Franklin D. Roosevelt

This act authorized the building of highways throughout the nation, which would be the biggest public works project in the nation's history.    » read more »

On June 26, 1945, in San Francisco, the United Nations was established. Article 111 of its charter indicated that "The present Charter, of which the Chinese, French, Russian, English, and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall remain deposited in the archives of the Government of the United States of America. Duly certified copies thereof shall be transmitted by that Government to the Governments of the other signatory states."    » read more »

Signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 22, 1944, this act, also known as the GI Bill, provided veterans of the Second World War funds for college education, unemployment insurance, and housing.    » read more »

Issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 19, 1942, this order authorized the evacuation of all persons deemed a threat to national security from the West Coast to relocation centers further inland.    » read more »

Joint Address to Congress Leading to a Declaration of War Against Japan (1941)

On December 8, 1941, the day after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered this "Day of Infamy Speech." Immediately afterward, Congress declared war, and the United States entered World War II.    » read more »

Executive Order 8802: Prohibition of Discrimination in the Defense Industry (1941)

In June of 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8802, banning discriminatory employment practices by Federal agencies and all unions and companies engaged in war-related work. The order also established the Fair Employment Practices Commission to enforce the new policy.    » read more »

President Franklin Roosevelt's Annual Message (Four Freedoms) to Congress (1941)

This speech delivered by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on January 6, 1941, became known as his "Four Freedoms Speech," due to a short closing portion describing the President's vision in which the American ideals of individual liberties were extended throughout the world.    » read more »

President Franklin Roosevelt's Radio Address unveiling the second half of the New Deal (1936)

In this radio address, President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced a second set of measures to combat the Great Depression, which become known as the Second New Deal. These included a series of new relief programs such as the Works Progress Administration.    » read more »

Biography of Vice President Henry Agard Wallace (1941-1945)

Presidency of Franklin Roosevelt

No matter what he does, it is always going to seem faintly ridiculous, and no matter how he acts, it is always going to seem faintly pathetic—at least to the cold-eyed judgments of the Hill. —Allen Drury    » read more »

Biography of Vice President John Nance Garner (1933-1941)

Presidency of Franklin Roosevelt

—John Nance Garner    » read more »

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933 - 1945)

Assuming the Presidency at the depth of the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt helped the American people regain faith in themselves. He brought hope as he promised prompt, vigorous action, and asserted in his Inaugural Address, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

Born in 1882 at Hyde Park, New York--now a national historic site--he attended Harvard University and Columbia Law School. On St. Patrick's Day, 1905, he married Eleanor Roosevelt.    » read more »

SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 1945

Mr. Chief Justice, Mr. Vice President, my friends, you will understand and, I believe, agree with my wish that the form of this inauguration be simple and its words brief.

We Americans of today, together with our allies, are passing through a period of supreme test. It is a test of our courage--of our resolve--of our wisdom--our essential democracy.

If we meet that test--successfully and honorably--we shall perform a service of historic importance which men and women and children will honor throughout all time.    » read more »

MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 1941

On each national day of inauguration since 1789, the people have renewed their sense of dedication to the United States.

In Washington's day the task of the people was to create and weld together a nation.

In Lincoln's day the task of the people was to preserve that Nation from disruption from within.

In this day the task of the people is to save that Nation and its institutions from disruption from without.    » read more »

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1937

When four years ago we met to inaugurate a President, the Republic, single-minded in anxiety, stood in spirit here. We dedicated ourselves to the fulfillment of a vision--to speed the time when there would be for all the people that security and peace essential to the pursuit of happiness. We of the Republic pledged ourselves to drive from the temple of our ancient faith those who had profaned it; to end by action, tireless and unafraid, the stagnation and despair of that day. We did those first things first.    » read more »

SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 1933    » read more »