Disability, Illness, and the Presidency: The Case of Franklin D. Roosevelt

Abstract

Only one man in American history has been elected four times to the Office of President. Despite the image of vigor and hearty good cheer that he projected, Franklin D. Roosevelt was afflicted by both disability and serious illness while in the White House. He had never recovered fully from his 1921 bout with polio, a fact concealed from the public for many years out of fear that it might be detrimental to his political career. The methods of concealment, involving both image control and media management, produced a veil of secrecy that only time has penetrated. Also, after several years in office, Roosevelt suffered from cardiovascular disease that eventually ended his life. The belief of some critics that his physical deterioration impacted negatively on his performance as president, most notably at the Yalta Conference in early 1945, is worthy of examination, with the perspective that more than forty years can provide.