Franklin D. Roosevelt

32nd American President who led the US through the Great Depression (New Deal) and World War II — elected four times — and whose fireside chats, optimism, and political mastery made him the dominant political figure of 20th century America.

Demonstrated that democratic leadership can match the urgency of crisis without abandoning democratic principles — the New Deal's improvised pragmatism and the wartime alliance-building showed that flexibility and boldness are not incompatible with democratic accountability.