What an incredible leader was Franklin D. Roosevelt. No matter how you feel about Democratic policies, I think all can agree that he did so much to help America recover from the Great Depression. What's amazing is that he didn't just try to offer physical or financial aid, he offered emotional aid. Taking advantage of radio technology, he spoke words of hope, confidence, and encouragement to the American people. From the Great Depression through WWII, this nation triumphed through some very dark times thanks in part to FDR.
In my most recent visit to Washington D.C., I discovered the FDR Memorial for the first time. I was blown away by the stoic beauty of the site. Each facet of the place begged for me to walk through and examine it all slowly. I especially loved the statues of the American people of the time. There is one that depicts several thin, desperate men lined up at a bread line for their food. My favorite was a more intimate sculpture depicting a blue-collar man (or a farmer, perhaps) sitting near his radio, leaning towards it, listening in earnest to the speeches of FDR.
Although Constitutional amendments now forbid any president from serving more than two terms, I think we can all agree that this four-term president was there when the country needed him most.Of course, his wife, Eleanor, was equally accomplished in her own right, but I choose to focus this particular post on Franklin because of my intent to focus on the presidents themselves.
I am grateful for Franklin D. Roosevelt.
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