In FDR's day, there was no Constitutional amendment barring a President from taking a third term. The two-term limit on Presidency was until that time self-imposed. George Washington refused to run for a third term, though he would have easily won. His reasoning was that more than two terms would give too much power to the incumbent, and subsequent presidents followed suit.
FDR's decision to run for a third term was widely criticized. In 1944 he was able to win an unprecedented fourth term in despite failing health, primarily because the country didn't want to elect a new chief executive while the country was deeply at war.
Following Roosevelt's death, a constitutional change was proposed that would prevent anyone from being elected to the presidency more than twice. It was passed by Congress in 1947 and ratified by two-thirds of the states in 1951, becoming the 22nd amendment to the Constitution.
There was an understanding that presidents did not serve more than two terms because that was what George Washington, the first president, had served. There was no law, however, so he could continue running for re-election ad infinitum. It was not a law until Congress passed the 22nd Amendment in 1951, limiting a president to two terms in office.
The 22nd amendment didn't pass until after his death. His term of 12 years showed a failing of the term of office for the Presidency and to prevent another person from serving that long or longer the amendment was written/passed.
There was no amendment prohibiting holding office for more than two terms. In addition, through tremendous popularity, most people didn't mind him taking unprecedented power.
At the time, there was no official limit on terms for President, which is why he was able to win four elections. A few years later, the 22nd Amendment passed and set the limit to two terms.
Franklin Roosevelt
the only president to serve more than two terms in office was Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt held office for three and one half terms.
Franklin Roosevelt was the only president to serve more than two terms. He took office on March 4, 1933 and stayed in office until he died on April 12, 1945, having begun his fourth term on January 20, 1945/
Nothing, because he died while in office.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt served the most terms as president of the United States. He was elected to four terms in office, serving from 1933 until his death in 1945.
The individuals that served the longest in the executive office of the president are a number. There many who served two full terms but Franklin Roosevelt is the one who served the longest as he managed to stay in office for three full terms.
During President Franklin Roosevelt's time in office, there were no term limitations. Presidential term limtations came into effect with the 22nd Amendment to the Consitiution which was ratified on February 27, 1951. FDRs time in office was from 1933 to 1945.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Three full terms and about 2 1/2 months of a fourth term.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to four terms and served three and a fraction terms before dying in office.
Franklin D. Roosevelt ... 12 years (3 terms) 1933 to 1945. The 22nd Amendment has since been ratified and prevents any US President from seeking a 3rd term.