Franklin D. Roosevelt: Powerful
2023-10-01
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1VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents.
2Today we are talking about Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
3He was related to an earlier president with same last name, Theodore Roosevelt.
4Many Americans call Franklin Roosevelt by the first letter of each word in his full name: FDR.
5When FDR took office, the United States was in a severe economic depression.
6The previous president, Herbert Hoover, had tried to improve the economy, but his efforts had failed.
7FDR defeated Hoover in the election of 1932. He won, in part, by promising what he called a "new deal" for Americans.
8Voters did not know what FDR's "new deal" meant exactly, but many liked his message of hope.
9Voters also did not know how much FDR would change the country.
10He remained in office for 12 years - the longest of any U.S. president - and led the country through the Great Depression and most of World War II.
11Along the way, he changed the way government affected Americans' lives, and the job of the U.S. president.
12Franklin Roosevelt was born on a large estate in New York, about 140 kilometers outside New York City.
13He was the only child of wealthy parents.
14His mother and father made sure he had an excellent education.
15As a young man he attended a private high school, and then Harvard College in Massachusetts.
16He also studied law at Columbia University in New York.
17Young FDR was not an excellent student, however.
18He was interested in many things outside the classroom, including politics and girls.
19Two of FDR's interests came together in a young woman named Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, who went by the name Eleanor.
20She was the niece of a politician FDR greatly respected: President Theodore Roosevelt.
21On the day when Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt were married, Theodore Roosevelt attended the ceremony.
22In fact, he walked with his niece in front of the guests to her future husband.
23Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt went on to have six children, although one died as a baby.
24While Eleanor Roosevelt raised the children, Franklin Roosevelt directed his attention to politics.
25He left a job in a law office to serve in the New York state senate.
26In time, he was offered a job in the federal government as an assistant secretary of the Navy.
27FDR enjoyed the job, but he continued seeking other political positions.
28He tried unsuccessfully for a seat in the U.S. Senate, but did get nominated by the Democratic Party to be its vice presidential candidate in 1920.
29Although he and his partner lost the race, FDR seemed like he was in a good position for major political success.
30But then something unexpected happened.
31When he was 39 years old, FDR suffered major health problems.
32One day he started to feel a pain in his back.
33The following day his legs grew tired. Then his skin became sensitive.
34By the end of the week, both his legs were paralyzed.
35He could not move from the waist down. He remained paralyzed for the rest of his life.
36The next years were difficult for the Roosevelts.
37Eleanor and the children helped care for FDR.
38And he worked hard to recover some of his strength and physical abilities, especially by exercising.
39While he remained hopeful about his condition, FDR worried about his political career.
40He did not think the public would accept a leader who could not even walk by himself. So he took several measures.
41He created a small wheelchair that would not get too much attention.
42It was made from a dining room chair, with wheels instead of legs.
43He refused to let photographers take pictures of him being carried or struggling to move, and he found a way to appear as if he were walking.
44He used a cane or the arm of a partner to balance, and then he swung his hips to make his legs move forward.
45Using this method, FDR "walked" to the stage at the 1924 Democratic National Convention.
46He used the event to nominate the governor of New York for president.
47That man's bid did not succeed.
48But FDR showed himself to still be an able politician.
49Four years later, FDR himself was elected governor of New York.
50He held the position in the early years of the country's economic crisis.
51In 1932, FDR was a candidate for president.
52He took the unusual step of appearing in person at the Democratic convention to accept his party's nomination.
53His campaign was such a success that the Democrats took not only the White House, but majorities in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
54The strength of the Democratic Party in Congress would help FDR become one of the most powerful presidents the country had ever seen.
55Next week we will continue our story of FDR and his presidency.
56I'm Kelly Jean Kelly.
1VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents. 2Today we are talking about Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He was related to an earlier president with same last name, Theodore Roosevelt. Many Americans call Franklin Roosevelt by the first letter of each word in his full name: FDR. 3When FDR took office, the United States was in a severe economic depression. The previous president, Herbert Hoover, had tried to improve the economy, but his efforts had failed. 4FDR defeated Hoover in the election of 1932. He won, in part, by promising what he called a "new deal" for Americans. 5Voters did not know what FDR's "new deal" meant exactly, but many liked his message of hope. 6Voters also did not know how much FDR would change the country. He remained in office for 12 years - the longest of any U.S. president - and led the country through the Great Depression and most of World War II. 7Along the way, he changed the way government affected Americans' lives, and the job of the U.S. president. 8Early life 9Franklin Roosevelt was born on a large estate in New York, about 140 kilometers outside New York City. He was the only child of wealthy parents. 10His mother and father made sure he had an excellent education. As a young man he attended a private high school, and then Harvard College in Massachusetts. He also studied law at Columbia University in New York. 11Young FDR was not an excellent student, however. He was interested in many things outside the classroom, including politics and girls. 12Two of FDR's interests came together in a young woman named Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, who went by the name Eleanor. She was the niece of a politician FDR greatly respected: President Theodore Roosevelt. 13On the day when Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt were married, Theodore Roosevelt attended the ceremony. In fact, he walked with his niece in front of the guests to her future husband. 14Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt went on to have six children, although one died as a baby. 15While Eleanor Roosevelt raised the children, Franklin Roosevelt directed his attention to politics. 16He left a job in a law office to serve in the New York state senate. In time, he was offered a job in the federal government as an assistant secretary of the Navy. 17FDR enjoyed the job, but he continued seeking other political positions. He tried unsuccessfully for a seat in the U.S. Senate, but did get nominated by the Democratic Party to be its vice presidential candidate in 1920. 18Although he and his partner lost the race, FDR seemed like he was in a good position for major political success. 19But then something unexpected happened. 20Illness and return to politics 21When he was 39 years old, FDR suffered major health problems. One day he started to feel a pain in his back. The following day his legs grew tired. Then his skin became sensitive. 22By the end of the week, both his legs were paralyzed. He could not move from the waist down. He remained paralyzed for the rest of his life. 23The next years were difficult for the Roosevelts. Eleanor and the children helped care for FDR. And he worked hard to recover some of his strength and physical abilities, especially by exercising. 24While he remained hopeful about his condition, FDR worried about his political career. He did not think the public would accept a leader who could not even walk by himself. So he took several measures. 25He created a small wheelchair that would not get too much attention. It was made from a dining room chair, with wheels instead of legs. 26He refused to let photographers take pictures of him being carried or struggling to move, and he found a way to appear as if he were walking. He used a cane or the arm of a partner to balance, and then he swung his hips to make his legs move forward. 27Using this method, FDR "walked" to the stage at the 1924 Democratic National Convention. He used the event to nominate the governor of New York for president. 28That man's bid did not succeed. But FDR showed himself to still be an able politician. 29Four years later, FDR himself was elected governor of New York. He held the position in the early years of the country's economic crisis. 30In 1932, FDR was a candidate for president. He took the unusual step of appearing in person at the Democratic convention to accept his party's nomination. 31His campaign was such a success that the Democrats took not only the White House, but majorities in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. 32The strength of the Democratic Party in Congress would help FDR become one of the most powerful presidents the country had ever seen. 33Next week we will continue our story of FDR and his presidency. 34I'm Kelly Jean Kelly. 35Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 36______________________________________________________________ 37______________________________________________________________ 38Words in This Story 39estate - n. a large piece of land with a large house on it 40niece - n. a daughter of your brother or sister 41paralyzed - adj. unable to move or feel all or part of the body 42swing - v. to move backward and forward or from side to side while hanging from something 43stage - n. a raised platform in a theater or auditorium where the performers stand