How is Franklin D Roosevelt rated as a president?

Answer 1

The Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt can be divided into two distinct phases. Phase one, 1933-40, primarily relates to FDR's domestic handling of the "Great" Depression, while phase two, 1941-1945, is exclusively about how he managed the United States during World War II.

Data from the 1930s shows that the United States was in a similar depth of economic recession in 1936-38, as it was in 1932 when FDR took over as President of the United States. It is doubtful that a President in the 2000s could be reelected under such circumstances, but FDR was reelected in 1936.

In review, President Herbert Hoover presided over the bungling of the economy following the stock market crash and ensuing recession of October 1929. A man of the 1920s, he believed that raising taxes would stabilize the government by balancing the budget, and further believed that limiting free trade would save American jobs. Both were disasters and made a "bad" recession into a "great" depression.

But why was FDR reelected in 1936 even thought things had not improved? The first reason may have been the nature of the world's political situation. A desire for strong central government and increased government control of everyday life were acceptable solutions in most troubled societies of the 1920-30. Russia/Soviet Union (Stalin), Italy (Mussolini), China (Mao Zedong) were the darlings of the New York Times, Fabian British socialists, various celebrities, the intelligentsia, and many labor unions. Such enamoring made socialism more attractive to the unemployed and underprivileged. Nance Gardner, FDR's first Vice-President, left the ticket because of his perception of a pronounced leftward tilt to governing. Gardner was replaced by Henry Wallace, a well recognized leftist. Government programs enacted by FDR probably prolonged the depression far beyond its natural course.

FDR was a charismatic, fabulous orator, with outstanding political skills and a fawning press that protected him from excessive criticism. The redistribution of wealth, even if the sums were miniscule for anyone individual, was considered a life-saving gift by the unemployed of the time.

The conservative movement, such as it was, remained fixed in the old policies of increasing taxes to balance the budget. Republicans were the financers of the Democratic big government programs. This philosophy ruled the GOP until 1980.

By the late 1930s, the preparations for World War II created jobs, and the living conditions for the vast majority of U.S. citizens improved dramatically.

While increased central control and more federal regulation of everyday life were detrimental to domestic economics, they were greatly beneficial to the operation of a nation in total war. FDR acted near brilliantly in keeping the United States out of World War II for over 2 years. On December 6, 1941 the United Kingdom was wavering on the brink of defeat, and Germany was threatening the Middle-East and Northern Africa. Germany's now 6 month invasion of the Soviet Union was resulting in massive victories on their Eastern Front. With a sympathetic Finland in the North and weak Turkey in the South protecting Germany's Eastern flanks, the outcome of World War II was still in question.

Then whaala [sic], on the morning of December 7, 1941, "a day that will live in infamy," the Japanese attacked the United States of America. To paraphrase Winston Churchill, "It was a gift from heaven." America was in the war. Unbelievably 4 days later Germany declared war on the United States.

As attributed to Admiral Isovoku Yamamoto in a movie, "We have awaken a sleeping giant and filled it with great resolve." The Axis made a colossal underestimate of American industrial might, unfettered by the everyday chaos of war.

FDR is faulted by many for multiple things (failure to foresee the Pearl Harbor attack, overlooking "the final solution", demanding unconditional surrender, developing an atomic bomb, appeasing Stalin, failure to secure the Balkan European subcontinent, antagonizing Japan before the war by buy cutting off its oil, giving Eastern Europe to the Soviets, and such), but he kept America's and his administration's eyes on the ball, which was total victory. FDR quickly recognized that Germany needed to be defeated first. President Harry Truman inherited a winning team in 1945, and FDR was instrumental in the post WWII environment that prevented WWIII, which was a big failure of Woodrow Wilson after WWI.

So how should FDR be rated? The first phase of his presidency could only be judged a total failure. He did not make things better for Americans for 6 years, and he changed the political landscape in America toward big government forever. For the first phase of his presidency I personally would rank FDR in the number 32nd place as "best" president, below Benjamin Harrison and William Taft (equally ranked 30th), and John tyler in 31st place.

The second phase of his presidency was a wondrous success. His policies made American a superpower following World War II and resulted in a far better world than the one created after World War I. Most would argue that the ensuing Cold War was inevitable, regardless of how the United States approached the Soviet Union. FDR laid the foundation for a post World War II world that prevented a World War III, no small feat. Once again, in my opinion, I would rank FDR number 3 in the list of "best" presidents, only exceeded by George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

Znaki, November 23, 2008

Answer 2

Historians rank Franklin D. Roosevelt high amongst the other presidents of the United States, in most surveys he is in the top 5