Winston Churchill once said of him that meeting Franklin Roosevelt is like opening a bottle of fine champagne. His lineage was that of an American aristocrat. Roosevelt could claim a dozen of the passengers on the Mayflower as ancestors.
He came from a highly respected and very wealthy family. This gave him the opportunity to attend America’s finest institutions of higher learning. He did his pre- university studies at Groton, a prestigious private school and then it was on to a degree from Harvard. After graduating Roosevelt took up the practice of law in New York City. He soon made his debut on the political scene. At the age of twenty eight he pulled off a minor miracle. He won a seat in the New York State Senate in a district that hadn’t elected a Democrat in over four decades.
During Woodrow Wilson’s administration Roosevelt was appointed as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, the same position his distant cousin and former president Theodore Roosevelt had held twenty years earlier. In 1920 he was surprisingly nominated for Vice President on the Democratic Party ticket led by Ohio Governor James Cox. It was a Republican year and the Cox-Roosevelt ticket was trounced on Election Day. Although a setback for the Democrats, Roosevelt emerged as a political player on the national scene.
Fate intervened in the following year of 1921. He was diagnosed with poliomyelitis, a devastating disease that paralyzed him from the waist down. For most it would have put to rest any thoughts of a life in politics. As we know Roosevelt was indeed not like other men. With the strong encouragement of Louis Howe a close friend and confident, he pushed himself past his outer limits to regain some strength in his legs. With the help of grueling daily sessions he was able to walk a few steps with the help of crutches and leg braces. It is of note that Louis Howe was a Saratoga Springs resident for many years. He excelled as Roosevelt’s private secretary and was a highly respected member of his inner circle until his death in 1936.
Roosevelt soon had his sights set on returning to the political arena. In 1928 Al Smith, New York’s colorful Governor was chosen as the Presidential nominee on the Democratic Ticket. With Smith’s blessing Franklin was given the nod to run for Chief Executive of the Empire State. Although the GOP and Herbert Hoover won nationwide in a landslide, Roosevelt took his race in a close election. The landscape began to align for Roosevelt’s ascendancy to power. A sudden and severe depression overcame the country in 1929. President Hoover seemed to have no solution to the problem. Roosevelt’s time had come. He showcased his shrewd political skills in obtaining his party’s nomination for President in 1932. He embraced the song “Happy Days Are Here Again” as his campaign slogan. It gave the folks a glimmer of hope in desperate times. The election of that year was a resounding success for the Democratic Party. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was sworn in as our country’s 32nd President on March 4, 1933.
The Great Depression as it was called saw the unemployment rate hit a peak of twenty five percent in 1933. One had to live through it to understand the despair that the decade brought. Roosevelt was a calming force in leading the country through the calamity. His radio speeches known as “Fireside Chats” gave Americans hope that better times were ahead. He jumpstarted programs to get the country back on its feet. The Social Security Act of 1935 guaranteed a monthly check to senior citizens. The WPA enacted that same year opened Federal Government funded jobs for over eight million of the unemployed. Although the programs had some effect, it would take an unprovoked attack by the Japanese on our forces at Pearl Harbor to get the American economy back in full swing. The event would also lead to Franklin D Roosevelt’s finest hour.
He was now a wartime leader. His grasp of foreign affairs with our allies, and the delegation of authority within the government were instrumental in the smooth and successful transition to a war footing. In his role as Commander in Chief of the military he was superb. For four long years he steered the ship towards a successful outcome. Unfortunately, the presidency had taken its toll on Roosevelt. In April of 1945 at the age of sixty two, he passed into history at his retreat in Warm Springs, Georgia. The entire nation mourned for the man that had led them through both the Great Depression and the Second World War. He had more than earned their respect.
A DAY TRIP TO HYDE PARK
Franklin D Roosevelt resided at Hyde Park his entire adult life. The estate covers over one thousand acres overlooking the Hudson River. The Roosevelt residence known as Springwood is the focal point of the property. It is a Colonial Revival style Mansion that befits an American leader of the highest order.
One of the major events held there was the visit of King George VI and his Royal Consort Queen Mary in 1939 during the tumultuous times preceding the war. It strengthened the bond between the two countries at a monumental time in World history. Winston Churchill also visited Roosevelt here on two occasions during the war to discuss plans concerning the ongoing conflict.
The president, his wife Eleanor, and his beloved Scottish Terrier Fala are laid to rest in a shrub enclosed parklike setting a short walking distance from the main house. There is also a museum on the grounds that brings Roosevelt’s presidential years to life. One of the items on display is Roosevelt’s 1936 Ford convertible. It was fitted with hand controls that made it possible for him to take drives around the Hyde Park area.
Hyde Park is located two hours south of here. The estate is easily accessible by way of the Thruway and the Kingston-Rheinecliff bridge. It’s a short drive from the picturesque town of Rhinebeck. The historic village is a great place to stop for lunch and visit the shops that line the main street. One of the main attractions there is the Beekman Arms. It’s America’s oldest continuously operating inn. Those who have visited the property include our first president, George Washington and since then a host of famous personalities from around the world.
I hope you have enjoyed our look back at one of America’s greatest presidents. Taking a day trip to Hyde Park is a fascinating and worthwhile experience. Enjoy and safe travels.
