The United States of America has had 45 men serving in 47 presidencies. While Grover Cleveland and the sitting president, Donald Trump, became presidents twice, they didn’t serve consecutive terms, as they had a gap in between their two terms. On the other hand, presidents like Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, and George Washington were among the presidents to have two consecutive terms.
However, the 32nd president of the country, Franklin D. Roosevelt, was a major exception. His tenure was twice that of the other presidents. Before him, there was a two-term tradition, although there was no legal term limit. However, Roosevelt served four terms, becoming the only president to achieve the feat. His long years at the office were because of his leadership and public trust. The democratic party member led the country through the great depression and World War 2, allowing him to gain public trust. After completing the third term, just months into his fourth term, he passed away due to massive cerebral hemorrhage.
Interestingly, serving more than two terms wasn’t the only thing that made him stand out as the president. Franklin D. Roosevelt started his presidential run in 1933 in a wheelchair, as he was disabled, but he was able to cleverly hide it from the general people.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was disabled in 1921 at the age of 39
Franklin D. Roosevelt was in a wheelchair because she was permanently disabled— more than a decade before he even ran for the presidency. FDR was permanently disabled in 1921 in his lower body because of an abrupt illness. As in the 1920s, the science wasn’t as advanced as today, the condition was ruled out as polio or paralytic poliomyelitis. At the time of the diagnosis, he was only 39 years old.
The modern doctors of the 21st century ruled out that his condition was polio. A research in 2003 suggested that his condition might have been Guillain-Barre syndrome also known as GBS. Given the type of paralysis he had, it was more of a GBS than polio.
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Following the official diagnosis, the iconic president took all necessary steps to cure the disease, but couldn’t find a way. He spent years in physical therapy, visiting the best physical therapist in the country at the time. Additionally, he also took help of hydrotherapy. Although those procedures helped with his mobility, it didn’t erase the dependency on a wheelchair.
As a prominent public figure, FDR used the wheelchair in public . For his daily mobility, the 32nd president of the United States built a custom-made wheelchair just from his kitchen chairs with the legs removed and mounted onto a metal chassis, making it easily transportable. Given that it happened a century ago, he didn’t have the technological advances for a superior wheelchair like the scientist Stephen Hawking’s wheelchair did.
Franklin D. Roosevelt didn’t use a wheelchair in public
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s legs didn’t work like normal, but he had a public image to maintain with his rising political career. To avoid appearing ‘weak’ as one of the biggest political figures in the country, he refrained from using a wheelchair during his public appearances. While it was a hard decision, he learned to adapt it efficiently.
The former president used heavy 10-pound steel leg braces publicly, which easily hid under his trousers. As it locked his knees in one place, it allowed him to stand and make minimal movements. He also discovered a “two-point walk” process where he would lean on the cane and on the shoulder of his assistant or son, creating a public mirage that he was indeed taking a walk on his own.
Moreover, FDR had a gentleman’s agreement with the press. While he regularly attended press conferences, the photographers were not allowed to click his pictures, especially when he is on a wheelchair or being carried with help. As a result, there are only a handful of pictures of Roosevelt using a wheelchair. Needless to say, had he lived in this era of social media and smartphones, that wouldn’t have been possible, with the recent presidents like Joe Biden and Donald Trump remaining under constant scrutiny for their public appearances.
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s political rise didn’t stop because of disability
As his disability was carefully handled as a public secret, it wasn’t a barrier for him in his political ascent. After the official diagnosis at the age of 39, he spent time in rehabilitation and therapy at Warm Springs, Georgia, where he resided.
As a democratic party leader, he made a comeback to the political landscape in 1924 and became the New York governor in 1929 despite his physical challenges. During his term between 1929 and 1932, he probably gave interviews sitting, while he primarily used a car to make big movements m
Then, after winning the election, he served an unprecedented four terms before his demise. His presidential tenure lasted from 1933 to 1945, which included the Great Depression and World War 2. As a president, he would use the same tactics as a governor to maintain the public image. When he gave powerful speeches standing, he would often firmly grip the podium that would hold his weight.
Since the most powerful man in the country during the 1930s and 40’s dealt with disability, he attempted to help the disabled community of the United States. He was the founder of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis in 1928, which is now known as the March of Dimes. The non-profit organization played a pivotal role in developing polio vaccines.
Franklin D. Roosevelt is widely considered one of the greatest presidents of American history, alongside George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. He has broken the barrier, proving that physical limitations can’t stop someone from reaching a stature becoming one of the influential people in the country and the world. While there have been many notable names who have overcome disabilities to reach great heights, FDR remains one of them. He inspired generations in the 20th century— a time when the disability and wheelchair were still seen as signs of weakness by a myriad of people.
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Avik Das
- Avik is a professional content writer with more than seven years of experience, contributing to renowned brands and specializing in a wide range of niches. He holds a Master's Degree in English Literature. He navigates ADHD every day and is committed to empowering the disabled community through his writing and perspective.
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