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Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial |
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Freedom of Speech In his 1941 State of the Union Address, as the national prepared for war, President Franklin D. Roosevelt spelled out "Four Freedoms" as a reminder of what we must fight for. From the days of his first Presidential campaign during the depths of the Great Depression, Roosevelt spoke directly to the people. "I pledge you, I pledge myself," he said in his 1932 acceptance speech, "to a new deal for the American people." Four years later, he proclaimed that "this generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny." throughout his Presidency, 1933-1945, he addressed America by radio in what came to be known as fireside chats. Each idea, each phrase was underscored by courage and optimism that inspired no less in the people he served. More than 50 years after Roosevelt's death, his own words call out from the walls of his memorial as if eh were somehow present. those of us who know FDR only as an historical figure will recognize these words by their association with great and catastrophic events. For the many Americans who lived through the Roosevelt years, the words recall personal struggles and triumphs during 12 years that seemed like a lifetime FDR: A Brief Chronology
The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial is one of the most expansive memorials in the nation. Yet its shade trees, waterfalls, statuary, and quiet alcoves create the feeling of a secluded garden rather than an imposing structure. The memorial is divided into four outdoor galleries, or rooms, one for each of FDR's terms in office. The rooms are defined by walls of red South Dakota granite and by ornamental plantings; quotations from FDR are carved into the granite. Water cascades and quiet pools are present throughout. Each room conveys in its own way the spirit of this great man. A sculpture of the Presidential seal is mounted inside the entryway. The first room introduces FDR's early presidency, when he launched the New Deal in response to the worst economic crisis of the century. A relief sculpture depicts his first inauguration. In the second room, sculptural groups - an urban breadline, a rural couple, and a man listening to a fireside chat - recall both the despair and the hope of the time. New Deal social and economic programs are depicted in bronze panels. A grassy berm between the second and third rooms marks the historical point at which Roosevelt and the nation confronted World War II. In the third room, Roosevelt appears as a seated figure; his beloved dog Fala sits nearby. The fourth room honors the life and legacy of FDR. A sculptural relief of Roosevelt's funeral cortege hangs in an alcove. The statue of Eleanor Roosevelt commemorates her role as First Lady, as well as her later work as United Nations delegate and champion for human rights. In the plaza is a timeline of important dates and events from the extraordinary life of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Until the addition of the statute to the FDR Memorial in January 2001, nearly four years after the Memorial opened in the Nation's Capital, few Americans realized that Franklin Roosevelt triumphed on the world stage from a wheelchair. Even in his own day, only Roosevelt's closest associates knew the extent of his disability. At age 39, Roosevelt's political career was well underway when, in August 1921, he contracted the dreaded crippling disease known as polio. He never walked another step without assistance. Fearing the public would view his paralysis as a weakness, Roosevelt carefully concealed his disability. He developed techniques to walk and stand for short periods, with the help of aides and heavy leg braces. He designed an unobtrusive wheelchair for his daily use at the White House. With determination, Roosevelt overcame his physical limitations to campaign successfully for Governor of New York in 1928 and again in 1930. In 1932, he was elected the 32nd President of the United States. During 12 years in the White House - longer than any other U.S. President - he led the nation out of the Great Depression and to victory in World War II - all from his wheelchair. Roosevelt also led
efforts to conquer the disease that disabled him. He started the Georgia
Warm Springs Foundation, known today as the Roosevelt Institute for
Rehabilitation. He founded the March of Dimes, which ultimately led to
the Salk vaccine and near elimination of polio throughout the world.
In deference to Roosevelt's own wishes to minimize his disability, the FDR Memorial originally minimized it as well. Only a single caster visible under the cape of the seated Roosevelt in the Third Room suggested he used a wheelchair. But many people believed the story of his personal challenges should be told. "Ignoring FDR's disability in the Memorial missed a central part of my grandfather's identity," Christopher Roosevelt stated. "His battle with polio helped forge his leadership qualities...." Wheelchair Statute Completes the Story The National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.) led a campaign to complete the story at the Memorial. N.O.D. raised $1.65 million in private funds for a sculpture of Roosevelt in his wheelchair. The National Park Service constructed a new entrance where the statue by Robert Graham adds a prologue to FDR's four terms as President. The words of Eleanor Roosevelt, inscribed in stone behind the statute, give enduring testimony to FDR's personal struggle: "Franklin's illness...gave him strength and courage he had not had before. He had to think out the fundamentals of living and learn the greatest of all lessons - infinite patience and never-ending persistence." With the added statute, the FDR Memorial becomes more than a tribute to Franklin D. Roosevelt's leadership. It inspires people to recognize - in themselves and in others - the human potential to rise above adversity.
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