Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) was the 32nd President of the United States, serving from March 4, 1933, to April 12, 1945. A Democrat, he led the nation through the Great Depression and most of World War II.
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.
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)
Key highlights and dated events associated with this presidency.
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Civilians, local police, and remaining Italian soldiers in Naples rose up against German occupiers beginning on September 27, initiating a four-day urban insurgency.
On September 23 Benito Mussolini, backed by Nazi Germany after his rescue, proclaimed the Italian Social Republic (commonly called the Republic of Salò) in northern Italy.
On September 12 German paratroopers and commandos carried out Operation Eiche (Gran Sasso raid), freeing deposed leader Benito Mussolini from his mountaintop prison.
Following Italy's armistice with the Allies, German troops moved to seize control of Rome and disarm Italian garrisons in the city.
As part of the Allied Italian campaign, British forces executed Operation Slapstick and landed at the port of Taranto in southern Italy with little resistance.
On September 9, 1943, Allied forces—principally the U.S. Fifth Army with British units—launched Operation Avalanche with amphibious landings at Salerno on the Italian mainland.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a public statement welcoming the announcement that Italy had agreed to an armistice with the Allies (Armistice of Cassibile) and affirmed continued Allied military action in Italy.
On September 8 the Badoglio government publicly announced the armistice signed with the Allies (Armistice of Cassibile), ending official Italian hostilities against the Allies.
British Eighth Army carried out Operation Baytown, landing across the Strait of Messina on the toe of Italy (Calabria) to open a ground front on the Italian mainland.
Representatives of the Kingdom of Italy signed the Armistice of Cassibile with Allied authorities on September 3, 1943, agreeing to cease hostilities against the Allies (the agreement was kept secret until September 8).
President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill concluded the Quebec Conference, where Allied leaders coordinated high‑level strategy and operational planning for the European and Pacific theaters.
On August 23, 1943, Soviet forces liberated the city of Kharkov (Kharkiv) as part of Operation Polkovodets Rumyantsev following the Battle of Kursk.