Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the most memorable and accomplished US president despite his disability. He was born January 30, 1882 in Hyde Park, New York. FDR also grew up in Hyde Park and lived a privileged life. He went to high school at a private school called Groton and graduated in 1900. He went to Harvard and edited the “Crimson”. He graduated in 1903. He went to Columbia Law School in 1904 and graduated in 1907. Soon after, he fell madly in love with his sixth cousin, Eleanor Roosevelt. Her father, President Theodore Roosevelt gave her away at their wedding in 1905. They had six children total, including their first child who died at infancy. Their first child’s name was Anna Roosevelt. She was born in 1906 and died at age 69 in 1975. Their first son joined the world in 1907 and was named James. He died at age 84 in 1991. Their second son, Franklin Delano, Jr. was born in 1909 and died sometime later that year. FDR and Eleanor brought Elliott, their third son, into the world in 1910. He died at age 80 in 1990. Their fourth son was born in 1914 and was named Franklin Delano, Jr. as well. He passed away at age 74 in 1988. Their last child was born in 1916 and passed away at 65 in 1981. His name was John. In 1910, FDR was elected to the New York State Legislature. There, he made a name for himself as a reformer who favored the "average guy" over big business and rooted for an honest government. In 1913, he was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy and served under Josephus Daniels and President Woodrow Wilson. He began an affair with his wife’s social secretary, Lucy Mercer. Eleanor discovered the affair and together, the couple decided to save the marriage. However, they never shared the intimacies of a married couple again. On August 25, 1921, he was diagnosed with poliomyelitis at age 39. FDR’s polio diagnosis was difficult to come to. On August 9, 1921, he fell into the cold waters of the Bay of Fundy while boating on vacation in Campobello Island