THE GREATEST DRAMA

the greatest drama for memorable story of the great among us written by you the people [Applause] [Music] [Applause] this chapter FDR the story of Franklin Delano Roosevelt it was 1942 President Franklin Roosevelt had become leader of the United Nations in the blackest days of World War two reading the United Nations Declaration he prayed for divine guidance grant us honor on offer are dead who died in the faith honor for all living will work and strive for the faith redemption and security for all captive lands and peoples gratis patients with a diluted and pity for the betrayed and in that faith let us march march toward the clean world our hands can make amen the man who read that prayer was born and raised in a mansion at Hyde Park New York Franklin Roosevelt was a handsome child he grew up in a happy atmosphere of wealth and affection Roosevelt entered harvard university in 1900 high marks came easy plenty of spending money no problem after graduation marriage to cousin Eleanor a pleasant sheltered life the New York State Capitol with FDR's first political goal no more pampering they wanted to use his legal training and talent in 1910 he was elected to the state Senate when the United States entered the first world war Roosevelt was assistant secretary of the Navy the war years were years of growth by the end of the war FDR had a national reputation he was 39 years old full of charm and ambition the future seemed bright then one day into a New York City Hospital FDR had been struck down by infantile paralysis he was crippled permanently it was a fearful blow but he refused to despair at Warm Springs Georgia he swam to improve his leg muscles meanwhile he planned a political comeback the new goal to become governor of new york roosevelt was elected in 1928 it was a great reward for great courage with his family's help FDR had overcome misfortune the Democratic convention of 1932 there Roosevelt was nominated for president in spite of his physical handicap he was the party's biggest book yet [Music] he accepted the nomination with humility it was a great honor and a tremendous burden for a man in his condition the campaign tour was often pure agony he never complained stomping the country which was deep and economic depression he pledged an end to bread lines and a new deal for the American people [Applause] [Music] arrest with his mother when the campaign ended although exhausted he radiated optimism [Music] an election night the optimism was justified look my friends way like a real landslide this time inauguration day 1933 the end of President Hoover's administration the beginning of the Roosevelt era driving with Hoover to the inauguration FDR silently rehearse the speech to restore faith to confused hungry people so first of all let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself settled in the White House the new president went to work he had conquered personal despair now he had to relieve the despair of a nation to do so he created the famous alphabetical agencies of the New Deal their purpose to fight the depression to provide work and security soon the factories reopened unemployed men returned to their jobs America's sick industry took a sharp turn for the better farmers were helped financially to save their land and harvest their crops and from Roosevelt's desk throat a huge program of Public Works pressing the button he put into operation a great new system of dams flood controlled and electricity for the people FDR could say truthfully fear is vanishing and confidence is growing on every side thus optimistically Roosevelt ended his first term in the White House [Music] Hyde Park 1936 Franklin Roosevelt vacation there with his grandchildren although his new deal was under fierce attack he enjoyed his fishing trips retained his famous smile but the happy days were numbered [Music] Europe and Asia bombs were beginning to fall Chinese cities in flames the people refugees thousands dead and millions groaning under the heel of the ruthless Japanese invaders [Music] benito mussolini the italian dictator reviewed the black shirt heroes of the Ethiopian invasion fascism was spreading like the Black Plague [Music] the Nazi swastika waved over Central Europe Hitler's brown shirts had given him a stolen empire drenched in blood but the Fuehrer wanted more he ordered the invasion of Poland and the second world war began in the free worlds most dangerous our FDR shattered tradition inaugurated as president for the third time in the crisis he felt he must stay in harness [Applause] next year on the American Cruiser Augusta the president received a distinguished visitor Winston Churchill had come to urge an american declaration of war it was refused the United States would not fight until she was attacked that time was not far off predicted Churchill and he was right i ask that the congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by japan on sunday december 7 1941 a state of war has existed between the united states and the japanese empire on Roosevelt felled a new burden to rally the nation for a war of survival [Music] only a handful of drafty is in the beginning but they were the forerunners of a mighty army huge armament plants sprang up overnight they were inspected by the president he seemed to be everywhere at once calling for more and faster production for the growing army more tanks more jeeps and weapon carriers more convoys Casablanca scene of the first great war conference there Roosevelt and Churchill agreed to accept only unconditional surrender then a meeting with Chang of china by now overwork was sapping the president strength at tehran with stalin Roosevelt was weary could he go on much more amid rumours that he was mortally sick FDR campaigned for a fourth term as president to silence those rumors he rode in a rainstorm through New York City the fourth term inauguration it was without President Roosevelt was Haggard as they took the old the rumors of illness had been well founded but he drove himself on without mercy his only concern now is to win the war with Winston Churchill he journeyed to far-off Russia to attend the Yalta Conference at Yalta the war leaders tackled the problems of a peace settlement day and night they labored at the conference table it was enough to break the strength of any man meanwhile Germany was falling but for Franklin Roosevelt victory came too late [Music] Roosevelt gone struck down at the moment of triumph it was hard to believe for some owners he had been the only president they had ever known to millions he had been friend and protector now goodbye [Music] franklin roosevelt's political record might be debated but this much was sure the man was great of all his alphabetical arrangements the greatest was FDR [Music] be with us again next week at this time when the greatest drama true film biographies of the great among us again comes your way