How Franklin Roosevelt’s Influence is Still Felt Today.
There have been many influential presidents during the history of our nation. A few examples include George Washington who led our country through the revolutionary war and our nation’s first president. There was also Abraham Lincoln who led us through the Civil War. However our most influential president is Franklin D. Roosevelt. During Franklin Roosevelt’s years in the oval office he would lead our country through one of the toughest times during the 20th century enduring the great depression and World War II. His influence on the United States and the world still exist today with charities he started, federal laws in effect still to this day and how he affected world affairs.
Franklin Roosevelt had a major influence on two support programs still going today, the USO and the March of Dimes organizations. While Roosevelt was in office he had decided to form an organization which would handle on-leave recreation needs for members of the U.S. armed forces. He challenged six civilian agencies- the YMCA, YWCA, National Catholic Community Service, the National Jewish Welfare Board, the Traveler’s Aid Association, and the Salvation Army. Roosevelt was the first honorary chairman of the USO, a position accepted by every President who followed him. The USO is still active to this day with music stars, television and movie stars and stand up comedians providing entertainment for our troops abroad. The second charity Roosevelt founded was the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation, today known as the March of Dimes. During his early 20’s while on vacation, Roosevelt contracted poliomyelitis. During his battle with the illness he never regained the use of his legs. He was mostly confined to a wheelchair and at times was able to walk with the assistance of braces or a cane. During his battle with polio he found strength and courage he had not known existed. The foundation