I.

Introduction

Roosevelt, Franklin Delano (1882-1945), 32nd President of the United States (1933-1945); elected for an unprecedented four terms, he was one of the 20th century's most skilful political leaders. His New Deal programme, a response to the Great Depression, utilized the US federal government as an instrument of social and economic change in contrast to its traditionally passive role. Then, in World War II, he led the Allies in their defeat of the Axis powers.