Free I Wish I Knew That: U.S. Presidents: Cool Stuff You Need to Know by Editors Of Reader's Digest, Patricia Halbert Page B
Authors: Editors Of Reader's Digest, Patricia Halbert
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The Great Depression
When Franklin Roosevelt became president in the middle of the Great Depression, millions of Americans were out of work, poor, and homeless. And there was no end in sight to their misery and suffering. In his first speech, FDR gave hope. “This great nation will endure as it has endured, will revive, and will prosper,” he said. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
He charged into the job, starting many programs that gave people a “new deal” and put them to work. Believing that the federal government should help the needy, he provided aid to the unemployed, farmers, businessmen, and bankers. Social Security payments were created to help sick, elderly, and disabled Americans. His wife, Eleanor, worked tirelessly to help the poor and inspired many Americans to do the same. After four years, the economy seemed to be improving, and he won re-election.
A New Challenge
In Roosevelt’s second term, a new war broke out in Europe when Hitler’s Nazi Germany invaded Poland. Even though the U.S. stayed out Europe when Hitler’s Nazi Germany invaded Poland. Even though the U.S. stayed out of the war at first, American factories made weapons and war supplies to help England, France, and other friends fighting Germany. Without entering the war, the U.S. was able to support the war effort—and put more Americans back to work.
PRESIDENTIAL FIRST
President Franklin Roosevelt was the first president to ride in an airplane.
Pearl Harbor
When Japanese planes attacked American ships anchored at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, the United States entered World War II and fought it for the next four years. FDR was a true commander in chief, studying battle plans, appointing field commanders, and, using the radio to talk to Americans, keeping the nation solidly behind the war. His radio broadcasts gave Americans confidence and hope during the darkest days of the war.
A Disabled President
FDR became the only U.S. president to win four straight elections. He also was the only physically disabled president—he contracted polio when he was 39 and learned to get around with braces and crutches, and, eventually, in a wheelchair. Because photographers agreed not to publish photographs of him in a wheelchair, most people didn’t know about his condition.
PRESIDENTIAL FIRST
FDR was the first president to appoint a woman to his cabinet. In 1933, he chose Frances Perkins as his Secretary of Labor.
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FUN FACT
Roosevelt loved to collect stamps. His stamp collection included over a million stamps at the time of his death (though many weren’t worth much money).
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Big Successes
When FDR died suddenly of a brain hemorrhage, the country was at work again, victory in the World War II was just around the corner, and the United States had a new place of respect in the world. He died as one of the most beloved, admired, and respected leaders in history.
In 1997, a memorial to him was unveiled at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Only three other presidents have been given the same honor—Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln.
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ON THE MONEY
The last time you broke open your piggy bank to spend your treasure trove of coins, did you look at the images of the U.S. presidents that appear on them? Here are the values of presidential U.S. coins in circulation today, the president on the front of them, what appears on the back, and the date the coin was first issued:
FUN FACT
* The Lincoln cent was issued in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth.
* The original image of Thomas Jefferson, created by Felix Schlag, appeared on the nickel from 1938 to 2006. The design was chosen from among those created by 390 artists.
* When Franklin Roosevelt died in 1945, the Treasury Department received many requests to honor the late president by placing his portrait on a coin. In 1946, the dime with John R. Sinnock’s portrait was released on FDR’s birthday,
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The Great Depression
When Franklin Roosevelt became president in the middle of the Great Depression, millions of Americans were out of work, poor, and homeless. And there was no end in sight to their misery and suffering. In his first speech, FDR gave hope. “This great nation will endure as it has endured, will revive, and will prosper,” he said. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
He charged into the job, starting many programs that gave people a “new deal” and put them to work. Believing that the federal government should help the needy, he provided aid to the unemployed, farmers, businessmen, and bankers. Social Security payments were created to help sick, elderly, and disabled Americans. His wife, Eleanor, worked tirelessly to help the poor and inspired many Americans to do the same. After four years, the economy seemed to be improving, and he won re-election.
A New Challenge
In Roosevelt’s second term, a new war broke out in Europe when Hitler’s Nazi Germany invaded Poland. Even though the U.S. stayed out Europe when Hitler’s Nazi Germany invaded Poland. Even though the U.S. stayed out of the war at first, American factories made weapons and war supplies to help England, France, and other friends fighting Germany. Without entering the war, the U.S. was able to support the war effort—and put more Americans back to work.
PRESIDENTIAL FIRST
President Franklin Roosevelt was the first president to ride in an airplane.
Pearl Harbor
When Japanese planes attacked American ships anchored at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, the United States entered World War II and fought it for the next four years. FDR was a true commander in chief, studying battle plans, appointing field commanders, and, using the radio to talk to Americans, keeping the nation solidly behind the war. His radio broadcasts gave Americans confidence and hope during the darkest days of the war.
A Disabled President
FDR became the only U.S. president to win four straight elections. He also was the only physically disabled president—he contracted polio when he was 39 and learned to get around with braces and crutches, and, eventually, in a wheelchair. Because photographers agreed not to publish photographs of him in a wheelchair, most people didn’t know about his condition.
PRESIDENTIAL FIRST
FDR was the first president to appoint a woman to his cabinet. In 1933, he chose Frances Perkins as his Secretary of Labor.
----
FUN FACT
Roosevelt loved to collect stamps. His stamp collection included over a million stamps at the time of his death (though many weren’t worth much money).
----
Big Successes
When FDR died suddenly of a brain hemorrhage, the country was at work again, victory in the World War II was just around the corner, and the United States had a new place of respect in the world. He died as one of the most beloved, admired, and respected leaders in history.
In 1997, a memorial to him was unveiled at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Only three other presidents have been given the same honor—Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln.
1 ¢
25 ¢
ON THE MONEY
The last time you broke open your piggy bank to spend your treasure trove of coins, did you look at the images of the U.S. presidents that appear on them? Here are the values of presidential U.S. coins in circulation today, the president on the front of them, what appears on the back, and the date the coin was first issued:
FUN FACT
* The Lincoln cent was issued in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth.
* The original image of Thomas Jefferson, created by Felix Schlag, appeared on the nickel from 1938 to 2006. The design was chosen from among those created by 390 artists.
* When Franklin Roosevelt died in 1945, the Treasury Department received many requests to honor the late president by placing his portrait on a coin. In 1946, the dime with John R. Sinnock’s portrait was released on FDR’s birthday,
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