Nelly Favis-Villafuerte Many of us are familiar with the saying that “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” These were the famous words of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, during his inaugural address as US President. Popularly known by his initials “FDR”, President Roosevelt has been rated consistently by historians, scholars, writers, and media commentators as one of the top three U.S. Presidents along with Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. Here are some interesting trivia about FDR: •Do you know that FDR was elected by the American people for four (4) times as President of the United States – a feat that is unconstitutional nowadays; •Do you know that FDR was born on January 30, 1882 in the Hudson Valley town of Hyde Park, New York. His parents, mostly of English descent come from wealthy old New York families. A far contrast from the lineage of US President Abraham “Abe” Lincoln; •Do you know that FDR grew up in an atmosphere of privilege. When he was young, he made frequent trips to Europe with his parents. No wonder, FDR became conversant in German and French; •Do you know that FDR was an average student academically in Harvard College. While a Harvard student, he once said: “I took economic courses in college for four years and everything I was taught was wrong.” (Quoted in an internet report) •Do you know that FDR’s role model and hero while at Harvard was his distant cousin Theodore “T.R.” Roosevelt, Jr. who later became President of the United States. Ironically however, FDR campaigned for T.R.’s opponent William Jennings Bryan, a candidate for president; •Do you know that FDR and his wife Anna Eleanor Roosevelt were fifth cousins. They got married when FDR was twenty-two (22) years old and Eleanor was nineteen (19); •Do you know that FDR in his late thirties was struck down with polio? Surprisingly, there were Americans then who were not aware until the very end that FDR was a cripple; •Do you know that FDR was a Democrat who won a historic record as the US president in four (4) presidential elections from March 1933 to his death in April 1945; •Do you know that FDR had a series of failures in his life before he became a US president confirming and validating the fact even ordinary and/or failures and/or cripples can changed history and can change the world like successful men; •Do you know that FDR was elected as US president during the mid-20th century leading the Americans during a time of world-wide economic depression and total war; •Do you know that President FDR’s program for relief, recovery and reform economy during the economic depression was known as the New Deal which was a federal government program of great spending and expansion. FDR launched what was then known as the “one hundred days” to generate more economic activities in the midst of the economic depression. FDR created numerous activities to support the unemployed and the farmers; •Do you know that FDR’s dominant rule in leading the nation and the free world to victory in the Second World War was cut short by his poor health which fatally failed on the eve of victory. FDR died on April 12, 1945; •Do you know that FDR’s first presidential inauguration on March 4, 1933 occurred in the middle of a bank panic. This was the backdrop of his famous words: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself;” •Do you know that when FDR contracted polio in August 1921 while the Roosevelts were vacationing at Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada, he developed permanent paralysis from worst down; •Do you know that when FDR was inaugurated as President on March 4, 1933, US was experiencing the worst depression in history - and that a fourth of the workforce were unemployed and prices of agricultural products fell by sixty (60%) percent. Also, at that time, two (2) million people were homeless and in thirty-two (32) of the 48 states then (and also the District of Columbia) had closed their banks. Worse, the New York Federal Reserve Bank was not able to open because of heavy withdrawals by panicky depositors. In the light of these alarming situations, FDR left a lasting legacy to the American people. He gave them hope… that despite the glooming economic situation, everything will end up well. That America will outlive all the economic obstacles then. That America will survive! •Do you know that until his death FDR had romantic affairs outside his marriage. In fact, one of FDR’s affairs was with his social secretary Lucy Mercer which started in early 1914 and lasted till his death. Lucy was with FDR on the day he died; •Do you know that the world’s most photographed dog belonged to FDR. FDR’s dog named Fala was FDR’s companion during his stay in the White House; •Do you know that FDR’s accomplishments before he became President were very ordinary. In fact, if FDR did not become a US president, he would be rated as a very ordinary man who did not change history. But as God destined it, FDR’s name is remembered by American as one of the greatest US Presidents. Have a joyful day! (For comments/reactions please send to Ms. Villafuerte’s email: [email protected]).