By Paul M. Sparrow, Director, FDR Library. There is only one speech in American history that inspired a multitude of books and films, the establishment of its own park, a series of paintings by a world famous artist, a prestigious international award and a United Nation’s resolution on Human Rights. That speech is Franklin D. Roosevelt’s … Continue reading The “Four Freedoms” speech remastered
By Paul Sparrow, Director, FDR Library. One day before the 74th anniversary of President Roosevelt’s historic address to Congress in response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor it is important to examine the true meaning of the speech, and how it came to be. It is rare when a presidential speech transcends the political … Continue reading The True Story Behind the Most Important Speech of the 20th Century
By Paul M. Sparrow, Director, FDR Library. On November 19, 1939, the cornerstone for the Franklin Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum was laid in a very public ceremony. In front of an audience of nearly 1,000 people Roosevelt spoke about his personal connection to the land on which the library was built. He described his vision … Continue reading A Cornerstone of our Democracy
By Paul M. Sparrow, Director, FDR Library. There is always a lively debate when people discuss “the most important” presidential elections in American history. Abraham Lincoln’s victory in 1860 and his leadership during the Civil War, the peaceful transfer of power from John Adams to Thomas Jefferson in 1800, and the 1932 election of Franklin … Continue reading The Most Important Presidential Election in History
By Paul M. Sparrow, Director, FDR Library. On Oct. 20, 1944 Gen. Douglas MacArthur waded ashore on Leyte Island in the Philippines and fulfilled his promise to return. The charismatic and dashing General was one of the most famous American military leaders in the world and his dramatic return to his beloved Philippines was a … Continue reading “I Have Returned!” – General MacArthur and FDR
By Paul M. Sparrow, Director, FDR Library. The many faces that grace American currency are all men. Most of them are presidents who made great contributions to the history of the United States. But they represent only 50% of our population. The Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Jacob Lew, has started a public conversation about … Continue reading It’s Time to put Eleanor Roosevelt on the $10 bill
By Paul Sparrow, Director, FDR Library. As we enter into the quadrennial campaign for the White House, it is informative to look back at one of Franklin Roosevelt’s most memorable campaign moments. There were many, as he was a ferocious campaigner who loved being on the hustings, but one of the most effective concerned his … Continue reading Defending Fala – A Lesson in Effective Campaigning
By Paul M. Sparrow, Director, FDR Library. Few people realize what an environmental advocate Franklin D. Roosevelt truly was. Or how frequently he invoked the Bible in his speeches. Ronald Isetti in his article “The Moneychangers of the Temple: FDR, American Civil Religion, and the New Deal:” states that “Few presidents employed biblical symbols, religious … Continue reading FDR, Christianity and the environment
It is one of his finest broadcasts, a passionate sermon on the importance of democracy and the threat that dictatorships pose to all free people.
One of the best things that can happen at the Roosevelt Library is when a member of the public makes a personal connection with one of the artifacts or documents on display in our Museum. Such an encounter occurred just this week— and, by chance, it relates directly to the 70th anniversary of President Roosevelt’s … Continue reading Remembering FDR
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