FDR: Ideally suited to his tumultuous times

If such were the criteria for ranking presidents, Franklin Delano Roosevelt certainly would belong at the bottom of the list. Serving for 12 years gave him ample opportunity for missteps, and he made several. His ill-conceived battle with the Supreme Court, in which he considered packing the court with allies, resulted in harsh political backlash. Many of his New Deal programs were ineffective and often contradictory.

Critics of Roosevelt argue that he was out-maneuvered by Stalin in the late stages of World War II, as the Soviets laid claim to vast portions of Eastern Europe. More recently, historians have taken Roosevelt to task for ignoring, or at least downplaying, the humanitarian crisis that occurred within Hitler's Germany.

Why, then, does FDR consistently appear at the top of historians' lists of America's greatest presidents? Perhaps it comes down to nothing more than timing. Presidents we tend to identify as our best served during times of crisis; only Lincoln experienced more tumult in office than did Roosevelt. Or, Harrison notwithstanding, longevity in office may be a factor. Four terms meant that an entire generation of Americans came to equate the presidency with Roosevelt himself. Following his death in 1945, it was difficult for most people to imagine someone other than FDR as commander-in-chief.

STRONG PRESENCE

The main reasons for FDR's legacy, however, lie in the fact that his persona, political acumen, and general disposition were suited ideally for his times. At the height of economic depression, Americans yearned for a strong presence in Washington. Roosevelt's predecessor, Herbert Hoover, had the mind and inclination of an engineer--a problem-solver who enjoyed thinking systematically through challenges. Three years of a failing economy, however, left Americans wanting "more." More what? More anything. More action; more confidence; more assurance.

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Date published: 10/2/2008