Popular Culture Review 29.2
Franklin D . Roosevelt , the Democrat , modeled his career on that of his distant cousin “ The Republican Roosevelt .” Theodore served in the New York House , was number two in the Department of the Navy under McKinley when it was a cabinet department , was governor of New York , ran successfully for the vice presidency , succeeded to the presidency , then was elected in his own right . Franklin also served New York ’ s legislature ( though in the Senate ), was assistant secretary of the navy under Wilson , ran ( though unsuccessfully ) for vice president , was New York ’ s governor , and then president .
FDR ’ s presidency , too , was influenced by his physical activity . Certainly , this is less obvious for him than for TR , but it is a matter of general assumption that FDR ’ s polio , which permanently denied him the use of his legs , caused him to dedicate himself to self-resurrection , and to grow mentally stronger while he built up his upper body , characterized by the pride he displayed in his “ wrestler ’ s arms .” Not only did his valiant efforts to overcome his paralysis stimulate his strength and courage , but that paralysis may have increased his connection to the people by raising his awareness of the troubles that others faced , and enabling them to sense his power in having overcome overwhelming difficulties . As Doris Kearns Goodwin put it : “[ T ] he paralysis that crippled his body expanded his mind and his sensibilities . After what Eleanor called his ‘ trial by fire ,’ he seemed less arrogant , less smug , less superficial , more focused , more complex , more interesting . He returned from his ordeal with greater powers of concentration and greater self-knowledge . ‘ There had been a plowing up of his nature ,’ Labor Secretary Frances Perkins observed . ‘ The man emerged completely warm-hearted , with new humility of spirit and a firmer understanding of profound philosophical concepts ’” ( Goodwin 2005 16-17 ).
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