When Franklin Roosevelt was little, he loved collecting stamps and playing with his dog. He had no idea that he would one day become America’s longest-serving president!
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, or FDR, was born in New York in 1882. Growing up, he admired his cousin Teddy Roosevelt. Teddy became president in 1901.
FDR followed in Teddy’s footsteps. He was elected president in 1932 and was later re-elected three times. He led the nation longer than any other president in history.
FDR faced challenges, though. Because of a disease called polio, he could not walk. He used a wheelchair from the time he was 39.
As president, FDR helped the U.S. recover from the Great Depression, a period when many Americans were out of work. He also led the nation during World War II (1939-1945). Today many Americans remember him as a leader who guided the nation through tough times.