I am not a student of American history, and yet I have always been fascinated with one of America’s greatest statesman, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, also known as FDR.
Some years back, while on a sightseeing tour of the White House, I picked up this print of FDR, the original portrait of which hangs in the White House.
A brief history on the man himself: FDR served as the 32nd President of the United States, and was the only president to be elected four times and served from March 1933 to his death in April 1945. FDR will forever be remembered as the architect of the New Deal – a variety of programs designed to produce relief, recovery, and reform to these great United States just coming out of the Great Depression. By way of example, we owe the massive infrastructure of the US interstate roadway system that connects all four corners of the United States directly to FDR.
FDR was also a world leader who worked closely with British Prime Minister Winston Churchhill, and the Soviet Union’s Stalin in leading the allies against Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Japan in World War II.
He achieved all this despite his physical disability – and yet, energized by his personal victory over polio, FDR’s persistent optimism and activism unequivocally defined the great country that the United States has become.
I brought home this print, framed it, and it found its way into my study. Needless to say, I find the man and his legacy deeply inspiring, and I feel great pride in calling myself American, thanks to the likes of him.
I look forward to the miniseries on PBS that is to air in two short weeks on the life and times of FDR. I hope and trust that you will tune In too!
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