Franklin Delano Roosevelt Charismatic Leadership

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Franklin Delano Roosevelt Charismatic Leadership
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Basic Biography

• Born 1882
• Graduated from Harvard, 1904
• Married Eleanor Roosevelt (niece of Theodore
  Roosevelt), 1905
• Elected to New York legislature, 1910-1913
• Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1913-1920
• Nominated for Vice-President, 1920
• Stricken with polio, 1921 recovery at Warm
  Springs
• Governor of New York, 1928-1932
• President of U.S., 1933-1945
• Great Depression and New Deal
• World War II
• Died in Warm Springs, April 12, 1945

All photographs (except as noted) from Franklin
D. Roosevelt Library, Museum, and Digital
Archives, http//www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/
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The Growth of a Leader

• Childhood a life of wealth and privilege
• Family connections to to political leaders (birth
  and marriage)
• Early ambitions to follow in footsteps of his
  uncle by marriage
• Marriage to TRs niece
• Cabinet position as Asst. Secretary of Navy (also
  held by TR)
• Early run for Vice-President
• Perceived as a lightweight
• Then..

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Polio

• FDR contracted polio while on vacation at
  Campobello (Maine coast)
• Despite years of treatment (Warm Springs), never
  regained ability to walk
• With heavy braces, could simulate walking
• Minimized disability only two existing pictures
  of FDR in wheelchair
• Many credit battle with polio for FDRs sympathy
  with people

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Becoming a Charismatic Leader

• Times of crisis (Depression, WWII)
• Radical solutions
• New Deal (public employment, banking regulation,
  etc.)
• Solutions accepted by most (but not all)
• Giving hope to people
• Inaugural address
• Fireside chats
• Eleanor Roosevelt
• Projected confidence, but also willing to try
  anything

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The Crisis Economic
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The Crisis War
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