Throughout the 20th century many great leaders have emerged; from the evil Adolph Hitler to the motivational Martin Luther King JR. However it is my opinion, and the opinion of many others, that the most influential and successful leader of the last century was Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The four terms he served as President of the United States and overwhelming support of the citizens of this nation at that time help to support this notion. Those four terms he was in office spanned one of the most difficult times in American history. He began his presidency by ending the Great Depression of the 1930’s with his “New Deal”, which gave a bigger role to the government and also gave most citizens of the nation a new perspective on government. Now government was not only expected to protect from foreign invaders and affairs, but to protect America’s people against poverty and joblessness as well. He ended his pr
In 1921 FDR contracted polio. He became paralyzed and lost the use of his legs. After a lengthy recovery, FDR was persuaded to run for governor of New York. In 1928 he won that election and went on in 1932 to become the Democratic Party’s nominee for President. He defeated Herbert Hoover, despite Hoover’s claims that FDR was physically and mentally unfit.
esidency as Commander in Chief during World War II, in which he showed great military and diplomatic leadership, and established better foreign relations.
FDR took immediate action to restore the nation’s economic health following his inauguration in 1933. He restored the confidence that many had lost in the banking system. FDR clearly established his development-oriented leadership style right from the beginning. It was clear change was needed, and FDR implemented new ideas with what he called his “New Deal”, which established programs like t