Franklin Delano Roosevelt free essay sample

Russell Freedman (born in 1929 in San Francisco) began his writing career as a reporter and editor for the San Francisco bureau of The Associated Press. This experience, he says, â€Å"taught him to need deadlines and to respect fact (Book),† He later on moved to New York City where he worked as a publicity writer for the network television. This job taught him the importance of capturing and holding the readers interest. Freedman is one of the greatest biographer and author of nearly 50 books for young people. In 1988 he received the John Newberry Medal for this book Lincoln: A Photobiography. He also received the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal for his lifelong contribution contribution to children’s literature. He currently lives in New York City He received one of the 2007 National Humanities Medals. Other scholars who have viewed Russell Freedman’s work said that he is one of the greatest biographers ever. Some have said he is the greatest because of all the different types of works he published. His nonfiction books range in subject from the lives and behaviors of animals to people in history whose impact is still felt today. Scholar’s said that Freedman’s technique on the way he writes his books is very unique. He uses compelling photographs to illustrate his work. One scholar said that Freedman’s technique was to immerse himself in his topic, learning everything he can about the person or subject, and then to complete pain staking research in photography archives in order to find just the right pictures to illustrate his story. His Lincoln: A photobiography one of the greatest works he done. Roosevelt was a more difficult subject than Lincoln. Roosevelt’s most significant years spanned two historical Cataclysms (the Depression and WWII). The abundance of material available about Roosevelt presents a formidable challenge to any biographer. That’s why this book was a challenge to Freedman. Franklin D. Roosevelt was born in Hyde Park, New York on January 30th, 1882, the son of James Roosevelt and Sara Delano Roosevelt. His parents and private tutors provided all of Franklin’s formative education. Franklin was born into a wealthy family that had it all because the Roosevelt estate occupied hundreds of acres of rolling farmland along the wooded bluffs of the Hudson, just South of the Village of Hyde Park, New York. Sara Delano Roosevelt once said,† His father and I always expected a great deal of Franklin†¦After all, he had many advantages that other boys did not have (pg. 7). † This points out that he was born into wealth so he would grow up rich. It says that he was an only child and that someday he would inherit Springwood. His family belonged to an exclusive and privileged class. The Roosevelt’s had a coat of arms and a Dutch Bible that recorded more than two centuries of family births, weddings and deaths. Returning to his parents, Sara Delano, Franklin’s mother, had grown up on a Hudson River estate not far from Hyde Park. She was twenty-six years old when she married James Roosevelt, a widower exactly twice her ago. When Franklin was born he was â€Å"a splendid large baby boy, he weighs 10lbs. without clothes (pg. 8),† his father noted in his diary. James Roosevelt was vice-president of several corporations, but he spent most of his time managing his property at Springwood, leading the life of a dignified country gentleman. Though he was old enough to be Franklin’s grandfather, he had a very close and enjoyable relationship with his son. James taught his son how to swim and skate, how to ride a horse and handle a boat. Sometime James would pass his limit, once while tobogganing with Franklin one winter, James Sprained his knee and Sara had to call the men to drag him up the hill. Now turning to his education as I mentioned earlier his parents and private tutors took care of his education in other words he has home school. His mother hired governess and tutors who taught him Latin, French and Germany along with history, geography, science and arithmetic. Every moment of his day was scheduled- up at seven, breakfast at eight, lessons with his governess from nine to noon. An hour for play, then lunch and more lessons until four. Franklin also had tennis lessons, piano lessons and dancing lessons. He also had a passion for photography and for sailing. We can say that when he was growing up he was a bright, self-confident boy, affectionate and outgoing, â€Å"as cheerful as a finch,† his governess said. At the age of fourteen Roosevelt attended Groton, a prestigious preparatory school in Massachusetts between the years (1896-1900). Then he went on to Harvard University where in only three years (1900-1903) he received a BA degree in history. Franklin next studied law at New York’s Columbia University. When he passed the bar examination in 1907 he left the school without a degree. That’s when he decided to marry Ana Eleanor Roosevelt, his fifth cousin once removed. They had 5 children all together one died so only four were left. Franklin had passed his bar exams in the spring of 1907. He went to work for a prominent Wall Street law firm, Carter, Ledyard and Milburn. He wanted to go on to politics; he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his cousin Teddy, who had risen from the New York State legislature to the White House. Franklin’s chance â€Å"came in 1910, when Democratic leaders from his own Dutchess County invited Franklin to run for the New York State Senate from the Twenty-Sixth District, an area that included Hyde Park. Like his father, Franklin was a registered Democrat. Yet the Twenty-sixth District was solidly Republican. Franklin was offered the nomination because he came from a prominent local family and was wealthy enough to finance his own campaign. But no one thought he could win (pg. 30). † So he was elected to the New York State Senate as a Democrat. He became the leader of a group of insurgent Democrats who prevented the Tammy candidate, William F. Sheehan, from being chosen for the U. S. Senate. † Roosevelt allied himself with Woodrow Wilson in election of 1912. Because of his efforts Woodrow Wilson appointed his Assistant Secretary of the Navy; he held that position from 1913 to 1920. In 1920 he ran as a Vice presidential nominee with James M. Cox who lost over whelmingly to Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge. The summer after Vacationing at Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Roosevelt contracted â€Å"poliomyelitis† (infantile paralysis). After that he never regained the use of his legs. In 1927, â€Å"he formed the nonprofit Georgia Warm Springs Foundation (Pg. 61),† to help other polio victims. Polio victims, many of them children, came to the center from all over the world. Then in July 1932, Roosevelt was chosen by the Democratic Party as its presidential candidate to run against the Republican, Herbert C. Hoover. Although he had to face many obstacles due to his illness, but that didn’t stop him. In November of 1932, Roosevelt was overwhelmingly elected President. On the other side he entered the White House at the worst of times, the economic structure of the country severely damaged. It was the time of the Great Depression, where it would just get worse as the time passed. â€Å"Factories lay idle and farmers burned crops they could not sell. As much as a third of the nation’s work force was unemployed (pg. 87). † The nation was under fear and despair. His inaugural speech called on Americans to renew their faith in themselves and their system of government: â€Å"This is preeminently a time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink form honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So first of all let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself (pg. 88). † The most urgent task, he declared was to put people back to work. Roosevelt pledged immediate action to combat the depression: â€Å"This nation asks for action and action now†¦ I shall ask Congress for †¦. Broad executive power to wage a war against the emergency, as great as the power that would be given to me if we were in fact invaded by a foreign foe (pg. 8). † Like I said this was his first inaugural speech and it was to be broadcasted widely on the radio. The new president’s words delivered a message of courage and hope that Americans had been waiting to hear. Yet another issue that later on Roosevelt was going to face was the burst of World War 2. That was when Britain and France declared wa r on Germany. Roosevelt would try to keep America out of the war for as long as he could he encouraged America to remain neutral. All that America done was to provide its allies with goods and services. Then on December 7, 1941 the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked Pearl Harbor by naval air forces of the Empire of Japan. It only took thirty-three minutes for â€Å"Congress to declare that a State of War existed between the United Stated and Japan. As you can see Franklin was a great man, he experienced so many things throughout his life. We can say he one of the best presidents we have ever had. He died on April 12, 1945 at 3:35pm central war time after suffering a massive cerebral hemorrhage. The official announcement of his death listed his name as a war casualty. Army-Navy Dead: ROOSEVELT, Franklin D. , Commander-in-Chief, Wife, Mrs. Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, the White House (pg. 170). † The book was a complete biography of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who was once described by Frances Perkins as, â€Å"the most complicated human being I ever knew†. On the surface he seemed to be an easy talker with a quick smile whose chats helped him conn ect with the American Public. People felt they knew he knew them and they knew him. However, throughout the book, it made it clear that he wanted people to feel that way, he was really a private person, whose thoughts no one knew. Franklin Roosevelt could be warm and affectionate but he didn’t talk about personal matters or his deepest feelings, not even with those closest to him. His wife Eleanor felt there was a part of him that he didn’t permit anyone to see. She said, â€Å"He had no real confidants†. Roosevelt lived an extraordinary life and throughout the book the author presents a balanced. The book points out that he was loved by people but still had his fair share of critics. Some accused him of having one situation for every problem, big spending, and that he would bankrupt the country. The end of the book has an alphabetized index as well as an acknowledgement and picture credit. The book contained a lot of photos, taking the reader through a picture tour of his life. There was a part where the author complied a list of biographies about the President followed by a brief commentary about the specific focus of this book and others The Author’s objectives were to trace Franklin Roosevelt’s life from birth to death. He wanted to show not only by words but also pictures what his life was about. Freedman wanted this to be a great biography for all readers. There were universal lessons learned and showed throughout the book. For example, the book showed no matter how complicated or open people felt he was there were always others who thought the opposite. For example, on page 110, the book discusses how Jesse H. Jones was fired from his post as secretary of commerce, he told reporters that the president was a hypocrite lacking in character. But he added: â€Å"You just can’t help liking that fellow†. I enjoyed reading this book. The author did very good job writing about the life of such a complicated man. The book shows how he led us through a severe depression and a devastation world war so successfully. Students with little or no background in history will be able to read this book and hopefully find it inspiring. I also like the pictures that were throughout the book. Especially the ones toward the back that lead you through his life. I don’t feel anything was missing from the book. It was very well written. It explained his life and experience in detail. The pictures made the book great. In conclusion, I would recommend this book to others and I enjoyed reading it myself. Works Cited Freedman, Russell. Franklin Delano Roosevelt. New York: Clarion, 1990. Print.