Final answer:
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was paralyzed by polio, which he contracted in 1921. He managed to lead the country as President despite his disability, often concealing it from the public eye to avoid diminishing their confidence in his leadership abilities.
Step-by-step explanation:
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) was afflicted by a devastating disease known as polio, which resulted in his paralysis from the waist down. FDR contracted polio in 1921, and despite this major health challenge, he went on to become a significant political figure and the President of the United States. To avoid public concern over his ability to lead, Roosevelt made substantial efforts to minimize the visibility of his disability, to the extent that it was an unwritten rule that no photographs should be taken of him in his wheelchair. However, rare images, such as Figure 6.2.15, do show President Roosevelt in his wheelchair alongside a young polio patient. The impact of polio on Roosevelt’s life was profound, yet he never allowed it to impede his duties in office. With the aid of steel braces and the support of a companion - often his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt - he managed to 'walk' in a manner that concealed the extent of his paralysis. FDR's battle with polio garnered him public sympathy and was believed to have strengthened his empathy toward Americans suffering during the Great Depression. Ultimately, Roosevelt's political career was marked by his resilience and ability to lead the nation despite personal hardships.