President Franklin D. Roosevelt managed to pull Americans out of the Great Depression and lead them to victory in World War II. His support of an active federal government shaped American politics through the remainder of the 20th century. FDR was a Democrat, and his package of federally-supported public works and social programs was known collectively as the New Deal. Roosevelt was so popular he was elected four times -- a lengthy run which later led to the passage of the 22nd Amendment, restricting presidents to two terms. He died in office in 1945, only a few months into his fourth term and just a few months before the end of the war. His successor was Harry Truman.

Franklin Roosevelt was a distant cousin of his own wife Eleanor Roosevelt and also of the 26rd president, Theodore Roosevelt... Franklin Roosevelt's terrier Fala was a popular White House figure from 1940 until FDR's death, and is buried near FDR at Hyde Park, New York... FDR was the 32nd president; he was preceded by number 31, Herbert Hoover.