Our "American Hero" stepped forward in 1933. It was Franklin Delano Roosevelt, America's 32nd President of the United States of America.

Born January 30, 1882 Hyde Park, New York
Died April 12, 1945 Warm Springs, Georgia

In August, 1921 Franklin D. Roosevelt contacted an illness diagnosed at the time as polio; which resulted in permanent paralysis from the waist down.

ROOSEVELT'S FIRST HUNDRED DAYS IN OFFICE

Setting priorities for his first term in 1933 was easy for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He had to save America from economic ruin. He had to at least begin to pull America out of our Great Depression. He did, and he did it during his first hundred days.

On his first day in office, March 4, 1933 FDR called Congress into a special session. He then proceeded to drive a series of bills through Congress that reformed the U.S. banking industry, saved American agriculture and allowed for industry recovery.

At the same time, FDR wielded the executive order in creating the Civilian Conservation Corp, the Public Works Administration, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. These projects put tens of thousands of Americans back to work building dams, bridges, highways and much needed public utility systems. By the time Congress adjourned the special session on June 16, 1933, Roosevelt's agenda the "New Deal" was in place. America, though still struggling, was off the mat and back in the fight.

Not all of the "New Deal" worked and it took World War II to finally solidify the nation. Yet, to this day, Americans still grade the initial performance of all new presidents against Franklin D. Roosevelt's "First hundred Days."

During their first hundred days, all new presidents try to harness the carryover energy of a successful campaign by at least starting to implement the main programs and promises coming from the primaries and debates.

During some part of their first hundred days, Congress and the press generally allow new presidents a "Honeymoon Period," during which public criticism is held to a minimum. It is during this totally unofficial and typically fleeting grace period that new presidents often try to get bills through Congress that might face more opposition later in the term.


- President Roosevelt dominated the American political scene, not only during the twelve years of his Presidency, but for decades afterward. He orchestrated the realignment of voters that created the fifth party system. FDR's New Deal coalition united labor unions, big city machines, white ethnics, African Americans and rural white Southerners. President Roosevelt's diplomatic impact also resonated on the world stage long after his death, with the United Nations and Bretton Woods as examples of his administration's wide-ranging impact. President Roosevelt is consistently rated by scholars as one of the greatest U.S. Presidents. -


Source: About.Com US Government Info
Source: Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia

Q: What is the Fifth Party System?

A: The Fifth Party System refers to the era of American national politics that began with the New Deal in 1933. This era emerged from the realignment of the voting blocs and interest groups supporting the Democratic Party into the New Deal Coalition following the Great Depression.

Q: What does the term Bretton Woods mean?

A: An agreement signed by the original United Nations members in 1944 that established the International Money Fund (IMF) and the post-world War II international monetary systems not fixed.