Podcasts. Eleanor roosevelt began the long trip home. Slowly the long, black funeral train pulls up then down the pennsylvania avenue to the beat of muffled drums the president was born for the last time to the executive mansion that for 12 years had been his official home. The passing of f. D. R. From the american scene came as a personal shock to the nation. People wept openly, unashamed of their grief. Drawn by six white horses, the flag draped casson was brought to the white house and carried into the great east room where 80 years before almost to the day the body of Abraham Lincoln also laid in state. At hyde park his ancestral home in duchess county, new york the guns of west point cadets rang down the final curtain on the man of destiny known around the world as f. D. R. To measure something of his greatness we turn back the clock to Franklin Roosevelt as a young man making his First Political campaign. To the time when only 28 years of age he was elected new york state senator and broke the powerful republican machine that had ruled duchess county for 28 years. Emerging as a national figure, he served president wilson as assistant secretary of navy. In 1920 as running mate of ohios james m. Cox f. D. R. At the age of 38 was the youngest Vice President ial candidate in history. Married st. Patricks day 1905 to anna, eleanor roosevelt, f. D. R. Founded the dynasty typical of his dutch forebears. It was to the roosevelt retreat the Vacation College that f. D. R. Sailed with his friends and family after the strenuous campaign for the vice presidency. And it was in the same waters, that he was first stricken with the dread polio germ that was to paralyze his legs but never his life. Called in 1928 to the State Capitol in albany Franklin Roosevelt was elected governor of new york. With al smith his old friend the happy warrior at his side he threw himself into the fight for better government, became the champion of the common man, was widely talked of as next democratic candidate for the presidency of the United States. And with big james parl swinging the gavel the die was cast. The country still mired in the Great Depression wanted a new president. Governor roosevelt flew from albany with his wife, son elliott, and son john. Few knew it then but this was the beginning of an era unparalleled in American History. F. D. R. s appearance in chicago stadium was the beginning of a series of spectacular personal triumphs. Swept into office by the greatest landslide in history, his first words were fearless, prophetic. I am prepared under my constitutional duty to recommend the measures that a stricken nation in the midst of a stricken world may require. These measures or such other measures as the congress may build out of its experience and wisdom, i shall seek within my Constitutional Authority to bring to speedy adoption. But in the event that the Congress Shall fail to take one of these two clauses, in the event the National Emergency is still critical, i shall not evade the clear cause of duty that will then confront me. I shall ask congress for the one remaining instrument to meet the crisis, broad, executive power to wage a war against the emergency as great as the power that would be given to me if we were in fact invaded by a foreign foe. [cheers and applause] f. D. R. s first term was marked by an ominous period of world unrest. Men of many nations were again taking up arms. Our own National Defense was at its lowest ebb. America knew flood and famine, drought and the dust bowl. F. D. R. Brought farm relief and flood control. Water power and giant public works. Social security was born. Old age insurance became a new responsibility of government. The price of gold was fixed. The american dollar became the soundest in the world. The forgotten man was remembered. The country hailed its leader as a pathfinder. The initials f. D. R. Began to stand for progress, for national security. The fireside chat became an american institution, with marvin mcintyre, the white house secretarial staff helped in the preparation of the radio reports to the nation. The president s talks were masterpieces of simplicity and directness. Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States. My friends, the American Public and with that now familiar salutation he brought his messages straight to the firesides of the people. He talked with them in their homes about the vital issues of the day. Roosevelt never gave up hope in his battle against infan tile paralysis. In the Healing Waters of warm springs, in the white house pool, swimming was his one relaxation, his only exercise. How he organized the great Warm Springs Foundation for the eventual benefit of the nations half million Polio Victims will forever stand as a living monument to his name. And each year on his birthday, all over the land little children sing his praise. Happy birthday to you happy birthday to you happy birthday dear president happy birthday to you this intimate study of the president and his beloved fala is one of the rare personal portraits in a busy, crowded life. For no man in our time nor in any time perhaps has been called on to make the momentous decisions that have been his. His one goal, his greatest ambition, was to lead the nations of the world into a lasting peace. Royalty from many nations, the king and queen of england, have been guests in his home. With the worlds most powerful rulers he commanded supreme respect. With a keen grasp of International Affairs he foresaw by many years the trend of the worlds march. 1936 speaking in new york he gave the nation words that have been quoted again and again. Ive always thought that piece like Charity Begins at home. Ive always thought that peace, like charity, begins at home. [ applause ] and thats why we have begun at home. Here in north and south and central america. But peace in the western world is not all we seek. I have seen war. I have seen war on land. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen children starving. I have seen the agony of mothers and wives. I hate war. [ applause ] 1940 found the nation facing war. Voters took the third term issue squarely to the polls. With the minimum wage power of f. D. R. , would it shatter all precedent . The voice of the people was heard. The results are now conclusive. Roosevelt wins. The nation was jubilant. F. D. R. Had done it again and at hyde park Squire Roosevelt and his family received the well wishes of their neighbors. Again, the president addressed the nation. In the presence of cabinet members, diplomats and leaders from nations south of the border, f. D. R. Asked for broader powers than had ever before been given to any american president. The first and fundamental fact is that what started as a european war as the nazis always intended it should develop into a war for world domination, therefore with profound consciousness of my responsibilities to my countrymen, and to my countrys cause, i have tonight issued a proclamation that an unlimited National Emergency exists and requires the strengthening of our defense to the extreme limit of our National Power and authority. With the world facing the greatest conflict of all time, with the rights of all free people endangered, roosevelt met Winston Churchill on the high seas, gave a pledge to the world, the right of all people to choose their own form of government. History records this meeting as the birth of the atlantic charter. December 7th, 1941, a day of infamy burned into the pages of American History. The president faced a nation united. I ask that the congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by japan on sunday, december 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the japanese empire. [ applause ] in 1942, f. D. R. Startled the world by meeting churchill and de gaulle in casablanca and gave the axis ii words. Unconditional surrender. At quebec, roosevelt with churchill planned the invasion of europe and with the future of civilization in the balance the role these two played in this most critical period is written in history. At cairo, in conferences, f. D. R. Wrote a new chapter in international relations, gave assurance to the people of china of unstinted aid in their war against japan. Was the guiding hand in bringing together the many conflicting forces of east and west. Such was the man who met stalin for the first time at tehran, who give the world its first promise of complete accord between the three great powers. These were called the big three was no empty phrase and Franklin Roosevelt steadfast in his convictions was the biggest of them all. Steaming into pearl harbor for the First Time Since the outbreak of war, the commanderinchief conferred with admiral nimitz and general macarthur. That he took an active part in planning the war in the pacific is now apparent for it is known that from this conference emerged the blueprint for liberation of the philippines. F. D. R. Began his fourth term in office firm in his belief that men are capable of their own government. That no king, no tyrant, no dictator can govern them as wisely as they can govern themselves. And upon that note, he placed the worlds future on the conference table at the alta, made plans to bring together the nations and the peoples of the world in a just and lasting peace. History has recorded that first step as the San Francisco conference. In this, his last report to congress and the American People, is to be found text of his life. In the last words of a man grown tired in public service, is a heritage for all men everywhere. I am confident the American People will accept the result of this conference as the beginning of a permanent structure of peace from which we can begin to build under god that better world in which our children and grandchildren, yours and mine, children and grandchildren of the whole world, must live and can live. Youre watching a special edition of American History tv. During the week while members of congress are in their districts due to the coronavirus pandemic. Tonight we look back at president s who faced crises while in the white house. Starting at 8 00 p. M. Eastern with a 2003 program from cspans booknotes series John Siegenthaler talks about james k. Polk who conducted the 1846 to 1848 war against mexico. Enjoy American History tv now and over the weekend on cspan 3. This weekend on American History tv, saturday at 2 30 p. M. On oral histories. Well, about 5 00 on dday afternoon this huge explosion occurred and it was blown up and at that point i lifted my head out of my fox hole to see what was going on and suddenly i heard a huge noise and felt a shock and realized i had been hit. Then at 6 00 p. M. On the civil war, scott mingus on the importance of the Cumberland Valley railroad. In stunning example of mcclellans generalship in those days, he doesnt need the ammunition. He doesnt, even though these railroaders have risked their lives and have set a new speed record for the fastest route they have ever or will ever run during the civil war, not a single one of these ammunition rounds is fired. Sunday at 4 00 p. M. Eastern on reel america the 1945 u. S. Navy film about the battle of okinawa. It was desperation. It was suicide. But it would be the pattern from now on to the very finish. A struggle between men who want to die and men who fight to live. And at 6 00 p. M. On american artifacts a look at the restored mus koegee Creek Nation Council house in oklahoma. We are certainly glad to have the Building Back within the creek nation. It has been a humbling experience to be part of this for me personally. We talk about a building but i think for a lot of muskogee people it represents a lot more than just the building. It was sort of the foundation of our present day tribal government. This weekend on American History tv on cspan 3. Every saturday night American History tv takes you to College Classrooms around the country for lectures in history. Why do you all know who Lizzie Borden is . Raise your hand if you had ever heard of this murder, the gene harris murder trial, before this class. The deepest cause where well find the true meaning of the revolution was in this transformation that took place in the minds of the American People. So well talk about both of these sides of the story here, right . The tools, the techniques of slave owner power. Well also talk about the tools and techniques of power that were practiced by enslaved people. Watch history professors lead discussions with their students on topics ranging from the American Revolution to september 11th. Lectures in history on cspan 3 every saturday at 8 00 p. M. Eastern on American History tv. And lectures in history is available as a podcast. Find it where you listen to podcasts. When president Franklin Roosevelt died in 1945, then Vice President harry truman assumed the role as president of the United States. Up next, author a. J. Baime talks about his book the accidental president in which he looks at the challenges president harry truman faced during his first four months in office. A. J. Baime is a New York Times best selling author, awardwinning journalist, public speaker and occasional on screen personality. In addition to the accidental president the subject of tonights lecture his books include the arsenal of democracy, f. D. R. , detroit, and an epic quest to arm an america at war, and go like hell ford, ferrari, their battle for speed and glory at le mans. Both the latter books are in development as major Motion Pictures and both won the