Why Did I Choose Franklin D. Roosevelt?

I chose Franklin D. Roosevelt because he was a central figure in world events during the 20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic depression and total war. His New Deal involved the great expansion of the role of the federal government in the economy. In the state election of 1910, Roosevelt ran for the New York State Senate from the district around Hyde Park in Dutchess County. The local party chose him as a paper candidate because his Republican cousin Theodore was still one of the country's most prominent politicians, and a Democratic Roosevelt was good publicity; the candidate could also pay for his own campaign. Surprising almost everyone, due to his aggressive and effective campaign, the Roosevelt name's influence in the Hudson Valley and he won the election. The Roosevelt family was the oldest Dutch families left in New York, became very prosperous in real estate and trade. FDR was born in January 30, 1882 in the Hudson Valley town of Hyde Park, New York to businessman James Roosevelt I and Sara Ann Delano who was didn’t want her son in politics. Franklin had a half brother named James from his father's previous relationship. Roosevelt grew up privileged getting to meet President Grover Cleveland at five years old in the White House, Cleveland told Franklin "I have one wish for you, little man, that you will never be President of the United States.” Roosevelt attended Groton School, an Episcopal boarding school in Massachusetts; 90% of the students were from families on the social register. He was strongly influenced by its headmaster, who preached the duty of Christians to help the less fortunate and urged his students to enter public service. Roosevelt went to Harvard College, where he lived in a suite which is now part of Adam's House, in the "Gold Coast" area populated by wealthy students. Again an average student academically, Roosevelt later declared, "I took economics courses in college for four years, and everything I was taught was wrong." Roosevelt graduated from Harvard in 1903 with an A.B. in history. He later received an honorary LL.D. from Harvard in 1929. Roosevelt entered Columbia Law School in 1904, dropping out in 1907 after passing the New York State Bar exam. While he was at Harvard, his fifth cousin Theodore "T. R." Roosevelt, Jr. became President of the United States; his vigorous leadership style and reforming zeal made him Franklin's role model and hero. The younger Roosevelt remained a Democrat, campaigning for Theodore's opponent William Jennings Bryan. He later received a posthumous J.D. from Columbia Law School. In 1908, he took a job with the prestigious Wall Street firm of Carter Ledyard & Milburn, dealing mainly with corporate law. On March 17, 1905 FDR married Eleanor …show more content…
Roosevelt served for 4 terms as the Democratic nomination. Franklin’s first Vice President was John Nance Garner, second president, John Nance Garner was vice president, the third term president was Henry Agard Wallace, and the fourth term president was Harry S. Truman. Roosevelt’s presidency included numerous events including WWII, the Great Depression, New Deal, National Recovery Act, attack on Pearl Harbor, Yalta Conference. Endicott Peabody and Theodore Roosevelt became an important influence because they instilled in him a strong sense of civic