How Did Franklin D. Roosevelt's Fight Against Infantile Paralysis

Franklin Roosevelt said, “The fight against infantile paralysis is a fight to the finish, and the terms are unconditional surrender” (Peters 44). Franklin Roosevelt, one of the most famous presidents in United States history, had a disease that would forever not only affect him but also the people of the United States. Polio is a terrible disease that has affected many people. It is a virus that attacks the Central Nerve System damaging it so that parts of the body connected to it lose the ability to move (Draper 6). The virus cells replicate themselves which often has no effect on the person (8-9). Polio usually sets in overnight which leads some to be paralyzed, crippled for life, or even to death (6-7). Symptoms include having the flu

He worked to gain strength back in his upper body. He achieved his goal by working for it in 1921-1922 (Peters 29). Even though he gained that strength back, he never regained the use of his legs again (31). Nevertheless, he worked to keep his legs from fully weakening. He founded Warm Springs, a place for people affected by polio. People, including Franklin himself, swam in the mineral springs water that was naturally heated by the Earth (Draper 23). After seven years, he reentered politics and became president. Roosevelt struggled with his time as being president with his disease. When he gave speeches, he wore braces under his pants to keep himself upright and not fall. When he was out in public he strived to not let anyone see him in a wheelchair, crutches, or braces, because he did not want to seem weak as president. Through all of his efforts, he sadly never regained the use of his legs, and dealt with it the rest of his life (Peters

One of his other successes was the March of Dimes which started in 1983 (Sherrow 22). Originally named the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, it was one of the biggest fundraiser efforts ever in history. It paid for braces, crutches, trained professionals, iron lungs, and more (24). It ended up raising forty million dollars in 1952, but even with all of the efforts, it still could not pay for all of the damage that polio had done (25). As president, Franklin took control right after he gained office. During the Great Depression, he became known as one of the greatest leaders during the time, and led the country out of the Depression (Knapp 28). He also helped in the efforts of World War Two. He signed the United States into the Atlantic Charter, promising to work together with Britain if there was war (29). Sadly, after getting involved, America was attacked which would later become known as Pearl Harbor (39). However, after working with Britain and Germany (40), the Japan surrendered on September 2, 1945 (43). Franklin also had other jobs that helped him become more well known. He was a New York State Senator from 1911-1913, Assistant Secretary of the Navy from 1913-1920, and the Governor of New York from 1929-1933 (Degregorio 486). Overall, one of the main reasons for his fame, is being the only president to be re-elected four times