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born 1882 in Hyde Park in upstate New York

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came from the wealthy and aristocratic from the Hyde Park branch of the family

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parents provided him with the best education possible

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he attended Groton School in Groton, Massachusetts

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graduated in history at Harvard

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studied law at Columbia University

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1905 married a distant cousin, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt

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the niece of President Theodore Roosevelt

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had six children

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he began practicing at a New York law firm but politics was his main passion

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elected to the New York State Senate, but as a Democrat

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1912 supported Wilson's campaign

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William appointed him to the same post that had brought Theodore Roosevelt to prominence, Assistant Secretary of the Navy

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loved sailing

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specialized in the business side of naval administration

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1920 named Democrat candidate for the vice president, along with presidential hopeful, James Cox

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lost that election to Harding/Coolidge

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the United States retreated into isolationism

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FDR returned to private life

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1921 while vacationing at Campobello Island, he contracted polio

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in spite of all his efforts, he never regained the use of his legs

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with support of Eleanor and his political adviser, he resumed his political career

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after strenuous campaign in 1928, he was elected as governor of New York

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while the Great Depression was damaging President Hoover and the Republicans

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his efforts to combat it in New York enhanced his reputation

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1932 he won the presidency by seven million votes

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once elected, he faced the greatest crisis in American history since the Civil War

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urgent actions were needed to reverse the economic collapse

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these measures became his New Deal program

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during the first 100 days, he sent much legislation to congress

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saved millions from starvation

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involved the government directly in areas of social and economic life as never before

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1936 due to enormous popularity of the New Deal, he easily defeated Alf Landon (1887-1987)

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1939 outbreak of war in Europe

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had to increasingly concentrate on foreign affairs

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when Hitler attacked Poland

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immediately took measures to prepare for American involvement

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despite isolationist opposition

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1940 fall of France: increase preparations

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U.S. Congress enacted a draft for military service, FDR signed a lend-lease bill to help the nations at war with Germany and Italy

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he believed America must become the arsenal of democracy

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the last defense of world freedom

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1941 Pearl Harbor attack

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made many decisions on war-time strategy

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created a Grand Alliance against the Axis Powers

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FDR, Churchill, Stalin

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the unending stress of the war wore Roosevelt out

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1944 strict diet and heavy medication

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successfully campaigned for a fourth presidential term

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April 1945 in Georgia, suffered stroke

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died at the age of 63

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his death came on the eve of complete military victory for the United States