Question

What was FDR's big secret? How did he keep it hidden?

Answer 1

FDR's secret was his disability due to polio, which he hid to maintain public confidence. He carefully worked to aid nations fighting totalitarianism while appearing neutral with acts like Lend-Lease. The New Deal and FDR's election victory reflect his ideas for change and the public's desire for different leadership during the Great Depression.

Step-by-step explanation:

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) had a significant secret: he was crippled by polio in 1921. Despite this, he managed to give the illusion of walking with the aid of steel braces and the support of a companion, often his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt. This disability was kept largely hidden from the public eye, as it was believed that any sign of physical weakness could undermine the public's confidence in his leadership abilities.

To address global concerns without abandoning neutrality, FDR took careful steps to support nations fighting against totalitarianism. One of the early efforts was the enactment of the Lend-Lease Act, authorizing the U.S. to lend or lease war supplies to nations deemed vital to the defense of the United States, which was essential in supporting the Allied Powers before the U.S. officially entered World War II. Roosevelt's administration also used diplomatic strategies to extend aid while avoiding direct military involvement, upholding a stance of neutrality as long as possible.

The landslide victory of FDR in the 1932 presidential election was partly due to his proposed ideas for change, known as the New Deal, and partly a reflection of public discontent with Herbert Hoover's perceived inaction during the Great Depression. Roosevelt's success in combatting the economic downturn is debated, but the New Deal policies had a lasting impact, establishing social safety nets and regulatory reforms that continue to shape the United States.

Answer 2

Answer: Franklin Roosevelt's body

Step-by-step explanation:Roosevelt was a man of tremendous determination who developed great upper body strength and endurance, but he needed braces and something to lean against to stay upright. He didn’t ever want the public to see that, or they would associate physical weakness with vulnerability or frailty.Otherwise, FDR seemed to embrace his polio like any other challenge-head on. He loved to show how physically fit he was, what a tireless and cheerful campaigner he was. And people loved him for it. In 1938 Roosevelt and his friend Basil O’Conner founded the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, later known as The March of Dimes.Ironically, Roosevelt probably didn’t have polio. Scientists now believe there’s a better than 60% chance that he had Guillain Barre syndrome, which has similar effects on the bodies of adults. If it had been known at the time and publicly announced, I’m not sure the public would have accepted him as they did. People have a greater fear of the unknown and very little was known about Guillain Barre. It worked out well for everyone.Incidentally, Roosevelt had a bump above his left eye that got bigger and was surgically removed during his presidency. It is quite possible he had skin cancer, but his doctor kept it quiet. Back then people had a much more strict code about privacy. People just didn’t assume that the media and the public had the right to pry into every aspect of other people’s private lives. I remember in the 1980’s when president Reagan had a benign polyp removed during a colonoscopy and it was very big news. Some things should be private, IMO!