Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) was an extraordinary American President and great leader. In this paper, I am going to chronologically illustrate 6 of his most significant leadership qualities. Those being:
FDRs ability to learn quickly
His ability to quickly connect with the people of the country
His strong sense of self confidence
His sense of duty and desire to serve the public
His strong sense of character (when FDR said it you knew it to be true)
His clear vision of America and the role of our country in world affairs
FDR’s Presidency was filled with many great accomplishments that reflect his leadership qualities. He got our country out of one of the biggest problems it has ever been in, “The Great Depression.” He also led us through much of W.W.I.I. Through all of this the people of the United States loved him. That is why he was elected President for four terms, which was unheard of. This clearly illustrates his sense of duty and his ability to connect with the people in the most trying of times. He was the inspiration, the leader this country needed in times of despair. I am going to show how the 6 leadership qualities identified got to him to this position and made him successful.
Next, I will describe how FDR rose to the position of being one of the greatest presidents’ in our country’s history. It all began with his upbringing. Our country’s Thirty Second President was born on January 30, 1882 at his parents, James and Sara Ann Delano Roosevelt’s estate in Hyde Park, New York. FDR grew up in a very financially prosperous household. His upbringing is the perfect description of what you would imagine a wealthy family existence would be during the late 1800s. From an early age, FDR traveled quite often with his family and because of this did not attend school. He was tutored at home. In his childhood he did not spend much time with children his own age. He was surrounded by adults. Because of this he became very mature for his age and developed a strong sense of both self confidence and awareness of world affairs.
His formal schooling began in 1896, at the age of 14 when FDR was sent to the Groton School, which is a private, prestigious, preparatory boarding school in Groton, Massachusetts. This is when it was realized just how gifted he was and his leadership began to flourish. His self confidence and strength of character inspired his class mates and he began to rise to the top.
The next step in FDR’s formal education began at Harvard University in 1900. During his college years at Harvard he was a leader. His leadership skills and ability to quickly learn led to his selection as the Managing Editor of the school newspaper, The Harvard Crimson, in 1903. His involvement and especially his position as managing editor in The Harvard Crimson showed his sense of commitment.
The year 1903 was one of FDR’s significant years. It was in 1903 that he became engaged to his fifth cousin once removed, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, (Roosevelt was both her maiden name and her married one). They married two years later on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1905. Franklin and Eleanor had six children within the next 11 years. Franklin D. Roosevelt entered Columbia Law School in 1905; however, he left right after he passed the New York State Bar exam in 1907.
Just 3 years later, FDR started his political career when was asked to run as a Democrat for the state senate seat from Duchess County, New York in 1910. He worked extremely hard campaigning for that position that had been held by Republicans for a long time, and in the end he won. That election showed his perseverance as a leader, his sense of commitment, and his long rang vision for the United States and the people in his constituency. He was reelected in 1912 but FDR’s career as state senator was cut short when President Woodrow Wilson appointed him as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 1913. Just think, only eight years after leaving law school, his leadership qualities led to such a prestigious appointment.
Since the U.S was making preparations to join in World War One, Franklin’s position became even more important. In 1920, FDR was chosen to run as Vice President of the United States with Cox, and even though they lost the election, this shows Franklin’s desire as a leader to take on challenges and accept more responsibilities. Even though he lost, this quick rise to the top of the United States political position shows how FDR inspired everyone he came in contact with.
The summer of 1921 was a very significant year for FDR. At the age of 39, he became paralyzed and handicapped when he contracted polio. However, his leadership skills again prevailed. FDR faced his physical disability with courage, persistent determination, and hopefulness. FDR led our country with those strong character traits. He definitely demonstrated a strong sense of character and desire to serve the people of the United States.
When Franklin D. Roosevelt was asked to run for governor of New York in 1928, he had to determine if his body could withstand the strenuous campaign required to win this position. Refusing to let his physical disabilities hold him back he went for the position and won the election for Governor of New York in 1928, and was re-elected 1930.
The Great Depression hit the United States when Roosevelt was holding the position of Governor of the State of New York. President Herbert Hoover took only small, limited steps to solve this gigantic economic problem as average citizens lost their jobs and their savings. As a result of Hoover’s limited steps people became furious. American citizens were demanding change in the Presidential election of 1932 and FDR promised to deliver it to them. As a result of his promise, FDR was elected President of The United States of America in a landslide election. FDR really shined, he was extraordinary and clearly demonstrated each of the 6 leadership traits I previously listed.
Roosevelt’s first two terms as President were spent taking steps to help get the U.S out of the Great Depression. The first three months of his presidency, which are popularly known as “the first hundred days,” were extremely active. Roosevelt offered the “New Deal” to Americans immediately after he took office. FDR declared a “Bank Holiday” with the passing of the Emergency Banking Act of 1933. The purpose of the “Bank Holiday” was to strengthen the banks and reestablish confidence in the banking system. He also quickly created many agencies (such as the AAA, CCC, FERA, TVA, and TWA) to help offer people relief during these difficult times. FDR’s handling of the great depression showed that he was a great and creative problem solver, which is an extremely important leadership skill. It also greatly helped him gain tremendous support from the American people.
On March 12, 1933, just after a week in office, Roosevelt delivered his first Fireside Chat, in which he announced that the nation’s banks would reopen. The all of the banks had been closed with the Emergency Banking Act of 1933 which is popularly known as the “Bank Holiday,” because banks were failing by the masses. His address was so reassuring that over half a million letters were sent to the White House over the following week. This showed his charisma to connect with large numbers of American people. This “Fireside Chat” radio address, like the others that would follow it, helped calm citizens’ fears and worries, and instill confidence in the Government. Even though Franklin’s policies lessened the severity of the Great Depression, they did not bring it to an end.
The US would not get completely out of the Great Depression until WW II FDR ordered an increased production of war machinery and supplies, once World War II began in Europe, which put many people to work. FDR went against what his advisers suggested early in the war regarding his support for Britain. His actions in this case have shown that he was extremely self confident. After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Hawaii, Franklin answered the attack with his famous "a date which will live in infamy" speech and a formal declaration of war. FDR was one of the “Big Three” (Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin) as he led the US into World War II. Roosevelt won his fourth presidential election in 1944; however, he unfortunately did not live through it. Franklin Delano Roosevelt died from a massive cerebral hemorrhage on April 12, 1945 at the age of 63.
In summary, I have provided a chronological biographical description of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s life with emphasis on describing what I felt were his 6 most significant leadership qualities which were:
FDRs ability to learn quickly
His ability to quickly connect with the people of the country
His strong sense of self confidence
His sense of duty and desire to serve the public
His strong sense of character (when FDR said it you knew it to be true)
His clear vision of America and the role of our country in world affairs
FDR was a remarkable leader who brought our country through the most trying of times. I was inspired to learn just how great a person he was.
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