Franklin D. Roosevelt — President 1933

President Details

President Number: 32
Years in Office: 1933 - 1945
Term Dates: March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945
Political Party: Democratic
Vice President(s): John Nance Garner; Henry A. Wallace; Harry S. Truman

Legacy Summary

Roosevelt reshaped the federal government's role in the economy through the New Deal, creating programs and institutions such as Social Security, the FDIC, and large-scale public works to relieve unemployment and stabilize finance.

He also guided the United States through World War II, overseeing mobilization, Lend-Lease, and Allied cooperation; his four-term presidency expanded the scope and influence of the executive branch and left a lasting global and domestic legacy, though some initiatives, like the 1937 court-packing plan, provoked controversy.

Notable Actions

Implemented New Deal reforms including the Social Security Act; Stabilized banking and created the FDIC and SEC; Established large public works programs (WPA, CCC, TVA); Backed Lend-Lease and led U.S. mobilization in World War II; Elected to four terms, reshaping presidential precedent; Proposed 1937 Supreme Court reorganization (court-packing)

Timeline Entries

Key highlights and dated events associated with this presidency.

Showing 12 of 415 entries.

Browse full timeline

Operation Torch: Allied Landings in French North Africa

November 8, 1942 • Franklin D. Roosevelt

Military Action

Operation Torch: Allied Landings in French North Africa

Allied forces under U.S. and British command launched Operation Torch with amphibious and airborne landings in Morocco and Algeria, marking the first large-scale American ground operation in the European–North African theater.

Allied breakthrough at the Second Battle of El Alamein forces Axis retreat

November 4, 1942 • Franklin D. Roosevelt

Military Action

Allied breakthrough at the Second Battle of El Alamein forces Axis retreat

British Eighth Army under Gen. Bernard Montgomery achieved a decisive breakthrough on the night of November 4 that forced German–Italian forces to begin withdrawing from El Alamein in Egypt.

November 3, 1942 • Franklin D. Roosevelt

Election / Transition

1942 Midterm Congressional Elections

Congressional midterm elections were held, and although Democrats retained control of both houses, they suffered significant seat losses to Republicans.

Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands (Oct 26–27, 1942)

October 26, 1942 • Franklin D. Roosevelt

Military Action

Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands (Oct 26–27, 1942)

U.S. and Japanese carrier forces clashed in the Santa Cruz Islands on October 26–27, 1942, resulting in heavy aircraft losses for the U.S. and the eventual loss of the carrier USS Hornet.

October 23, 1942 • Franklin D. Roosevelt

Military Action

Second Battle of El Alamein begins

British Eighth Army under Gen. Bernard Montgomery launched a major offensive against Axis forces in Egypt on October 23, 1942, initiating the Second Battle of El Alamein.

Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Revenue Act of 1942

October 21, 1942 • Franklin D. Roosevelt

Legislation

Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Revenue Act of 1942

President Roosevelt signed the Revenue Act of 1942 into law, including a 5% 'Victory Tax' and substantial increases in individual and corporate tax rates to raise funds for World War II.

Battle of Cape Esperance near Guadalcanal (Oct 11–12, 1942)

October 11, 1942 • Franklin D. Roosevelt

Military Action

Battle of Cape Esperance near Guadalcanal (Oct 11–12, 1942)

U.S. Navy cruisers and destroyers engaged a Japanese surface force off Guadalcanal in a night action that resulted in a tactical U.S. victory on October 11–12, 1942.

Roosevelt establishes Office of Economic Stabilization and appoints James F. Byrnes

October 3, 1942 • Franklin D. Roosevelt

Executive Action

Roosevelt establishes Office of Economic Stabilization and appoints James F. Byrnes

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order creating the Office of Economic Stabilization and named Justice James F. Byrnes as his special assistant to oversee wartime economic policy.

Justice James F. Byrnes resigns Supreme Court to become Roosevelt's special assistant for wartime economic policy

October 3, 1942 • Franklin D. Roosevelt

Appointment

Justice James F. Byrnes resigns Supreme Court to become Roosevelt's special assistant for wartime economic policy

Associate Justice James F. Byrnes resigned from the U.S. Supreme Court and accepted President Roosevelt’s appointment as a special assistant charged with coordinating wartime economic and production measures.

Admiral Karl Dönitz issues the "Laconia Order" restricting U-boat rescue efforts

September 17, 1942 • Franklin D. Roosevelt

Military Action

Admiral Karl Dönitz issues the "Laconia Order" restricting U-boat rescue efforts

On September 17, 1942, Admiral Karl Dönitz promulgated the Laconia Order, directing German U-boat commanders to cease attempting to rescue survivors of torpedoed ships.

September 17, 1942 • Franklin D. Roosevelt

Appointment

Appointment of Col. Leslie R. Groves to lead the Manhattan Engineer District

The U.S. Army appointed Col. (later Brig. Gen.) Leslie R. Groves to head the Manhattan Engineer District on September 17, 1942, placing him in charge of the U.S. government’s atomic bomb development program.

Japanese submarine torpedoes and leads to loss of USS Wasp (CV-7)

September 15, 1942 • Franklin D. Roosevelt

Military Action

Japanese submarine torpedoes and leads to loss of USS Wasp (CV-7)

On September 15, 1942, the Japanese submarine I-19 fired torpedoes that fatally damaged the aircraft carrier USS Wasp east of Guadalcanal; the carrier was abandoned and later scuttled.

← Back to Timeline