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7. Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the only American president to serve four terms. FDR was in office during some of the darkest times in American history. He was president during the Great Depression and took measures to greatly increase the powers of the federal government during this challenging period. To attempt to alleviate the hardship endured by Americans during the Great Depression, FDR and his administration enacted a series of programs which were known as the “New Deal.” These reforms saw greater government-regulation of the economy in areas such as housing, labour, industry, and agriculture among others.
The New Deal also sought to come to the aid of the “forgotten” American in the wake of mass unemployment during the Great Depression. A number of Social Security benefits were introduced including old-age and widow’s benefits, unemployment compensation and disability insurance. Other measures were introduced to improve the working conditions of people employed in certain industries, with the setting of maximum working hours as well as a minimum wage.
FDR was president during the Second World War and the stresses and strains placed on him during the conflict had a detrimental effect on his health. In March 1945 FDR underwent tests at a hospital which revealed that he had atherosclerosis (a disease which causes fatty deposits known as plaque to build up in arteries), coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure. One month later, on April 12, 1945, FDR suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage and died. FDR’s death aged 63 was a massive shock to the American public. He was replaced by his vice president, Harry S. Truman, who was sworn in within hours of FDR’s death.