Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt — Athlete

Born 30 Jan 1882 Hyde Park, United States

Died 12 Apr 1945 Warm Springs, United States

Citizenship United States

25 min read

Reading time

4,915

Words

Feb 23, 2026

Published

117

Film credits

18

Books

6

Awards

TL;DR

Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd U.S. president, took office in 1933 amid the Great Depression and implemented the New Deal, creating Social Security and the FDIC. He led the U.S. through World War II, forging alliances with Churchill and Stalin. Elected to four terms, he died in 1945 at Warm Springs, Georgia.

Identity & family.

KIN · 9

Names, aliases, and relatives of Franklin D. Roosevelt — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Nicknames Houdini In the White House, The Squire of Hyde Park, The Sphinx, That Man In the White House, F.D.R., Roosevelt Franklin

Aliases F.D.R., FDR, Delano Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Franlin D. Roosevelt, Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt, President F.D. Roosevelt, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, President Franklin Roosevelt, President Roosevelt, Roosevelt

PARENTS: Sara Roosevelt James Roosevelt
SPOUSES: Eleanor Roosevelt
CHILDREN: Elliott Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt Jr. John Aspinwall Roosevelt Anna Roosevelt Halsted James Roosevelt
SIBLINGS: James Roosevelt Roosevelt

At a glance.

STATS

Franklin D. Roosevelt by the numbers — life, work, and family.

63 Years lived

117 Film credits

18 Books

6 Awards

1 Marriage

5 Children

Who was Franklin D. Roosevelt?

BIOGRAPHY

Franklin D. Roosevelt — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born on January 30, 1882, in Hyde Park, New York, to James Roosevelt, aged 54, and Sara Roosevelt, only 27. He grew up in a sheltered, wealthy environment with private tutors and European trips, but his mother Sara was domineering. At 14, he was sent to Groton School, where he was teased and called Uncle Frank due to his older nephew, James Roosevelt Roosevelt.

He graduated from Groton in 1900 and entered Harvard College, where he edited the Crimson but failed to join the Porcellian Social Club. After Harvard in 1903, he attended Columbia Law School, though he left before completing his degree to enter politics.

Career

In 1910, Roosevelt was elected to the New York State Legislature from Dutchess County as a crusading reformer. He served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy under President Woodrow Wilson from 1913 to 1920. After polio paralyzed him in 1921, he staged a political comeback by nominating Alfred E. Smith as the Happy Warrior at the 1924 Democratic Convention. He was elected Governor of New York in 1928 and again in 1930.

Roosevelt defeated incumbent Herbert Hoover in the 1932 presidential election. Upon taking office in March 1933, with over 15 million unemployed, he launched the New Deal, creating the FDIC, WPA, CCC, Social Security, a minimum wage, and a 40-hour work week. He was reelected in a landslide in 1936 over Alf Landon. After the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, he declared war, calling it a date that will live in infamy. He led the U.S. through WWII, meeting with Churchill and Stalin at Tehran in 1943 and Yalta in 1945, and secured American participation in the United Nations.

Personal life

Roosevelt married his sixth cousin, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, in 1905; President Theodore Roosevelt gave the bride away. Their marriage was strained from the start due to personality differences and the interference of his mother Sara, who lived next door. They had six children: Anna, James, Elliott, Franklin Jr., John, and one who died in infancy.

In 1918, Eleanor discovered his love affair with her social secretary, Lucy Mercer. She considered divorce but was persuaded by Sara to keep the marriage intact. The couple never again shared marital intimacy, becoming political partners instead. Roosevelt rekindled contact with Mercer in his final years; she was with him when he died in Warm Springs, Georgia, in 1945.

Legacy

Roosevelt’s four-term presidency from 1933 to 1945 remains the longest in U.S. history, prompting the 22nd Amendment ratified 1951 limiting future presidents to two terms. His New Deal programs fundamentally reshaped the federal government’s role, establishing Social Security, minimum wage, and the FDIC, which persist today. He transformed the U.S. into the arsenal of democracy during WWII, and his advocacy for the United Nations, World Bank, and decolonization helped shape the postwar world.

His likeness appears on the U.S. dime, chosen because he was honorary chairman of the March of Dimes fighting polio. He was honored posthumously with a memorial series of U.S. postage stamps in 1945-46 and induction into the American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame in 1945. He is remembered as the president who guided the nation through its two greatest crises: the Great Depression and World War II.

Filmography.

FILMS · 117

Browse the complete filmography of Franklin D. Roosevelt — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

TV

American Experience

1988
TV

Explained

2018
TV

Turning Point: the Bomb and the Cold War

2024
TV

World War II in Colour

2009
TV

Apocalypse: the Second World War

2009
Movie

The Great Raid

2005
TV

Churchill at War

2024
TV

Greatest Events of World War II in Colour

2019
TV

Prohibition

2011
TV

Race for the White House

2016
TV

Crusade in Europe

1949
TV

The Roosevelts: an Intimate History

2014
TV

Money, Explained

2021
TV

First Ladies

2020

Could not load more credits.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 6

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Franklin D. Roosevelt — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Time Person of the Year
Knight Grand Cross of the Military Order of William
Albert Medal
Médaille militaire
Grand Cross of the Order of the Legion of Honour Philippines
American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 18

Franklin D. Roosevelt's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon

Looking Forward

by Franklin D. Roosevelt
Amazon

The Fireside Chats of Franklin Delano Roosevelt

by Franklin D. Roosevelt
Amazon

Rendezvous with Destiny

by Franklin D. Roosevelt
Amazon

On Our Way

by Franklin D. Roosevelt
Amazon

Roosevelt and Churchill

by Franklin D. Roosevelt et al.
Amazon

State of the Union Addresses of Franklin D. Roosevelt

by Franklin D. Roosevelt
Amazon

Nothing to Fear

by Franklin D. Roosevelt

Could not load more books.

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 30

A wall of memorable lines from Franklin D. Roosevelt — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

Yesterday, December 7Th, 1941, a Date Which Will Live in Infamy, the United States Was Suddenly and Deliberately Attacked by Naval Forces of Japan.
What I Want to Do Is to Create a Country in Which No One Is Left Out.
I Have Seen War. I Have Seen War on Land and on Sea. I Hate War!
There Are as Many Opinions as There Are Experts.
A Radical Is a Man with Both Feet Firmly Planted in the Air.
The Only Limit to Our Realization of Tomorrow Will Be Our Doubts of Today.
The Ablest Man I Ever Met Is the Man You Think You Are.
When You See a Rattlesnake Poised to Strike, You Do Not Wait Until He Has Struck You Before You Crush Him.
The Saving Grace of America Lies in the Fact That the Overwhelming Majority Are Possessed of Two Great Qualities a Sense of Humor and a Sense of Proportion.
You Know, I Am a Juggler and I Never Let My Right Hand Know What My Left Hand Does. I May Have One Policy for Europe and One Diametrically Opposite for North and South America. I May Be Entirely Inconsistent, and Furthermore I Am Perfectly Willing to Mislead and Tell Untruths If It Will Help Win the War.
Forests Are the Lungs of Our Land.
I Do Not Regard the Communists as Any Present or Future Threat to Our Country. in Fact, I Look Upon Russia as Our Strongest Ally in the Years to Come.
While I Do Not Believe in Communism, Russia Under Communism Is Better Than Under the Tsars. Stalin Is a Great Leader, and Although I Despise Some of His Methods, It Is the Only Way He Can Safeguard His Government.
I Can’t Believe That We Can Fight a War Against Fascist Slavery, and at the Same Time Not Work to Free People All Over the World from a Backward Colonial Policy? the Peace Cannot Include Any Continued Despotism … Equality of Peoples Involves the Utmost Freedom of Competitive Trade.
I’ve Tried to Make It Clear to Winston and the Others That, While We’re Their Allies and in It to Victory by Their Side, They Must Never Get the Idea That We’re in It Just to Help Them Hang on to the Archaic, Medieval Empire Ideas … Great Britain Signed the Atlantic Charter. I Hope They Realize the United States Government Means to Make Them Live up to It.
Some Indeed Still Hold to the Now Somewhat Obvious Delusion That We of the United States Can Safely Permit the United States to Become a Lone Island, a Lone Island in a World Dominated by the Philosophy of Force.
In Our American Unity, We Will Pursue Two Obvious and Simultaneous Courses; We Will Extend to the Opponents of Force the Material Resources of This Nation; And, at the Same Time, We Will Harness and Speed up the Use of Those Resources in Order That We Ourselves in the Americas May Have Equipment and Training Equal to the Task of Any Emergency and Every Defense.
The Government of Italy Has Now Chosen to Preserve What It Terms Its Freedom of Action and to Fulfill What It States Are Its Promises to Germany. in so Doing It Has Manifested Disregard for the Rights and Security of Other Nations, Disregard for the Lives of the Peoples of Those Nations Which Are Directly Threatened by This Spread of the War; and Has Evidenced Its Unwillingness to Find the Means Through Pacific Negotiations for the Satisfaction of What It Believes Are Its Legitimate Aspirations. on This Tenth Day of June, 1940, the Hand That Held the Dagger Has Struck It into the Back of Its Neighbor.
The Property of All Churches Will Be Seized by the Reich and Its Puppets. the Cross and All Other Symbols of Religion Are to Be Forbidden. the Clergy Are to Be Forever Silenced Under Penalty of the Concentration Camps … in the Place of the Churches of Our Civilization, There Is to Be Set up an International Nazi Church a Church Which Will Be Served by Orators Sent Out by the Nazi Government. in the Place of the Bible, the Words of Mein Kampf Will Be Imposed and Enforced as Holy Writ. and in Place of the Cross of Christ Will Be Put Two Symbols the Swastika and the Naked Sword.
Hitler Has Often Protested That His Plans for Conquest Do Not Extend Across the Atlantic Ocean … I Have in My Possession a Secret Map, Made in Germany by Hitler’s Government by the Planners of the New World Order. It Is a Map of South America and a Part of Central America as Hitler Proposes to Reorganize It. This Map Makes Clear the Nazi Design Not Only Against South America, but Against the United States Itself. Your Government Has in Its Possession Another Document Made in Germany by Hitler’s Government. It Is a Plan to Abolish All Existing Religions Protestant, Catholic, Mohammedan, Hindu, Buddhist and Jewish Alike.
Powerful Enemies Must Be Out Fought and Out Produced.
We Are Doing Our Utmost in the United States to Furnish All of the Material and Supplies Which Can Possibly Be Released to the Allied Governments.
We Will Have No Truck with Fascism in Any Way, in Any Shape or Manner. We Will Permit No Vestige of Fascism to Remain.
In Every Country Conquered by the Nazis and the Fascists, or the Japanese Militarists, the People Have Been Reduced to the Status of Slaves or Chattels. It Is Our Determination to Restore These Conquered Peoples to the Dignity of Human Beings, Masters of Their Own Fate, Entitled to Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear. We Have Started to Make Good on That Promise. I Am Sorry If I Step on the Toes of Those Americans Who, Playing Party Politics at Home, Call That Kind of Foreign Policy ‘Crazy Altruism’ and ‘Starry Eyed Dreaming’.
Nazi Forces Are Not Seeking Mere Modifications in Colonial Maps or in Minor European Boundaries. They Openly Seek the Destruction of All Elective Systems of Government on Every Continent, Including Our Own. They Seek to Establish Systems of Government Based on the Regimentation of All Human Beings by a Handful of Individual Rulers Who Seize Power by Force. Yes, These Men and Their Hypnotized Followers Call This a New Order. It Is Not New, and It Is Not Order. for Order Among Nations Presupposes Something Enduring, Some System of Justice Under Which Individuals Over a Long Period of Time Are Willing to Live. Humanity Will Never Permanently Accept a System Imposed by Conquest, and Based on Slavery. These Modern Tyrants Find It Necessary to Their Plans to Eliminate All Democracies Eliminate Them One by One. the Nations of Europe, and Indeed We, Ourselves, Did Not Appreciate That Purpose. We Do Now.
I Don’t Mind Telling You in Confidence That I Am Keeping in Fairly Close Touch with the Admirable Italian Gentleman.
Let This Warning Be Clear. from Now On, If German or Italian Vessels Enter the Waters, the Protection of Which Is Necessary for American Defense, They Do so at Their Own Peril … When You See a Rattlesnake Poised to Strike, You Do Not Wait Until He Has Struck Before You Crush Him. These Nazi Submarines and Raiders Are the Rattlesnakes of the Atlantic.
I Have in My Possession a Secret Map Made in Germany by Hitler’s Government. It Is a Map of South America and a Part of Central America, as Hitler Proposes to Reorganize It. This Map Makes Clear the Nazi Design Not Only Against South America, but Against the United States Itself. Your Government Has in Its Possession Another Document Made in Germany by Hitler’s Government. It Is a Plan to Abolish All Existing Religions Protestant, Catholic, Mohammedan, Hindu, Buddhist and Jewish Alike.
The Question Immediately Presented in Our Far Eastern Affairs Is Whether the United States Is or Is Not to Stand by While Japan Goes Forward with a Program of Conquest by Force in Eastern Asia and the Western Pacific.
The Forces Endeavoring to Enslave the Entire World Now Are Moving Towards This Hemisphere. Delay Invites Danger. Rapid and United Efforts by All Peoples of the World Who Are Determined to Remain Free Will Ensure World Victory for the Forces of Justice and Righteousness Over the Forces of Savagery and Barbarism.

Did you know?

FACTS · 50

Little-known facts about Franklin D. Roosevelt — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

At age five his family visited the White House and met President Grover Cleveland. Cleveland put a hand on young Franklin’s head and said he wished Franklin might never be president.
He was the sixth U.S. president to die in office, continuing a 20-year cycle: Harrison in 1840, Lincoln in 1860, Garfield in 1880, McKinley in 1900, Harding in 1920, and Roosevelt in 1940 elected.
His last words were I have a terrific headache before collapsing while having his portrait painted.
He was fourth cousin once removed of President Ulysses S. Grant.
Barring repeal of the 22nd Amendment, he remains the longest-serving president in U.S. history.
An assassination attempt on him in Miami on February 15, 1933, left Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak mortally wounded, but Roosevelt was unhurt.
Though weakened by polio, his legs were not completely paralyzed; he could walk with leg braces or while underwater.
Winston Churchill said meeting Roosevelt for the first time was like opening a bottle of fine champagne.
Suffered poliomyelitis in 1921 and lost the ability to walk on his own, but wore heavy leg braces and appeared in public standing with support.
He submitted a screenplay treatment for a naval battle film that was rejected, but his story idea was turned into the 1936 film The President’s Mystery and he received screen credit.
He was fourth cousin three times removed of President Zachary Taylor.
On April 30, 1939, he became the first U.S. president to appear on television, during the opening of the New York World’s Fair on experimental station WX2AB.
He never appeared in public in a wheelchair; only two private photos exist, taken by a family member and released after his death.
His Scottish terrier Fala became the first publicly adored presidential pet, achieving celebrity status.
He and his cousin Theodore Roosevelt both served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Governor of New York, and were vice presidential candidates before becoming president.
Winston Churchill’s tribute to him in the House of Commons on April 17, 1945, discreetly referenced his courage against polio.
He intended the 1941 Atlantic Charter to end European colonial empires, a direct disagreement with Churchill’s support for imperialism.
Authorized the Plan Dog memorandum in 1940, focusing U.S. strategy on defeating Germany and Italy first while fighting defensively in the Pacific.
After Pearl Harbor, he publicly accused Adolf Hitler of ordering the attack, though Hitler had actually urged Japan to avoid war with the United States.
He was seventh cousin once removed of Winston Churchill.
His likeness appears on the U.S. 10-cent coin, the Roosevelt Dime, chosen because he was honorary chairman of the March of Dimes.
He is the 32nd U.S. president and the only one to serve more than two terms; he died three months into his fourth term.
Worked in public advocacy from 1907 until 1910 before entering politics.
Member of the New York Senate from 1910 until 1913.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy from 1913 until 1920.
Democratic vice presidential running mate to James Cox in 1920; they lost to Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge.
Elected Governor of New York in 1928 and re-elected in 1930.
U.S. President from 1933-1945, elected four times: 1932 defeating Hoover, 1936 landslide over Landon, 1940 over Willkie, and 1944 over Dewey.
His wife Eleanor was a niece of President Theodore Roosevelt.
Pictured on a memorial series of four U.S. postage stamps issued in 1945-1946.
Pictured on the 6-cent U.S. postage stamp in the Prominent Americans series issued January 29, 1966.
Fifth cousin of President Theodore Roosevelt.
Fifth cousin once removed of wife Eleanor Roosevelt.
His lengthy presidency inspired the 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, limiting a person to two elected terms or up to 10 years if succeeding.
Father of James Roosevelt and Congressman Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr.
At Harvard, he was a B-student, business manager of the Harvard Lampoon, a member of the cheerleading squad, and a Hasty Pudding Club member.
One of only two men with Richard Nixon to appear on a major party’s presidential ticket five times: once for vice president 1920 and four times for president.
Has been portrayed by actors such as Ralph Bellamy, Kenneth Branagh, Edward Herrmann, John Lithgow, and others, as well as by his grandson James Roosevelt Jr.
First cousin of Tennis Hall of Famer Ellen Crosby Roosevelt.
In his will, he left insurance policies totaling $560,000 to the Warm Springs Foundation and $1,900,000 to his wife, eventually to their children.
On the day of his funeral, all Parisian cinemas and other entertainment venues closed as a mark of respect.
Spoke French and German with a New England accent, and had limited knowledge of Latin.
Godfather to Prince Michael of Kent, born July 4, 1942; the prince’s middle name Franklin honors the president.
According to writer Joe Eszterhas, Roosevelt wrote a 22-page treatment for a John Paul Jones biopic for Paramount, stored in a vault in Missouri.
An avid stamp collector, he was inducted into the American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame in 1945.
Depicted with Dr. Jonas Salk on the obverse of the 2015 March of Dimes silver dollar.
Officially ended pretense of neutrality by starting Lend-Lease to the UK in March 1941, effectively at war despite no formal declaration.
Imposed an economic embargo on Japan in July 1941, effective in August.
On September 11, 1941, he gave a speech ordering all American ships to shoot on sight any Axis ships.
Sent American forces to China early in 1941 without declaring war, and ordered secret plans for preemptive strikes on Japanese bases.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 56

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Franklin D. Roosevelt.

When was Franklin D. Roosevelt born?

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born on January 30, 1882, in Hyde Park, New York. His father James was 54 and his mother Sara was 27 at the time.
Where was Franklin D. Roosevelt born?

He was born in Hyde Park, New York, a small town in the Hudson Valley. The Roosevelt family estate is now a National Historic Site.
When did Franklin D. Roosevelt die?

He died on April 12, 1945, at the age of 63, at the Little White House in Warm Springs, Georgia.
Where did Franklin D. Roosevelt die?

He died in Warm Springs, Georgia, at his personal retreat known as the Little White House, where he often went for polio therapy.
How old was Franklin D. Roosevelt when he died?

He was 63 years old when he died of a cerebral hemorrhage on April 12, 1945.
How did Franklin D. Roosevelt die?

He died of a cerebral hemorrhage, a massive stroke, while sitting for a portrait at the Little White House. His last words were I have a terrific headache.
What was Franklin D. Roosevelt's full birth name?

His full birth name was Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He was named after his mother’s uncle, Franklin Delano.
What did Franklin D. Roosevelt do for a living?

He was a politician and statesman who served as the 32nd President of the United States. Earlier in his career, he worked as a lawyer and also as a writer and editorial crew member, according to some credits.
What nationality was Franklin D. Roosevelt?

He was American, a citizen of the United States.
What languages did Franklin D. Roosevelt speak?

He spoke English natively, and also French and German with a distinct New England accent, plus had limited knowledge of Latin.
Who were Franklin D. Roosevelt's parents?

His parents were James Roosevelt a wealthy landowner and Sara Ann Delano Roosevelt. His father was 54 at his birth, and his mother was 27.
Who was Franklin D. Roosevelt married to?

He married Eleanor Roosevelt on March 17, 1905. She was his sixth cousin and the niece of President Theodore Roosevelt.
How many children did Franklin D. Roosevelt have?

He and Eleanor had six children: Anna, James, Elliott, Franklin Delano Jr., John Aspinwall, and one who died in infancy. Their youngest was John, born in 1917.
Did Franklin D. Roosevelt have any siblings?

He had one half-brother, James Roosevelt Roosevelt nicknamed Rosy, from his father’s first marriage. Rosy was older than Franklin.
Where did Franklin D. Roosevelt go to school?

He attended Groton School an exclusive prep school, then Harvard College, where he edited the Crimson, and later Columbia Law School, though he left before graduating.
What awards did Franklin D. Roosevelt win?

He was named Time Person of the Year multiple times, and received the Knight Grand Cross of the Military Order of William Netherlands, the Albert Medal UK, the Médaille militaire France, and the Grand Cross of the Order of the Legion of Honour Philippines. He was also inducted into the American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame in 1945.
How many terms did Franklin D. Roosevelt serve as president?

He served four terms, from March 1933 until his death in April 1945. He is the only U.S. president to serve more than two terms.
How tall was Franklin D. Roosevelt?

He stood 6 feet 2 inches 1.88 m tall. Despite his polio paralysis, he appeared tall and imposing in public with leg braces.
What nicknames did Franklin D. Roosevelt have?

He was called F.D.R., The Squire of Hyde Park, The Sphinx, and That Man in the White House. He was also nicknamed Houdini in the White House for his political escapes.
What was Franklin D. Roosevelt's relationship with Theodore Roosevelt?

He was a fifth cousin of President Theodore Roosevelt, and also related through marriage: Eleanor Roosevelt was Theodore’s niece. Both served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy and Governor of New York.
Did Franklin D. Roosevelt use a wheelchair in public?

He rarely used a wheelchair in public and never appeared in one. He wore leg braces and stood with support. Only two photos of him in a wheelchair exist, taken by family and released after his death.
How did Franklin D. Roosevelt contract polio?

He contracted poliomyelitis in 1921 at age 39, while vacationing at Campobello Island, Canada. The disease paralyzed his legs permanently.
What was the New Deal?

The New Deal was a series of programs launched by Roosevelt in 1933 to combat the Great Depression. It included the FDIC, Social Security, the WPA, the CCC, minimum wage, and a 40-hour work week.
What was Roosevelt's role in World War II?

He led the U.S. as commander-in-chief, declaring war after Pearl Harbor, forging alliances with Churchill and Stalin, authorizing Lend-Lease, and supporting the D-Day invasion. He also pushed for the creation of the United Nations.
What was the significance of the Yalta Conference?

At the Yalta Conference in February 1945, Roosevelt met with Churchill and Stalin to discuss postwar reorganization. He secured Soviet participation in the United Nations and agreed to divide Germany into zones.
How did Roosevelt's affair with Lucy Mercer affect his marriage?

Eleanor discovered the affair in 1918 and wanted a divorce, but Roosevelt promised to end it. Their marriage became a political partnership, and they never resumed marital intimacy. Mercer was with him when he died.
What is the Roosevelt dime?

The Roosevelt dime 10-cent coin was introduced in 1946, shortly after his death. It features his profile and was chosen because he supported the March of Dimes, which fought polio.
Did Franklin D. Roosevelt win any Oscars or Emmy awards?

No, he did not win any Oscars or Emmy awards. His screenwriting credit for the 1936 film The President’s Mystery was based on a story idea he submitted, but it did not receive major film awards.
What was Franklin D. Roosevelt's IQ?

There is no verified IQ score for Franklin D. Roosevelt from the source record. He was known for his intelligence and political acumen, but specific IQ data is not available.
Was Franklin D. Roosevelt in any movies?

He appeared as himself in archival footage in documentary series such as American Experience 1988, Explained 2018, and Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War 2024. He was also portrayed by actors in many films.
What pet did Franklin D. Roosevelt have?

His most famous pet was Fala, a Scottish Terrier who became a celebrity. Fala appeared with Roosevelt in public and was even mentioned in a speech during the 1944 campaign.
How did Franklin D. Roosevelt change the presidency?

He expanded the power of the federal government through the New Deal, established the modern presidential role as a leader in economic and social policy, and broke the two-term tradition, leading to the 22nd Amendment.
What was the 'Day of Infamy' speech?

On December 8, 1941, Roosevelt addressed Congress after the Pearl Harbor attack, calling December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy. He asked for and received a declaration of war against Japan.
Did Franklin D. Roosevelt support civil rights?

He and Eleanor used the war to improve conditions for minorities and women, such as better jobs in war plants. However, he did not push for major civil rights legislation; he was cautious about upsetting Southern Democrats.
What is the 22nd Amendment and how does it relate to Roosevelt?

The 22nd Amendment ratified 1951 limits U.S. presidents to two elected terms. It was passed largely in reaction to Roosevelt’s four-term presidency, and specifically exempted Harry Truman, his successor.
How many awards did Franklin D. Roosevelt win according to IMDb?

IMDb lists him as winning 1 award and receiving 1 nomination, but that likely reflects only film-related honors. He received numerous non-film awards including Time Person of the Year and international decorations.
What was Franklin D. Roosevelt's height?

He was 6 feet 2 inches 1.88 m tall. Despite his paralysis, he appeared tall when supported by leg braces and an aide.
What was the 'Happy Warrior' speech?

At the 1924 Democratic National Convention, Roosevelt nominated New York Governor Alfred E. Smith, calling him the Happy Warrior. This speech marked his return to politics after polio.
Who was Franklin D. Roosevelt's running mate in 1920?

He was the Democratic vice presidential candidate alongside presidential nominee James M. Cox. They lost to Republicans Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge.
What is the March of Dimes?

The March of Dimes is a nonprofit organization founded by Roosevelt in 1938 to combat polio. He served as its honorary chairman, and the dime was chosen for the coin because of the charity’s name.
Did Franklin D. Roosevelt write any books?

He wrote several books, including Looking Forward 1933 and On Our Way 1934, as well as speeches and state papers. He also wrote a screenplay treatment that became the film The President’s Mystery.
What was the Roosevelt family estate?

The family estate was Springwood in Hyde Park, New York. It is now the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site. He is buried in the rose garden there.
How did Franklin D. Roosevelt's polio affect his presidency?

He kept his disability largely hidden from the public, using leg braces and standing with support. His struggle with polio may have strengthened his resolve and empathy, and he founded the March of Dimes to combat the disease.
What was the 'arsenal of democracy' speech?

In a 1940 fireside chat, Roosevelt called for the U.S. to become the arsenal of democracy by supplying Britain and other allies with arms, leading to the Lend-Lease program.
Did Franklin D. Roosevelt have any pets other than Fala?

He had several dogs, including a German Shepherd named Major and a Scottish Terrier named Meggie. But Fala was his most famous and constant companion.
What was the Supreme Court packing plan?

In 1937, Roosevelt proposed adding up to six new justices to the Supreme Court for every justice over age 70 who did not retire, aiming to secure New Deal legislation. Congress rejected the plan, and it damaged his political capital.
Who succeeded Franklin D. Roosevelt as president?

His vice president, Harry S. Truman, succeeded him upon his death on April 12, 1945. Truman served nearly all of Roosevelt’s fourth term and was elected in his own right in 1948.
What was the Atlantic Charter?

The Atlantic Charter was a joint declaration by Roosevelt and Winston Churchill in August 1941, outlining postwar goals including self-determination, free trade, and disarmament. It influenced the creation of the United Nations.
How many times was Franklin D. Roosevelt on the cover of Time magazine?

He was named Time Person of the Year three times: in 1932, 1934, and 1941. He appeared on the cover dozens of times throughout his career.
What was the significance of the 'Four Freedoms' speech?

In his 1941 State of the Union address, Roosevelt articulated four freedoms as essential: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. These ideals became a rallying cry for the war and inspired the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Did Franklin D. Roosevelt have any religious affiliation?

He was an Episcopalian, baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal Church. He regularly attended services and his funeral was held at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington.
What was the first New Deal agency created?

One of the first was the Emergency Banking Act of 1933, which led to the FDIC. The Civilian Conservation Corps CCC was also created in March 1933, providing jobs for unemployed young men.
How did Franklin D. Roosevelt communicate with the public?

He used fireside chats, a series of radio broadcasts from 1933 to 1944, to explain his policies and calm the nation during crises. These intimate talks made him a trusted figure in American homes.
What is the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial?

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C., dedicated in 1997, features four outdoor rooms representing his four terms, with sculptures and water features reflecting his legacy.
What was the role of Eleanor Roosevelt in his presidency?

She became his eyes and ears, traveling extensively and advocating for social justice, civil rights, and women’s issues. She held press conferences, wrote a newspaper column, and was a key political partner.
Did Franklin D. Roosevelt serve in the military?

He did not serve in active military combat. During World War I, he was Assistant Secretary of the Navy a civilian role, and later as president he was Commander-in-Chief during World War II.

View all 56 questions View fewer questions

Audited & updated by

If something's wrong in a profile, Daniel will find it. With 7 years of research experience, he's developed an almost unreasonable eye for inaccurate career timelines, misattributed credits, and dates that don't quite add up. He doesn't publish anything he can't verify. The profiles on Famousy are as accurate as they are largely because of work you'll never see his name on.

Published on February 23, 2026

Report an issue

If something on this page looks off, we genuinely want to know about it. Send us a quick email with the celebrity's name, the detail that seems incorrect, and any sources you're referencing. We review every report and update the page as soon as we can.

Report an issue