[NU Sports] Roosevelt

[Dennis W. Brandt]

<Interesting that FDR is considered one of our greatest presidents and
<according to my NU Poly Sci prof (Ken Janda)and many others  probably saved 
the
<Capitalist system

Actually, the capitalist system was saved by World War II and the industrial 
boon necessary to support it.  Roosevelt's economic policies did little to 
uplift a depression-bound economy.  He won a third term - by the smallest 
margain of his four victories, by the way - not on his record of economic 
gains but by promising to keep the United States out of war even though he 
knew that was almost certainly impossible.  (My maternal grandfather did 
some WPA work, and it did help tide over his large family for a while, but 
economically it offered him nothing in the long term.  Only in the economic 
glow following the war did he begin to gain financially.)  Roosevelt was a 
stellar war time president who nonetheless would have been crucified had the 
press of his time had the same attitudes as today's fourth estate.  Tell Ken 
Janda he needs to read some more history books.