Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Fourth Inauguration

Summary

History Daily Summary: Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Fourth Inauguration

Release Date: January 20, 2025

Hosted by Lindsay Graham and produced by Airship, Noiser, and Wondery, "History Daily" delves into the pivotal moments that have shaped our world. In the episode titled "Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Fourth Inauguration," listeners are transported back to January 20, 1945, to explore the complexities surrounding FDR’s unprecedented fourth term as President of the United States. This episode meticulously examines the political, personal, and global challenges Roosevelt faced during his final days in office.

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1. The Unprecedented Fourth Inauguration

[00:15] Narrator:
On January 20, 1945, amidst the backdrop of World War II, Franklin D. Roosevelt was sworn in for an unprecedented fourth term as President. The inauguration, held on the South Portico of the White House, was markedly subdued compared to previous ceremonies.

"After winning a fourth presidential election in November 1944, Franklin D. Roosevelt decided on a subdued inauguration held at the White House rather than the Capitol building."

Health Concerns Concealed:
Roosevelt’s declining health was a closely guarded secret. Having battled polio earlier in life, FDR was now suffering from high blood pressure and heart disease. The restrained inauguration was a strategic choice to mask his deteriorating condition from the public eye.

Harry Truman’s Worries:
As Vice President Harry Truman took the oath of office alongside Roosevelt, he was acutely aware of the President’s fragile state.

"Harry Truman is right to be worried about Roosevelt's fate. The nation is already in crisis, America is still at war and complex diplomatic negotiations are ongoing."
Truman contemplated the grim possibility that he might have to assume the presidency should Roosevelt’s health fail.

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2. Diplomatic Endeavors at Yalta

[03:30] Narrator:
Just 17 days after his inauguration, Roosevelt embarked on a critical mission to Yalta, a resort town on the Crimean Peninsula, to attend the Yalta Conference with Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Tense Negotiations:
The conference aimed to shape the post-war world, but strained relations between the US and the USSR made negotiations challenging.

"Roosevelt must call on all his diplomatic experience to maintain peace with the Soviets and ensure they declare war on another axis power, Japan."

Concessions to the USSR:
FDR had to balance Soviet demands with American interests. Key agreements included granting the USSR territories in Asia, such as Mongolia and South Sakhalin, and establishing a Soviet sphere of influence in Eastern Europe.

"The USSR deserves to be generously compensated in the post-war settlement." – Joseph Stalin [Timestamp: 04:20]

Strategic Compromises:
Roosevelt was cautious not to appear weak, especially given his physical limitations.

"Roosevelt knows that his critics will not view this deal that way. He worries, too, that his physical condition will be interpreted as a weakness by his opponents." [Timestamp: 07:15]

The negotiations concluded with Stalin agreeing to enter the war against Japan following Germany’s defeat, albeit with significant concessions that would later spark controversy.

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3. Acknowledging His Health Before Congress

[10:54] Narrator:
A month and a half after his inauguration, on March 1, 1945, Roosevelt addressed Congress in a special session, revealing the extent of his health struggles for the first time publicly.

The Address:
Presiding over the U.S. Capitol Chamber, Roosevelt appeared visibly frail, a stark contrast to his vigorous presidency.

"I am overdue, pardon me, for an unusual posture of sitting down during the presentation... I have just completed a 14,000 mile trip." – Franklin D. Roosevelt [Timestamp: 12:36]

Public Reaction:
Roosevelt’s candid admission of his disability transformed perceptions of his leadership. Instead of a sign of weakness, it underscored his dedication and the physical sacrifices he made for his country.

"Roosevelt has transformed the weakness of his body into the strength of his character." [Timestamp: 13:03]

Legislative Impact:
His honesty bolstered support for the Yalta agreements, garnering a standing ovation from Congress and solidifying backing despite impending criticisms.

"The whole of Congress joins in the standing ovation." [Timestamp: 14:36]

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4. The Final Days and Legacy

[17:24] Narrator:
Despite his efforts to maintain a facade of strength, Roosevelt’s health rapidly declined. On April 12, 1945, just 82 days into his fourth term, he suffered a fatal stroke at his Warm Springs, Georgia summer residence.

Circumstances of His Death:
Surrounded by family and unaware of the severity initially, Roosevelt collapsed while engaging in a routine activity. His sudden death marked the end of the longest presidency in U.S. history, a legacy overshadowed by his war-time leadership and impending transition to Harry Truman.

Historical Significance:
FDR’s fourth inauguration and subsequent demise highlighted the vulnerabilities of leadership in times of crisis.

"But Roosevelt's final term in office will be dominated with his health problems, and the President will die less than three months after his unprecedented fourth inauguration on January 20, 1945." [Timestamp: 07:45]

Enduring Influence:
Roosevelt’s leadership during World War II and his ability to navigate complex international relations left an indelible mark on American politics and global affairs. His legacy continues to be studied as a testament to resilience and strategic diplomacy.

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Conclusion

In this episode of "History Daily," listeners gain an in-depth understanding of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s fourth inauguration, the intricate diplomatic efforts at the Yalta Conference, his courageous admission of declining health, and the profound impact of his untimely death. Through detailed narration and poignant quotes, the episode encapsulates the challenges and triumphs of FDR’s final days in office, offering valuable insights into one of America’s most significant historical figures.

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Produced by Alexandra Curry Buckner and written by Scott Reeves, this episode of "History Daily" provides a comprehensive exploration of FDR’s final term, blending meticulous research with engaging storytelling to bring history to life.

Transcript

[Lindsey Graham]

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[Narrator]

IntoHistory.com it's noon on January 20, 1945, on on the South Portico of the White house in Washington, D.C. harry Truman lowers his right hand and steps away from a lectern set up before a small crowd. Pride burns in his heart because he's just been sworn in as Vice President of the United States. Truman glances over at President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the only person seated on the portico. Roosevelt lifts his arm slightly as his son and a Secret Service agent grasp him underneath his shoulders his and hoist him from his wheelchair. Roosevelt then himself places his hand on a Bible and takes his oath of office. As he finishes, cheers erupt below. The President waits for them to subside. Then, gripping a lectern with both hands, he begins to deliver a prepared speech. But Harry Truman, the new Vice president, barely listens to the Commander in Chief's fourth inaugural address. He's too distracted by the sight of Roosevelt's arms. Trembling with the effort of holding himself upright, Roosevelt keeps his speech short and a military band begins to play while Roosevelt's son and the Secret Service agent help him back to his wheelchair. As the President mops his sweaty brow with a handkerchief, Truman wonders whether Roosevelt told him the truth about his health and ability to serve an unprecedented fourth term in office. His stomach knots as he considers a sobering possibility that if Roosevelt dies within the next four years, it's Truman who will have to succeed him as the next President of the United States. After winning a fourth presidential election in November 1944, Franklin D. Roosevelt decided on a subdued inauguration held at the White House rather than the Capitol building. Publicly, Roosevelt said the usual extravagant festivities were inappropriate when America was at war. Privately, he hoped that the restrained inauguration would disguise his ill health and prevent gossip about his capability to govern. Before he became president, Roosevelt contracted polio as a 39 year old and became largely paralyzed from the waist down. Throughout his 12 years in office, the extent of his illness has been hidden to the American public. But concealing his poor health is getting harder. During his last presidential term, things took a turn for the worse. The President now suffers from high blood pressure and heart disease. Vice President Harry Truman is right to be worried about Roosevelt's fate. The nation is already in crisis, America is still at war and complex diplomatic Negotiations are ongoing, but the President's last term in office will be dominated with his health problems, and the President will die less than three months after his unprecedented fourth inauguration on January 20, 1945. From Noiser and Airship, I'm Lindsey Graham and this is History Daily. History is made every day on this podcast. Every day we tell the true stories of the people and events that shaped our world. Today is January 20, 1945, Franklin D. Roosevelt's fourth inauguration. It's 3:30pm on February 8, 1945, in a hotel in Yalta, the USSR, 17 days after President Roosevelt's fourth term began. President Franklin D. Roosevelt winces as he tries to make himself comfortable in an armchair. He leans forward and moves his legs, placing his feet flat on the floor and shifting them to a natural looking angle. Since Roosevelt has little feeling below his waist, he must manipulate his lower body by hand. But just as he sinks back into the armchair, the door opens. Roosevelt forces a smile as the man he is here to meet strides into the room. Joseph Stalin, the leader of the USSR Two days after his inauguration at the White House, President Roosevelt boarded a warship and set sail for Europe. His destination was Yalta, a seaside resort town on the Crimean Peninsula. Here, the leaders of the usa, USSR and United Kingdom are holding talks to shape the post war world after Germany's imminent defeat. The countries are the three major allies in the war against Nazi Germany. But although the USA and UK enjoy friendly relations, the relationship between the US and the communist USSR is strained. Now Roosevelt must call on all his diplomatic experience to maintain peace with the Soviets and ensure they declare war on another axis power, Japan. Stalin shakes Roosevelt's hand and drops into the chair opposite the President. Before Roosevelt can say a word, Stalin begins speaking in Russian. Roosevelt glances at his interpreter, who furrows his brow in concentration as he tries to keep up with the Soviet leader's torrent. In rapid fire speech, Stalin reminds Roosevelt that the Soviets have borne the brunt of the war for nearly four years, ever since Hitler launched his invasion of the ussr. Roosevelt tries to interrupt Stalin's monologue, wanting to welcome the Soviet leader and take control of the meeting. But Stalin does not let up. He rises from his chair and stalks around the room, telling Roosevelt how many Russian lives were lost during the Battle of Stalingrad. Then he says that the long Soviet counterattack that pushed the Germans back came at a great cost and drained the USSR of money and resources. Stalin stands in front of Roosevelt's chair, looking down at him. Roosevelt suspects that Stalin is trying to intimidate him but won't let that happen. He boldly returns the Soviet leader's piercing stare and remains stone faced. As Stalin says, the USSR deserves to be generously compensated in the post war settlement. Roosevelt is willing to concede to some of Stalin's demands, but he knows that his political opponents in Washington D.C. will be quick to criticize him if he gives away too much. So over the next hour or so, Roosevelt and Stalin thrash out an agreement. The USSR will be granted territory in Asia, including Mongolia from China and South Sakhalin from Japan. More importantly, the future of Eastern Europe is settled. Stalin promises to hold free elections in Poland. And Roosevelt does little to dispel Stalin's notion that Eastern Europe will be a Soviet sphere of influence after 1945. An hour after the talks began, Roosevelt and Stalin conclude their meeting with a handshake. When Stalin leaves, Roosevelt allows his head to flop back onto the chair's headrest. He rubs his temple as US Secretary of State Edward Statinius and Major General Edwin Watson enter the room. Roosevelt smiles weakly and asks them to bring his wheelchair. He holds out his arms and Stettinius and Watson pull him to his feet. Roosevelt clings to them as he awkwardly hobbles to his wheelchair, summarizing the meeting as he eases himself into the seat. Roosevelt explains that Stalin has agreed to declare war on Japan as soon as Germany surrenders. But he says that Stalin has attached conditions, and at this, Stettinius smile fades. Roosevelt goes on to describe the concessions he has made in Asia and Europe. Stettinius pauses before he responds. After a considered moment, he says that Stalin previously promised to fight Japan without conditions. Roosevelt shrugs and replies that he hasn't given away any land that Stalin does not already have good claim to. But Roosevelt knows that his critics will not view this deal that way. He worries, too, that his physical condition will be interpreted as a weakness by his opponents, who want to portray him as a pushover in these tough diplomatic negotiations. But Roosevelt will decide to act before his authority can crumble and ruin his fourth term. After the Yalta conference, he will journey back to Washington, D.C. ready to confront his opponents head on.

[Lindsey Graham]

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It's March 1, 1945, in the House.

[Lindsey Graham]

Chamber of the U.S. capitol in Washington.

[Narrator]

D.C. a month and a half after President Franklin D. Roosevelt's inauguration, a United States congressman peers over the heads of his colleagues to see what is happening at the front of the chamber. Normally, a presidential address to Congress is delivered from a lectern in front of the Speaker's rostrum, but today a table.

[Lindsey Graham]

And chair have been set out on.

[Narrator]

The floor of the chamber. The whispers going around the room suggest that the congressman is about to see something unusual during today's speech. After the Yalta Conference three weeks ago, President Roosevelt began the long journey back to the United States during the perilous voyage across the Atlantic, he wrote a speech for the special session of Congress upon his return. But Roosevelt's plans quickly changed after Major General Edwin Watson, one of his closest military advisors suffered a stroke and died at sea. The death of his colleague and friend made Roosevelt question whether he should continue his charade of pretending he was in good health. If Watson could die while serving his country, Roosevelt reasoned, the President should not pretend that he was incapable of dying in office too. So now Congress is about to witness Roosevelt's extraordinary admission of his ailing health. There is a ripple of applause as President Roosevelt is pushed into the chamber in his wheelchair. Two aides help Roosevelt up and into the seat in front of the table. On the floor of the chamber, the President looks pale and fragile, far older than his actual age of 63. Then the speaker of the House stands to introduce the President of the United States. And Roosevelt begins to speak.

[Franklin D. Roosevelt]

I overdue up, pardon me, for an unusual posture of sitting down during the presentation of what I once say, but I know that you will realize that it makes it a lot easier for me in not having to carry about 10 pounds of steel round on the bottom of my legs and also because of the fact that I have just completed a 14,000 mile trip.

[Narrator]

Robert Roosevelt has never before referred to his disability in public. He has always hidden his leg braces and use of a wheelchair. But today, when Roosevelt pauses for breath, the assembled Representatives and Senators burst into applause. It's then that the young Congressman realizes that Roosevelt's speech today is a stroke of genius. By pointing out his inability to stand and walk, Roosevelt is emphasizing the physical sacrifice he must make on behalf of his his nation. He has transformed the weakness of his body into the strength of his character. The Congressman glances around at his colleagues, all of whom are listening intently as the President describes the talks at Yalta. Roosevelt explains how the Allies will take the war to Germany and then to Japan. He outlines the principles behind the post war settlement, including the decision to grant the Soviets a sphere of influence in Eastern Europe. Then Roosevelt candidly admits that not every person will be happy with the agreement. But he leans into the idea that war will only be averted in the future if compromises are agreed to now.

[Franklin D. Roosevelt]

As the beginnings of a permanent structure of peace upon which we can begin to build under God that better world in which our children and grandchildren, yours and mine, the children and grandchildren of the whole world, must live and can live.

[Narrator]

As Roosevelt concludes his speech, the young Congressman leaps to his feet. The whole of Congress joins in the standing ovation. The President remains in his wheelchair and smiles. Roosevelt's impressive speech to Congress will ensure that the agreement made at the Yalta conference is largely accepted. There will be pushback and Criticism of the concessions Roosevelt has made to Stalin. But the honesty and openness with which Roosevelt accepted his ill health will move members of Congress and inspire them to back the President's deal. But Roosevelt's speech to Congress will be one of his final acts as President. In just a month's time, his declining health will finally give out. And Roosevelt's historic 12 year presidency will end with his death. It's the early afternoon of April 12, 1945, at President Franklin D. Roosevelt's summer house in Warm Springs, Georgia, almost three months after his fourth inauguration. Inside, Elizabeth Shoumatoff stares intently at the face of President Roosevelt as she paints his portrait. Roosevelt sits patiently and smiles as he listens to two female cousins chat amicably with a friend in the next room. He occasionally interjects and looks through the door before muttering an apology to Elizabeth and resuming a still posture. Four weeks after delivering his speech to convict Congress, Roosevelt left Washington to rest at his summer residence in Georgia. But the stresses of his job followed him. The Japanese continued to put up stubborn resistance in the Pacific. And military aides relayed news that Joseph Stalin was already breaking the terms of their agreement by imposing Soviet style regimes in Eastern Europe. But from Elizabeth's point of view, the President seems to be enjoying his break. She dabs paint onto her canvas, taking care to get the color right around Roosevelt's tired looking eyes. And after a few minutes of intense concentration, she notices that the President has not said anything for a while. She looks up to see Roosevelt massaging his temples. He catches her eye and says, I have a terrific pain in the back of my head. Before Elizabeth can respond, the President's eyes roll back and he slumps forward. Elizabeth shouts and Roosevelt's cousins run into the room. They push the unconscious President back into his chair and call for help. Within seconds, the President's staff run into the parlor and his doctor is summoned. But the diagnosis is not good. The President has suffered a stroke. He's carried to bed, where he dies two hours later. The death of Roosevelt will ascend Vice.

[Lindsey Graham]

President Harry Truman into the White House.

[Narrator]

And bring an end to the longest American presidency in history. Since the ratification of the 22nd Amendment in 1951 limited future presidents to only two four year terms. Nobody is likely to beat Roosevelt's 12 years in office. But although his tenure in the White House was the longest in history, Roosevelt's fourth term was among the shortest, ending just 82 days after his fourth and final inauguration on January 20, 1945. Next on History Daily, January 21, 1793.

[Lindsey Graham]

During the French Revolution, the deposed King.

[Narrator]

Louis XVI faces public execution by Guillotine from Noiser and Airship. This is History Daily Hosted, edited and executive produced by me, Lindsey Graham Audio editing by Molly Bach Sound design by Derek Barons Music by Lindsey Graham this episode is written and researched by Scott Reeves Produced by Alexandra Curry Buckner Executive producers are Steven Walters for Airship and Pascal Hughes for Noiser.

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