Where does FDR rank in your league table of US Presidents?

Truman: “Is there anything I can do for you?” Eleanor Roosevelt: “Is there anything WE can do for YOU? For you are the one in trouble now.”

The one thing Roosevelt Churchill and Stalin had in common they were all smokers and all 3 died of stroke

This must have been very sad for most of the troops in their late teens/early 20s. A 20-year old soldier only would have been about 7 when FDR was first elected, so he was effectively the only president they ever really knew.

Interesting to note, is when FDR had a rejuvenated day two days before his death, is extremely common. Majority of people suffering from terminal illnesses often report that a day, a week, or a couple of days before their death, will describe feeling rejuvenated, excited, happier, etc. Doctors, physicians, etc still don’t know how this occurs but it happens. Now again this isn’t true for everyone, but for the majority of people with illnesses and nearing their deaths, it is true.

13:50 I am impressed by the response of the Japanese Prime Minister.

When interviewing my grandmother for a school project years ago, I asked her about FDR, and among the things she told me was that the paralysis was never much of secret. It was just never a topic of discussion among her own social circles.

My father, grew-up in the great depression. My grandmother, a single mother, had 11 children. At the head of the dinner table hung a photo of FDR, because he was the "man of the house" feeding the family durring the depression. My oldest uncle went on to die in Germany near the end of the war. My father, at 15 years old, lied about his age, and joined the marines and faught in the pacfic. He later volunteered again to join the marines for Korea, after receiving a draft notice by mistake. The draft board was not expecting someone so young to be a vet, and thus exempt. He decided since he was already there, he would volunteer again. My long point to make is, that an entire generation of boys viewed FDR as their father. So, when he called them to fight, it was more than a patriotic act. It was family. FYI, the GI bill sent my father to law school, bought our family multiple houses, and eventually made it possible to send my entire family (5 siblings) to get higher education. FDR, was a pretty good father and grandfather to millions of Americans. He brought my family from poverty, to most of us are at least squarely in the middle class, and some of us even much better. all in less than a generation.

A common criticism of FDR is that, despite his obvious health issues, he did almost nothing to include his likely successor Truman into the decision making process. Truman was not even briefed on the existence of the Manhattan project. This resulted in a period of confusion and some abrupt policy shifts at a very critical moment in time which definitely impacted how the early stages of the Cold War would play out.

One of FDR's most brilliant programs was the Civilian Conservation Corps. It built much of the infrastructure for parks and forests. In doing so, it provided money to millions of families and it trained and prepared millions of young men for military service. The New England Hurricane of 1938 tore up millions of huge trees. CCC groups were brought in to help clean up. The logs were sent to saw mills and the government stockpiled millions of board feet of lumber. A few years later, that lumber was used to build military bases. A personal note: my father crossed the Atlantic 6 times and participated in 6 landings in Europe during WWII. They were attack by Nazis many times. In 1959, he was showing me damage from the Hurricane of '38 in Stonington, CT and said that as bad as things got in WWII, the Hurricane was worse. We were looking at a huge barge that was about a km inland from the shore. Good Luck, Rick

During his lifetime, FDR was almost never photographed in a wheelchair, but often with his cigarette. Today, portraits and sculpture often show the wheelchair, never the cigarette.

He definitely was one of the most influential people of the 20th century, without a doubt. It's a shame he never got to see the end of the war with it being so close in Europe and 4 months away in Japan. I never knew he had paralysis until I began watching this channel and it's incredible he managed to become president and didn't let himself be hindered with his disability.

My grandmother stood beside the railroad tracks in NE Georgia with thousands of others as his funeral car slowly rolled past them on the way back to Washington. Born in 1932, he was the only president she had known her whole life.

My mother was a 24 year old 1st Lieutenant in the nursing corp in the USA 3rd Army over in Occupied Germany when Roosevelt died. Ask my Mom how she felt when she heard of his death, Mom said he was the only President she ever knew. He led the country during the great depression and was her commander in chief during World War II. She trusted him It was devastating at the time. She exhibited, that I witnessed , incredible sadness when Kennedy was assassinated.

"Our victory... You're victory was so close, I wish you could have lived to see it"

As a disabled person myself. I find FDR to be a truly inspiring person. The greatest U.S President in my opinion.

Didn't know about the Japanese reaction to FDR's death. On another note, the picture of a very frail FDR was the last photo of him, and the painting in the middle was left unfinished after he died. He had sat for that painting when he expressed his last words about feeling pain in the back of his head and then slumped right afterwards, dying immediately.

Strange that of all the months of the war. April 1945 saw the loss of three leaders of major participants. Though not much of the world cried over the other two

I don't know if it is your diction, cadence, tone, or whatever, but you bring history to life in a way that is both entertaining and informative. Where were you when I was suffering through my high school history classes? Keep up to excellent work! Please.

Roosevelt's last words "I have a terrific pain in the back of my head".

As a Brit, FDR did everything he could to keep us in the fight in the period when it was us against Italy and Germany alone. Lend lease and opening up US factories to us. M3 Stuarts were as good as our cruiser tanks at the time, and more reliable. M3 mediums were better than anything we had in North Africa, if not perfect. Hudsons/P40s/Wildcats/half tracks/jeeps all helped us when a hostile congress would have denied us access to them.

My late father in law was American but he lived in Canada close to Buffalo NY and he never changed his citizianship and he said that FDR " Was the greatest Presadent we ever had "

Roosevelt's (4th) Inaguraul speech is completely under appreciated and rings more true today than ever before post-WW2....

13:53 didn't know about the Japanese response. Interesting.

RIP to one of our greatest presidents. Also, Goebbels and Hitler really thought this was another Miracle of the House of Brandenburg. Spoiler alert: it was not lol

13:48 Which reminds me the statement from a German general whose name I can't remember: "The best thing after a good friend is a good enemy." Kantaro's statement was very chivalrous.

I recommend everyone watching this video consider a trip to Campobello International Park near St Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada. It offers tours of the Roosevelts’ family summer home and has a visitors centre. It is jointly administered by both the American and Canadian governments. Before he was president he was able to be summer there every year while as president he schedule allowed him only to briefly visit in 1933, 1936 and 1939.

The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith. Rest in Peace Mr. President

Learned a lot from this. Perhaps most surprising was the message of condolence from Japanese Prime Minister Suzuki. That demonstrated class, respect and honour to a fallen foe.

Noticed the Dr limits his health reference to just 1 year.

I respect Japan's prime minister's comment. Even if Roosevelt was the president of Japan's enemy he was still a respectable leader.

Interesting note is that a few newspapers also listed FDR in its military obituaries

Imagine never being able to see the final victory that you fought so hard to achieve.

He’s at least top 3. For me it goes: Lincoln, FDR, Washington. In that order. No others endured such a heavy burden for the nation.

One of the great statesman of the XX century. We remain in need of spirits such as his in our current tumultuous times.

Truman: What is this Manhattan Project, and why was I completely unaware of its existence?

To anyone interested in learning more about FDR, I would recommend a trip to the Roosevelt Home and Museum in Hyde Park. It ranks as one of the best Presidential homes I've ever toured, and you can enjoy lunch afterwards at the CIA. No, not the Central Intelligence Agency, but the Culinary Institute of America, set above the scenic Hudson River Valley. As for Eleanor Roosevelt, she holds a special place for me as she was on the first Board of Trustees for my alma mater, Brandeis University, where my daughter is currently an undergraduate student. Interesting story about Truman. He was having drinks with his friend Sam Rayburn when he was called to go to the White House. When Truman arrived, Eleanor told him that FDR had died. Truman, ever the gentleman, said "Is there anything I can do for you, Mrs Roosevelt." She looked at him and replied "Is there anything we can do for you? You are the one in trouble now."

I was talking to my dad last night and he said the public was shocked that such a mild mannered man would drop the atomic bomb. Just a note from someone who lived through WW2. He is 93. Good job, Indy!

Thanks for highlighting his achievements in war and peace, which he and many millions of others would not live to see

For some reason, as a grown man, I cannot help but weep whenever I think about Roosevelt in his last months. He is a President that I, nor my father, ever knew. And yet, I weep for the man. He was the Greatest President elected by The People. To tell yourself otherwise, is to ignore the reality of what that man, and those working for him, accomplished.

Its doesn't seem to be on KZfaq anymore, but the David Reynolds did a fantastic documentary on FDR. Absolutely humanising the larger than life figure.

a good and brilliant man who saved the free world

Thank You, quality is it own reward!

It's amazing to watch the old footage of the train carrying him back to Washington, with so many people lining the tracks, and then the funeral procession in Washington. It just seems like so much more than it is today, probably because it was so well deserved. His accomplishments are inspiring!

With the end of World War II coming to a close in this series, will the coverage you created be available on DVDs in the future? I think they would be useful to history teachers from the high school level and college level in teaching the realities of the war.

It is not an exaggeration to say that lend-lease cut at least a year off the war.

There is a really nice park and museum in Warm Springs Georgia. I can highly recommend it as worth your time.

People forget just how stressful the presidency is. A lot of them worked themselves to early graves.

FDR died on my Dad's 26th birthday while his Army unit was heading toward the end of its war. My Dad was gunner in a new model tank since he was a great shot. He spent over 400 days in combat and would have been 105 today! If only we can be worthy of what that generation did!

This was a really wonderful summary...as always.

Great reports Indy and friends! Congratulations. Every American should watch it with pride.

Led the country through the triplet disasters of the Great Depression, Dust Bowl, and WW2. Simply our greatest leader.

Excellent special episode Indy & team.

Incredible narration, even by Indy's standards. There is not a corner of this planet untouched by the United Nations or the superpower that came into being from 1932 to 1945.

13:53 well, we have a Jose Paulus, a Smiling-Albert, and now a Kangaroo Suzuki.

Love the clarity of those recordings of his voice.

Bravo, Indy, Sparty, Astrid and Team. Best description of FDR’s last days I’ve ever heard.

My favorite quote about my favorite President: “He lifted himself from a wheelchair to lift the nation from its knees.”

Thanks!

Excellent as usual thank you.

Excellent video. Very balanced.

once again.. Bravo

We'll never know for sure, but I wonder how FDR would have approached the use of the atom bomb? Another great episode from the Time Ghost team!

This is a masterful presentation. I am delighted, amazed and grateful for your work.

these Documentars are so interesting, thank you for making them (:

If I have learned something from this entire series that would be the fact that FDR was the only descent human being among all the other leaders

Not a perfect president but the president we needed for a moment in history

He sounds much more tired in that speech than he did in previous ones. You can hear him fading.

Very impressive video, to me. Concise, full of data and put forth in an intelletually, entertaining manner. ☮

Didn’t realize he was only in his late 60s when he died. He appeared much much older.

One of the greatest presidents, no doubt

Thank you.

Really informative. Well done.

World leaders' reactions to FDRs passing: Molotov: We are so sorry for your loss Chrurchill: He was a great man Susuki: He was an admirable person Hitler: Dude, this is the best copium ever, dude. (Snorts a long line)

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

I very much enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

His last campaign stop was here in massachusetts at fenway park

He held the free world together. My favourite president of all time.

Thank you

Hi Indy Nice special. Thanks

April 15th is the most important day in US history because of all the events Lincoln died, fdr buried, tax day and alot more I editied out one cause it was wrong

Bowels of the Fuhrerbunker. I like that. After all, what do we find in bowels.

Thank you for another interesting and informative video .

Very well done!

Wow! I didn't know about the japanese reaction! That has interesting! Thank you guys!

Most people fully recover from even worst case Guillain-Barré syndrome, FDR having that seems to be a far reach imho. The war and the presidency really took a toll on him, to me he looked a lot older than his 63 years when he died.

Love this series, absolutely pragmatic and comprehensive. Truman exceeded everyone’s expectations following an amazing FDR. Thank you for this KZfaq gem. One question: was Churchill’s reason Prosaic?… 🤔

Thank you all of you for this wonderful documentary this is perhaps your finest work thank you for all of your hard work God bless you all and carry on with the good work

I was deleting some old e-mails and I found this one from my mother. She was 18 in 1945 when Roosevelt died. "I remember the day as if it were yesterday. I was at Tennessee Wesleyan. Even though it was still early Spring, it was a warm day and some friends and I had gone to the home of a lovely woman in Athens to swim. She had told us we could come any time. When we re-turned to the campus, I went to Lawrence Hall, not my dorm, to a friend's room and, weary from the exercise and heat, I flopped on a bed and went sound to sleep. Later, someone came dashing into the room and announced that FDR had died. I was flabbergasted. He was like my father. I, although 18, had never known any other President. None of us could believe it and we sat around morosely talking in hushed tones about him. I remember being aware of the thousands who lined the railroad tracks as his body was taken from Warm Springs to Washington. I remember the tears of everyone, including mine, but especially those of so many blacks, many males, too, as they prayed and watched the train slowly moving past where they stood. Of course this was all seen in newsreels in the movies and in newspapers. While I was in college, I hardly ever listened to radio. I did not even have one, but on the day the Nazis surrendered in Germany, I was standing in a parlor in Ritter Hall at TWC with my most dear friend Madame Emmy Land Wolff,[a German Jewish lady] and you can imagine what this meant to her. She nearly squeezed my hand off as we listened and tears rolled down her face. This meant that in time she could return to her homeland and regain some of the property and money that the Nazis had confiscated. Well, son, thanks for reminding me. Those were momentous times. That summer of 1945, I went to work for awhile at Oak Ridge, and on returning home to Cedartown to prepare for my invasion of UTC and Chattanooga, the bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the beginning of the present nuclear era. I was dumbfounded to learn I had been working to facilitate the making of those atom bombs. [Mama worked in the typing pool] In one sense, I owe my life to Franklin D. Roosevelt. When he became President in 1932, somehow food became more available, clothes were made available to those who needed them, and plants and mills began to re-open so that people could go back to work. As young as I was, I could immediately see a new optimism and hopefulness among the people of my small hometown. I remember jobless young men going off to work in the forests through the CCC and jobless husbands found work to do in building, road work, and other enterprises through the WPA. I taught in a school in Lakeview which had been built by the WPA. Suffice it to say that Roosevelt's optimism and great personality brought about great changes in the country, and I never have been hungry again. Thanks for reminding me that today, April 12, 2005 is the sixtieth anniversary of his death. He was truly great and I loved him."

Great comentary again!!!

Winston Churchill, said of F.D.R., "Meeting him was like opening one's first bottle of champagne".

I didn’t even know he was sick!

RIP Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945)

I was born 6 days before President Roosevelt and 5 months before the end of WWII. What a time to be born !

America and much of the world has forgotten the lessons of WW2.

A lot of people today need to hear, and live out, his last inauguration speech.

I have no clue if this guy is a teacher or what but i absolutely love his storytelling abilities. Great channel!

Indy-Thanks fort such a great video on FDR's life. Adding that FDR might not have had polio, but instead Guillain-Barre was a great point. He is just a much a casualty of war as someone on the front lines. One of his biographers stated that 1944 and 1945 were the hardest since FDR could handle the politics of war, but he had limited influence on the military side. Especially after late 1943 when US Forces began the campaigns that would defeat Japan and Germany in 1945.

Is the reason FDR's polio didn't factor in much because it was such a common illness back than?

We have to look at history from a factual standpoint and Roosevelt, like all great leaders, did make morally questionable decisions at time. The reigns of power and the horrors of war make it difficult to be the knight in shining armor, and we must admit that such things happened. When necessary, we must criticize. But overall, I think we should view Roosevelt's legacy as a great one, one that we should ask many modern leaders to inspire themselves from, all the while leraning from the mistakes that were made. On April 12, 1945, the world lost what is arguably one of its greatest lights. We should strive to light many more like FDR.