I was born only a couple weeks before Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected president in 1932. He was our “great hope” to bring America out of the “Great Depression!” My earliest memories of FDR were from our family gatherings in our living room around our huge Philco radio, intently listening to the President expertly delivering his “Fireside Chats”… conversations with Americans concerning the troubling times of the Depression and the development of his government programs to alleviate the horrendous situation. Personally, the most memorable and important radio “Fireside Chat” occurred on December 8th, 1941, about 10 days after my 9th birthday. Historical annals have recorded the chat as, “A date which will live in infamy!” All of America, as did my parents, brother, sister, and myself were “glued” to our radio listening to every word our highly esteemed President uttered with his inimitable, dynamic passion. “December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy. The United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan!” Within an hour Congress passed a declaration of war on Japan, as Great Britain had done just hours earlier. Then followed a declaration of war on Germany. Almost four years of World War Two ensued. On April 12th 1945, at age 63, President Roosevelt died at his “Little White House” in Warm Springs, Georgia. This shocking, greatly upsetting tragedy occurred during the Passover-Easter holiday period. Only 6 days earlier my paternal grandpa had passed away. As an impressionable 12 -1/2 year old, this period of history is forever embedded in my memory! Less than a month later, on May 8th, the war in Europe ended. [Note: FDR delivered a total of 30 "Fireside Chats"... the first occurring on March 12, 1933.]
On President’s Day : Boyhood Memories of FDR
