By Paul M. Sparrow, Director, FDR Library. Throughout American history our presidents have struggled to find the right balance between the highest ideals of our founding charters and the cold realities of national security. This is especially true in times of war. President John Adams passed the Alien and Sedition Acts, Abraham Lincoln suspended the … Continue reading Images of Internment
By Paul M. Sparrow, Director, FDR Library. Franklin D. Roosevelt is the only person who will ever have FOUR presidential inaugurations (thanks to the 22nd Amendment.) And each and every one of his inaugurations was historic in its own way. Every president from Washington to Roosevelt had been inaugurated in March. Why? Because the U.S. … Continue reading FDR’s Four Historic Inaugurations
By Paul M. Sparrow, Director, FDR Library. In January, 1943, President Roosevelt embarked on a secret mission that would determine the course of World War Two, and ultimately the world we live in today. His destination - Casablanca, Morocco. His goal - to finalize Allied military plans with the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. It … Continue reading The Casablanca Conference – Unconditional Surrender
By Paul M. Sparrow, Director, FDR Library. It was the worst day of his presidency, the worst day of his life – and the worst military defeat in American history. President Franklin Roosevelt’s beloved Navy lay in smoking ruins in Pearl Harbor, as the Japanese Empire launched well-coordinated attacks across a 4,000 mile front. The Nazis … Continue reading Day of Infamy
By Paul M. Sparrow, Director, FDR Library, with Reagan Brown, intern. 80 years ago, on July 29th 1936, Franklin D. Roosevelt visited Campobello Island for the next to last time. It was a short visit, just two days, and it was only the second time he had returned since he came down with polio there … Continue reading Summertime, and the Livin’ is easy…
By Paul M. Sparrow, Director, FDR Library. The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum is swarming with Pokemon Go characters. Visitors are wandering around staring at their phones, and catching them left and right. I’ve caught four and I never played the game before and only spent ten minutes at it. We have several Poke … Continue reading Pokemon Go has come to the FDR Presidential Library and that’s a good thing.
By Paul Sparrow, Director, FDR Library. The relationship between the Roosevelt family and the Dutch royal family, known as the House of Orange, is both charming and historically significant. New York and the Hudson River Valley were both originally settled by Dutch pioneers. And the Netherlands was the first country to recognize the United States. … Continue reading The Roosevelts and the House of Orange
By Paul M. Sparrow, Director, FDR Library. On January 6, 1941 President Franklin Roosevelt delivered his State of the Union address. He had just been elected to an unprecedented third term in office, and he decided to use this speech to articulate his vision for the future in the face of a global war between totalitarianism … Continue reading The Four Freedom Awards
By Paul Sparrow, Director, FDR Library. Art is the window to man's soul. Without it, he would never be able to see beyond his immediate world; nor could the world see the man within. - Lady Bird Johnson “The Roosevelts’ Art: Personal Stories” is a special exhibit running from April 1 until April 30th in … Continue reading The Roosevelts’ Art: Personal Stories
By Paul M. Sparrow, Director, FDR Library. The current debate about the appointment of a Supreme Court Justice during a presidential campaign is a political distraction because the constitution is clear on this. But the core issue about the importance of the President’s power to select Justices is vitally important. The consequences of the selection … Continue reading FDR and the Supreme Court: A Lasting Legacy
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