidential powers to break trusts and monopolies. He made laws to make it easier for him to break trusts and monopolies. He tried to use all his presidential powers by making laws. Roosevelt passed 6 laws to make it easier for him as a president, and as a “trust buster.” One of the specific laws he passed was called the Sherman Act. This law declared illegal for all combinations “in restraint of trade.” This law ultimately failed because whenever he tried to use it in court the judge either just denied it or the judge found a way around it. This means that the Sherman Act did not help Roosevelt break any trades or monopolies. Roosevelt was looking for a major monopoly to break, and he came across J.P. Morgan. Roosevelt came at this case aggressively because he really wanted to take down this monopoly. J.P. Morgan controlled a large chunk of railroads, and railroad shipping in the northern U.S. with a company known as the Northern Securities. Morgan was one of the most wealthy men in the U.S. because of his one large monopoly. One morning Morgan’s phone rang, and when he found out that Roosevelt was attacking his business he was very angry. Morgan was angry because Roosevelt was treating like a common criminal, Morgan ended up going to the white house and a compromise had to be found in court. Roosevelt ended up breaking his first major monopoly
Franklin Roosevelt was a major key In World War 2, for example Franklin Delano Roosevelt was commonly known as FDR, was an American statesman and political leader who served as the 32nd President of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. His program for relief, recovery, and reform, known as the New Deal, involved a great expansion of the federal government's role in the economy. As a dominant leader of the Democratic Party, he built the New Deal Coalition that brought together and united labor unions, big city machines, white ethnics, African Americans, and rural white Southerners in support of the party. The Coalition significantly realigned American politics after 1932, creating the Fifth Party System and defining American
Roosevelt’s many accomplishments as President of the United States ensure his place in American history. He transformed the American nation into the modern welfare state known today, enabling the United States to better care for its citizens. Roosevelt led American opinion from profound isolationism to an acceptance of and support for the eventual entry of the United States into the Second World War. As a war leader, Roosevelt made sound strategic choices; these decisions for men to run the machinery of war were excellent. Roosevelt communicated effectively with Allied leaders, especially Churchill and Stalin (the Big Three), maintaining the confidence of the forces under his command. Thus, the morale was high for the American public at large. Even after his death, Roosevelt created the circumstances that enabled succeeding Presidents to complete the allied victory in the Second World War. Roosevelt mastered the American political system as no
Whether or not you agreed with his policies Franklin Delano Roosevelt was a very effective leader. When he became president the country was in the worst economic turmoil it has ever seen. Couple that with his diagnosis of polio he received at the age of 39 that left him handicapped and leading the country when we were fighting the greatest war that has ever been fought you can see that this wasn’t a president that had the luxury of leading while the country was at peace. He had arguably one of the toughest presidencies, a presidency that required strong leadership and determination in order for the country to become successful.
Roosevelt's pledge to his constituents as well as his political prowess and strong-willed demeanor placed hopes in the hearts of Americans. On the eve of his inauguration night alone, "Roosevelt told the nation that `the only thing we have to fear is fear itself and promised effective leadership in the crisis (Rosen)." Furthermore, throughout his four terms in office, FDR sensing that the American people needed guidance as well as comfort continued to aggressively lead the United States out of the Depression and later on persisted with his unique style of leadership as he was forced to take his constituents to war. During his time as president, Roosevelt's America was in a crisis and like most other nations throughout the world, in the same predicament; it thirsted for an exceptionally good leader with a superior moral compass and determination that was willing to take charge and point the way to a brighter future.
Historians and scholars have often debated the success and failures of Franklin Roosevelt’s presidency since 1945. A number of scholars argue that he created jobs, boosted the economy, and helped America get back onto the road of becoming a great nation. On the other hand, it can be argued that his plans and ideas to create jobs only lasted for the short term and his acts created long-term problems. This paper will discuss Roosevelt’s life, his reforms, and both the positive or negative outcome those actions had on America. However, it must be stated, for the struggles America was going through, and the perseverance they held to triumph over their trials, was in part due to Roosevelt’s boundless leadership as president. Franklin Delano
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) was a man of unusual charm and great optimism, which he was able to communicate to others. He had a broad smile and was a charismatic optimist whose confidence helped sustain the nation through its darkest moments during crisis like the Great Depression and World War II. He became one of the most beloved of U.S. presidents for four terms in office. But beneath his outward friendliness was an inner reserve and an iron will. His admirers emphasized the way in which he met the nation's problems. They praised him for insisting that the federal government must help the underprivileged and that the United States must share in the responsibility for preserving world
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” This famous quote was said by none other than Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States. FDR was born on January 30th, 1882 in Hyde Park, New York. Roosevelt was born into a very wealthy family and grew up with many privileges that others did not have. He was the only child and was given private tutors and governesses until he was 14 years old. Everything in the Roosevelt household revolved around Franklin. He even attended the Groton School for Boys, which was an Episcopal preparatory school in Massachusettes. FDR was definitely a people pleaser and teacher’s pet. He looked up to, Endicott Peabody, the headmaster of the school who thought that helping the less fortunate