America's Greatest 20th Century Presidents by Charles River Charles River Editors
Authors: Charles River Charles River Editors
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waist down.
Roosevelt was understandably devastated, especially because polio was an illness usually contracted during childhood. He initially refused to accept the diagnosis and spent the next few years searching for a cure. Most famously, he tried recuperating at a spa in Warm Springs, Georgia, but to no avail. Roosevelt would be bound to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He used leg braces and crutches to move, but he could never walk independently again.
Chapter 3: Governor of New York, 1922-1932
Smoothing Relations with Tammany Hall
One of the reasons FDR was so hell bent on finding a cure for his illness was that he understood the permanent damage it might have on his political career. In addition to searching out ways to heal, he maintained a cheerful and sunny demeanor intended to suggest to people that his physical strength was improving. FDR assumed it would bolster his political fortunes.
Despite his 1921 diagnosis, FDR still had his eye cast firmly on his political future. During the early 1920s, he devoted much of his political activities to improving relations with Tammany Hall. Although he had been on the national scene in the Wilson Administration and the vice presidential run, to date the only elected office he had successfully held was a local one representing Hyde Park in the New York State Senate. His home town was a bastion of wealth with no major Irish Catholic or union constituents, but Roosevelt learned in his 1914 failed U.S. Senate run that any Democrat needed the support of Irish Catholics to win statewide office in New York.
Roosevelt thus set out recruiting support from Tammany. His most famous public move in this regard was his two-time support for Al Smith, the first Catholic to be nominated for President. Roosevelt helped Smith win the New York Governorship in 1922 and supported Smith against his cousin, Theodore Roosevelt Jr., in 1924. This move especially was viewed favorably by Tammany Hall. Roosevelt also gave nominating speeches supporting Smith for President in 1924 and 1928, and his 1928 advocacy resulted in Smith's nomination for the Presidency.
Governor of New York
The same year Smith ran for President, the candidate returned Roosevelt's long-standing support by advocating that Roosevelt run to succeed him as Governor of New York. Roosevelt was reluctant to run for Governor and only did so at Smith's urging. Roosevelt still held hopes that he could recover from his paralysis, which he thought limited his ability to succeed politically.
After significant prodding, Roosevelt opted into the race for Governor. He campaigned enthusiastically, but his candidacy was nearly engulfed by rumors that he was too weak to govern. Luckily, his prominence and popularity prevailed, and Roosevelt won the election by a paper-thin margin, with a less than one percent margin of victory over his opponent. This was even more of a success given the national results the Democrats suffered in 1928: Al Smith even lost his home state of New York, and was crushed in his race for the Presidency.
The Beginning of the Depression
Roosevelt's term as Governor coincided with the dawning of the economic catastrophe with which he would be permanently linked. Sworn in in 1929, Governor Roosevelt was confronted by economic depression within months of his inauguration.
While Herbert Hoover attempted without success to fix the economy on a national level, Roosevelt used the Depression to build nationwide stature. He began to advocate a relatively novel idea – that the economy would not fix itself but needed help from government. President Hoover and the Republicans continued to rely on market economics, expecting the economy to end its bust and turn itself around.
Among Roosevelt's major reforms as Governor was the creation of an unemployment relief agency. He also created numerous other social programs aimed at
Roosevelt was understandably devastated, especially because polio was an illness usually contracted during childhood. He initially refused to accept the diagnosis and spent the next few years searching for a cure. Most famously, he tried recuperating at a spa in Warm Springs, Georgia, but to no avail. Roosevelt would be bound to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He used leg braces and crutches to move, but he could never walk independently again.
Chapter 3: Governor of New York, 1922-1932
Smoothing Relations with Tammany Hall
One of the reasons FDR was so hell bent on finding a cure for his illness was that he understood the permanent damage it might have on his political career. In addition to searching out ways to heal, he maintained a cheerful and sunny demeanor intended to suggest to people that his physical strength was improving. FDR assumed it would bolster his political fortunes.
Despite his 1921 diagnosis, FDR still had his eye cast firmly on his political future. During the early 1920s, he devoted much of his political activities to improving relations with Tammany Hall. Although he had been on the national scene in the Wilson Administration and the vice presidential run, to date the only elected office he had successfully held was a local one representing Hyde Park in the New York State Senate. His home town was a bastion of wealth with no major Irish Catholic or union constituents, but Roosevelt learned in his 1914 failed U.S. Senate run that any Democrat needed the support of Irish Catholics to win statewide office in New York.
Roosevelt thus set out recruiting support from Tammany. His most famous public move in this regard was his two-time support for Al Smith, the first Catholic to be nominated for President. Roosevelt helped Smith win the New York Governorship in 1922 and supported Smith against his cousin, Theodore Roosevelt Jr., in 1924. This move especially was viewed favorably by Tammany Hall. Roosevelt also gave nominating speeches supporting Smith for President in 1924 and 1928, and his 1928 advocacy resulted in Smith's nomination for the Presidency.
Governor of New York
The same year Smith ran for President, the candidate returned Roosevelt's long-standing support by advocating that Roosevelt run to succeed him as Governor of New York. Roosevelt was reluctant to run for Governor and only did so at Smith's urging. Roosevelt still held hopes that he could recover from his paralysis, which he thought limited his ability to succeed politically.
After significant prodding, Roosevelt opted into the race for Governor. He campaigned enthusiastically, but his candidacy was nearly engulfed by rumors that he was too weak to govern. Luckily, his prominence and popularity prevailed, and Roosevelt won the election by a paper-thin margin, with a less than one percent margin of victory over his opponent. This was even more of a success given the national results the Democrats suffered in 1928: Al Smith even lost his home state of New York, and was crushed in his race for the Presidency.
The Beginning of the Depression
Roosevelt's term as Governor coincided with the dawning of the economic catastrophe with which he would be permanently linked. Sworn in in 1929, Governor Roosevelt was confronted by economic depression within months of his inauguration.
While Herbert Hoover attempted without success to fix the economy on a national level, Roosevelt used the Depression to build nationwide stature. He began to advocate a relatively novel idea – that the economy would not fix itself but needed help from government. President Hoover and the Republicans continued to rely on market economics, expecting the economy to end its bust and turn itself around.
Among Roosevelt's major reforms as Governor was the creation of an unemployment relief agency. He also created numerous other social programs aimed at
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