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The White House 1600 Sessions
Presented by the White House Historical Association

Becoming FDR: The Personal Crisis That Made a President

Host
Stewart McLaurin
Guest
Jonathan Darman, author of “Becoming FDR: The Personal Crisis That Made a President"
Date
3/22/23
Duration
36 minutes

In 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was sworn in for the first of his four terms as president of the United States. It was in the depth of the Great Depression with a second world war on the horizon, and yet the man known as FDR. managed to bring hope in the most uncertain of times. Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, discusses how polio shaped the future president with author Jonathan Darman whose new book is called “Becoming FDR: The Personal Crisis That Made a President.” Struck with polio at the age of 39, FDR drew strength from his illness and used those hard-fought lessons to lead the American people out of desperate times and into a New Deal, inspiring future presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Ronald Reagan along the way.

The podcast host

Stewart McLaurin, Host

President of the White House Historical Association

As President of the White House Historical Association Stewart McLaurin leads the nonpartisan, nonprofit in its mission to preserve, protect, and provide access to White House history. As a lifelong student of history, Stewart is an avid reader, author, and storyteller. Drawing on his own experiences, relationships, and knowledge he provides listeners with a front row seat to history at the White House.

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