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Franklin Delano Roosevelt was diagnosed with Poliomyelitis in 1921 at the age of 39 and was survivor but lost the use of his legs.[1] Franklin was the first President of the United States to have a physical disability and he suffered from infantile paralysis. While in the public eye Franklin was rarely seen in a wheelchair despite not being able to walk on his own. During his presidency it became an unspoken rule to photograph the president in his most vulnerable moments such as getting out of a car.[2] Franklin during his life after his diagnosis became an advocate to all disabled people and helped create a center for fellow polio victims. The public knew of his situation yet elected him and Franklin showed the country that a person in his condition could still be a man that could hold a position of power.[3]

History

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Diagnosis

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Franklin Roosevelt’s home state of New York was struck with a Polio outbreak in 1916, which affected thousands of children and would somehow infect FDR, changing his life forever.[1] . In 1921 Franklin traveled with the Boy Scouts of America to Bear Mountain where he would get infected with Polio[1].

Symptoms of Polio began to appear while Roosevelt was on a yacht, the Sabalo, with Van Lear Black.[4]  While on the yacht they travelled to Campobello and it’s there the first signs of Polio began to appear. One of the first signs was when he went overboard in the Bay of Fundy and stated “I’d never felt anything so cold as that water. I hardly went under, hardly wet my head because I still had hold of the tender, nut the water was so cold it seemed paralyzing.”[4]  Following going to Campobello he meet with his family and fell ill. Franklin suffered from a headache, nausea, body pain and a fever.[1]

Franklin D. Roosevelt was diagnosed with Poliomyelitis, more commonly known as Polio, in 1921 when he was 39 years old. [1] After falling ill Franklin went through four doctors. The first doctor he encountered was William Keen, who was from Philadelphia; he claimed Franklin had a blood clot.[1] The second doctor was Samuel Levine, upon meeting Franklin and talking to him about how he was feeling he suggested he should be tested for Poliomyelitis. Levine was the one who diagnosed Franklin.[1] He meet the third doctor Robert Lovett; he believed that Franklin could make a full recovery from the illness.[1] The last doctor was George Draper, FDRs personally physician, Draper knew that the future President wouldn't be able to make a full recovery. [1] Franklin was never able to make a full recovery and suffered from infantile paralysis for the rest of his life.[1]

Warm Springs

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October 3, 1924 was the first time Franklin traveled to Warms Springs, Georgia and it soon became his home away home.[5] For many years to come Warm Springs would be where Franklin would retreat in comfort and do rehab for his legs.[5] At Warm Springs they practiced hydrotherapy. [5] On April 29, 1926 he bought the land that Warm Springs was on and reconstructed center.[5] From then on FDR poured his whole being into making it the best place to for polio patients.[5] One of the major goals that FDR wanted was to get the American Orthopedic Association to endorse the resort but was rejected because there was no real progress in physical health.[6] Franklin had high hopes for the center but abandoned them to focus on his main goal in life, being the President.[5]

Governor and President

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In 1929 Franklin became the Governor of New York. Upon becoming the governor he moved into the governors mansion in Albany but before he could move in, the mansion had to go under construction due to Roosevelt's health.[7] Ramps were placed around the mansion to make his stay there easier. [7]The mansion was made wheelchair friendly and had an elevator installed.[7] When running for President, Franklin wasn’t a normal candidate, he was different and that’s how he ran for president. At the time nominees didn’t go to their respective parties to get their official nomination but FDR did. Franklin Roosevelt won the election that year by a landslide and become the first and so far only disabled person to be President of the United States.

In 1933 Franklin became the 32nd President of the United States and beat the Republican nominee Herbert Hoover who was the previous president. Before moving to Washington DC to live in the White House, like what happened to the mansion, the house needed to be wheelchair friendly and ramps were set everywhere. [2]To avoid the public FDR addressed the country through the radio and when he was shown on TV he was a confident man.[2] Any pictures of the President were take at certain angles and were taken at a distance.[2]

Towards the end of his presidency Franklin was getting weaker and travel became much harder to bear.[8] When meeting with Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin at the Yalta Conference a photo was taken of the three of them. Stalin and Churchill were meant to be standing which FDR was sitting[8]. Out of respect for the President both of them sat down in picture.[8] During this time the President was visible ill and people questioned whether he was healthy enough for his position.[8] Franklin's wife, Eleanor, fought for her husbands’ health in proving he was fit to be president during his life and even after.[9]

Memorial

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In 1991 the construction of President Roosevelt Memorial began in Washington D.C and wasn't completed until 1997. Leading up the opening of the memorial was meet with controversy. The controversy behind the memorial stemmed from a statue of the former President in a wheel chair.[10] Many believed that the former shouldn’t have been displayed as a disabled person because it would ruin the image the country had of him. [10] Leading up to the unveiling of the memorial President Clinton meet with National Organization on Disability where he reassured them he would keep the statue as planned.[11] In his speech at the opening of the memorial, ay 2, 1997, he stated,

“[FDR] said over and over again in different ways that we had only to fear fear itself. We did not have to be afraid of pain or adversity or failure, for all those could overcome. He knew that, of course, for that is exactly what he did. And with his faith and the power of his example we did conquer them all- depression, war, and doubt.[12]

“…by showing Franklin Roosevelt as he was we show the world that we have faith that in America you are measured for what you are and what you have achieved, not what you have lost”[12]

Social Impact

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FDR was the United States first disabled president and has been the center of controversy due to his health. Many have questioned whether he was fit to be president due to his condition and how he handled his health. In Hugh Gallagher's book, "FDR's The Greatest Deception" his analysis of the past President argues that FDR was so desperate to appear normal.[13] When discusses his limited use of a wheelchair in the public Gallagher states, "This was not by accident. It was a strategy served to minimize the extent of his handicap, to make it unnoticed when possible and palatable when it was noticed."[13] Historian James Tobin also wrote a book which analyzed his life, "FDR The Man He Became: How FDR Defied Polio to Win the Presidency". In his book he argues that FDR used his disability to his advantage Tobin states when discussing trying to get the public to vote for him, " But he could , instead, show himself to be something he had never been seen as before: a fighter and, and better yet, an underdog; not a man to pity, not a man to envy, but man to cheer."[14] But despite the controversy he has become a figure for disabled people around the world.

In the early 20th century it was very common to find hidden crippled or disabled people[15]. Crippled people were looked down on and were often cursed to lived a life alone. Many would be supported by they’re family because companies would hardly hired disabled people[15].  In a survey that was taken by 600 major employers at the time that were asked if they would hire a crippled person, which only 25% said they would.[16] The other 75% responded with, “ We naturally do not employ the affiliated when we have sound material at hand.”[16] Franklin suffered from infantile paralysis, which according to James Tobin states that people “thought of an immigrant child living in rags in a filthy tenement." [16]However Franklin changed that belief by spreading awareness around the country. By spreading awareness ad raising money to disabled people he help bring them out of shadows and helped break down the image of them.

Years after FDRs' death the government add the ramps back and made all federal buildings handicap friendly.[17] The act was done to honor his legacy and what he did for the country during his presidency. [17] FDR also had his house in New York turned over to the National Park Service and could be visited.[17]

March Of Dimes

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Also see March of Dimes

The March Of Dimes, first known as the National Foundation, which was a foundation by Franklin to help raise money for Warm Springs and Polio victims.[3] The foundation started when FDR started throwing parties in which people donated money to that go to helping Warm Springs.[3] The Foundation wouldn't receive its name until 1937. After going public with the foundation more people became involved with the cause.[3] The March of Dimes help spread public awareness about the disease and it affects. His foundation is still around and has branched out to help more people.[3]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Tobin, James (2013). The Man He Became: How FDR Defied Polio to the Presidency. 1230 Avenue of the America New York, NY 10020: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks. pp. 13–87. ISBN 978-0-7432-6516-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  2. ^ a b c d Gallagher, Hugh (1985). FDR’s Splendid Deception. New York: Mead & Company, Inc. pp. 88–105. ISBN 0918339502.
  3. ^ a b c d e Gallagher, Hugh (1985). FDR’s Splendid Deception. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc. pp. 145–152. ISBN 0918339502.
  4. ^ a b Gallagher, Hugh (1985). FDR’s Splendid Deception. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc. p. 1. ISBN 0918339502.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Gallagher, Hugh (1985). FDR’s Splendid Deception. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc. pp. 34–44. ISBN 0918339502.
  6. ^ Tobin, James (2013). he Man He Became: How FDR Defined Polio to Win the Presidency. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks. pp. 222–226. ISBN 0743265165.
  7. ^ a b c Gallagher, Hugh (1985). FDR’s Splendid Deception. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc. pp. 68–87. ISBN 0918339502.
  8. ^ a b c d Gallagher, Hugh (1985). FDR’s Splendid Deception. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc. pp. 202–207. ISBN 0918339502.
  9. ^ K., C. (1956). "Wife says doctors cleared roosevelt". 'newspaper'.
  10. ^ a b Rabinowitz, Dorothy (1997). "A Full Measure of FDR and His Enemies". 'newspaper'.
  11. ^ Stout, David (Apr 24, 1997). "Clinton Calls for Sculpture of Roosevelt in Wheelchair". 'newspaper'.
  12. ^ a b Gallagher, Hugh (1985). FDR's Spendid Deception. Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc. p. 214. ISBN 0-918339-50-2.
  13. ^ a b Gallagher, Hugh (1985). FDR's Splendid Deception. New York: Mead & Company, Inc. pp. XIV. ISBN 0918339502.
  14. ^ Tobin, James (2013). The Man He Became: How FDR Defined Polio to Win the Presidency. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks. p. 273. ISBN 0743265165.
  15. ^ a b Tobin, James (2013). The Man He Became: How FDR Defined Polio to Win the Presidency. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks. pp. 91–93. ISBN 0743265165.
  16. ^ a b c Tobin, James (2013). The Man He Became: How FDR Defined Polio to Win the Presidency. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks. p. 94. ISBN 0743265165.
  17. ^ a b c Gallagher, Hugh (1985). FDR’s Splendid Deception. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company. pp. 208–214. ISBN 0918339502.
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