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.

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U.S. government denies landing permits to refugees aboard the SS St. Louis

June 6, 1939 • Franklin D. Roosevelt

Foreign Policy

U.S. government denies landing permits to refugees aboard the SS St. Louis

The Roosevelt administration, acting through the State Department and immigration authorities, refused landing permits for the roughly 900 Jewish passengers of the ocean liner SS St. Louis seeking asylum in the United States.

MS St. Louis arrives in Havana; U.S. refuses asylum to Jewish refugees

May 27, 1939 • Franklin D. Roosevelt

Foreign Policy

MS St. Louis arrives in Havana; U.S. refuses asylum to Jewish refugees

The German ocean liner MS St. Louis, carrying about 937 Jewish refugees, arrived in Havana on May 27, but Cuban authorities refused to admit most passengers and the Roosevelt administration denied U.S. entry or refuge for the refugees.

MS St. Louis departs Hamburg carrying Jewish refugees bound for Cuba and the United States

May 13, 1939 • Franklin D. Roosevelt

Foreign Policy

MS St. Louis departs Hamburg carrying Jewish refugees bound for Cuba and the United States

The German ocean liner MS St. Louis sailed from Hamburg with over 900 Jewish refugees seeking asylum, headed to Cuba with hopes of eventual entry to the United States and other countries.

Franklin D. Roosevelt officially opens the 1939 New York World's Fair

April 30, 1939 • Franklin D. Roosevelt

Speech

Franklin D. Roosevelt officially opens the 1939 New York World's Fair

Roosevelt delivered a radio address from the White House to officially open the 1939 New York World's Fair, marking the beginning of the fair's season on April 30, 1939.

Marian Anderson's Lincoln Memorial concert after DAR ban

April 9, 1939 • Franklin D. Roosevelt

Domestic Policy

Marian Anderson's Lincoln Memorial concert after DAR ban

On April 9, 1939, contralto Marian Anderson performed an open-air concert at the Lincoln Memorial after the Daughters of the American Revolution denied her use of Constitution Hall, an event publicly supported by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

United States recognizes General Francisco Franco's Nationalist government in Spain

April 7, 1939 • Franklin D. Roosevelt

Foreign Policy

United States recognizes General Francisco Franco's Nationalist government in Spain

Following the end of the Spanish Civil War, the Roosevelt administration extended U.S. recognition to General Francisco Franco's Nationalist government.

Italian invasion and occupation of Albania begins

April 7, 1939 • Franklin D. Roosevelt

Foreign Policy

Italian invasion and occupation of Albania begins

Beginning April 7, 1939, Italian forces invaded and quickly occupied Albania, overthrowing King Zog and instituting Italian control.

Franco declares victory; Spanish Civil War effectively ends

April 1, 1939 • Franklin D. Roosevelt

Foreign Policy

Franco declares victory; Spanish Civil War effectively ends

On April 1, 1939, Francisco Franco's Nationalist forces declared victory and the Spanish Civil War effectively ended with the collapse of the Republican government.

United Kingdom issues guarantee of Poland's independence

March 31, 1939 • Franklin D. Roosevelt

Foreign Policy

United Kingdom issues guarantee of Poland's independence

On March 31, 1939, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's government announced a formal guarantee to defend Poland's independence against aggression.

Nazi Germany occupies Bohemia and Moravia, ending Czechoslovak independence

March 15, 1939 • Franklin D. Roosevelt

Foreign Policy

Nazi Germany occupies Bohemia and Moravia, ending Czechoslovak independence

On March 15, 1939, German troops occupied Prague and Germany proclaimed the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, effectively dissolving Czechoslovak independence.

Annual Message to Congress (State of the Union), 1939

January 4, 1939 • Franklin D. Roosevelt

Speech

Annual Message to Congress (State of the Union), 1939

President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his annual message to Congress outlining the administration’s domestic and international priorities for 1939, including economic concerns and the need to prepare for growing global tensions.

Kristallnacht pogrom in Nazi Germany (Nov 9–10, 1938)

November 9, 1938 • Franklin D. Roosevelt

Foreign Policy

Kristallnacht pogrom in Nazi Germany (Nov 9–10, 1938)

On November 9–10, 1938, Nazi authorities and civilian mobs in Germany and Austria launched Kristallnacht, a coordinated pogrom that destroyed synagogues, ransacked Jewish homes and businesses, and arrested thousands of Jewish men.

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