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Last photograph of Roosevelt, taken April 11, 1945, the day before his death
Roosevelt's funeral procession in Washington, D.C., watched by 300,000 spectators, April 14, 1945

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Final months and death

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When Roosevelt returned to the United States from the Yalta Conference, many were shocked to see how old, thin and frail he looked. He spoke while seated in the well of the House, an unprecedented concession to his physical incapacity.[1] During March 1945, he sent strongly worded messages to Stalin accusing him of breaking his Yalta commitments over Poland, Germany, prisoners of war and other issues. When Stalin accused the Western Allies of plotting behind his back a separate peace with Hitler, Roosevelt replied: "I cannot avoid a feeling of bitter resentment towards your informers, whoever they are, for such vile misrepresentations of my actions or those of my trusted subordinates."[2] On March 29, 1945, Roosevelt departed for the Little White House in Warm Springs, Georgia, to rest before his anticipated appearance at the founding conference of the United Nations.[3]

In the afternoon of April 12, 1945, in Warm Springs, Georgia, while sitting for a portrait by Elizabeth Shoumatoff, Roosevelt said: "I have a terrific headache."[3][4] He then slumped forward in his chair, unconscious, and was carried into his bedroom. The president's attending cardiologist, Howard Bruenn, diagnosed a massive intracerebral hemorrhage.[5] At 3:35 p.m., Roosevelt died at the age of 63.[6]

The following morning, Roosevelt's body was placed in a flag-draped coffin and loaded onto the presidential train for the trip back to Washington.[7] Thousands flocked to the route to pay their respects. After a White House funeral on April 14, Roosevelt was transported by train from Washington to his birthplace at Hyde Park. On April 15 he was buried, per his wish, in the rose garden of his Springwood estate.[8] One of the attendees at the funeral was Edith Wilson, widow of Woodrow Wilson, the other World War president.[9]

Roosevelt's declining physical health had been kept secret from the public. His death was met with shock and grief across the world.[10] Germany surrendered during the 30-day mourning period, but Harry Truman (who had succeeded Roosevelt as president) ordered flags to remain at half-staff; he also dedicated Victory in Europe Day and its celebrations to Roosevelt's memory.[11] World War II ended with the signed surrender of Japan in September.[12]

Burial

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Graves of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt in Hyde Park, New York

References

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  1. ^ Dallek 1995, p. 520.
  2. ^ Burns 1970, p. 587.
  3. ^ a b "Franklin D. Roosevelt Day by Day – April". In Roosevelt History. Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum Collections and Programs. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
  4. ^ "President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies at 63 in 1945". Daily News. New York. April 13, 1945. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  5. ^ Jones, Jeffrey M.; Jones, Joni L. (September 2006). "Presidential Stroke: United States Presidents and Cerebrovascular Disease". CNS Spectrums. 11 (9): 674–78. doi:10.1017/S1092852900014760. PMID 16946692. S2CID 44889213.
  6. ^ Andrew Glass (April 12, 2016). "President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies at age 63, April 12, 1945". Politico. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  7. ^ "Roosevelt Funeral Train". c-span.org. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  8. ^ Dallek 2017, p. 620.
  9. ^ Kluckhohn, Frank (April 15, 1945). "Nation Pays Final Tribute to Roosevelt As World Mourns; Hyde Park Rites Today". The New York Times.
  10. ^ Allies Overrun Germany (video). Universal Newsreel. 1945. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  11. ^ McCullough, David (1992). Truman. Simon & Schuster. pp. 345, 381. ISBN 978-0-671-86920-5.
  12. ^ Leuchtenburg 2015, pp. 243–52.

Sources

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