Franklin+Roosevelt+-+TSP09

Roosevelt was one of those men that you could only hope to even get a glimpse of, and when you met him, you had to smile. He had all the necessities of a great president - wisdom, intelligence, charisma. In spite of his waist-down paralysis, Roosevelt persevered through our nation's worst depression and a World War; the fact that he could joke about his sickness made it seem as if he had sprained his ankle. But not only did he seek to better himself, he also sought to better the United States and the entire world. Although I was largely unheard of during the first two terms of Franklin Roosevelt's presidency, those were perhaps the most important years - the years during which his New Deal reforms were occurring. In retrospect, the policies did not directly instrument the end of the Depression; yet, they were a symbol of Roosevelt's drive, his efforts to mend the shattered nation and its suffering inhabitants. The citizens looked at him, and saw hope for the future. I looked and saw much the same thing.

-Dwight D. Eisenhower