RateItAll: The Opinion Network

He saw us through the Great Depression and most of World War II. He began Social Security. His New Deal offered hope and rellief to many.

Well, I wasn't around yet when he was in office, but from what I heard of him, he did a lot of good things, including helping America to get back on its feet through the Great Depression. Carried the weight of running the U.S. while suffering from the crippling disease known as polio. I'd say he was a very well-respected man by Democrats and Republicans alike.

He helped the economy, but socialized it a bit too much.

Created Social Security and got us out of the Depression and kicked some @SS in WWII.

Third greatest president, after Lincoln and Washington. Got this country through monumental obstacles.

The Math: Add points for surviving the Great Depression and defeating Hitler, subtract points for creating currupt bureaucracies, and not confronting him sooner. Gets bonus point for Eleanor.

Saved us from the Depression by creating jobs through domestic infrastructure plans (tunnels, bridges, etc). Our banks are insured now and we have (er, HAD, thank Reagan and Bushs for screwing us out of that now too) Social Security because of things he put into motion. He healed an economically sick nation

A bit overrated when it comes to ending the depression. His New Deal had many flaws and for the most part WWII ended the Depression. But I gave him 3 stars because he motivated the American people and because of his leadership in WWII.

Roosevelt saved American capitalists from a socialist revolution, and yet we still hear whining and moaning about "Socialist Security", and claims that programs like unemployment insurance "don't work".

Right up there w/other great acronym people. FDR=JTT You know, Jonathan Taylor Thomas (JTT). Rock on!

FDR will forever be disliked by conservative Republicans and liked by mostly everyone else. He was just the man to lead the United States through the Great Depression and World War II. He brought hope to the nation after almost four years of Hoover doing next to nothing to help mitigate the economic nightmare. His domestic program, the New Deal, can only be rivaled by the Great Society for the great it covered. It was spectacular (some historians argue it made the Great Depression last long) and much of it is still in use today through the National Labor Relations Board, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Social Security, Federal Housing Administration, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and so much more. The only stains on his presidency are the National Recovery Act (NRA) and Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA), which equate to socialism. Luckily they were struck down by the conservative Supreme Court under Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes. Roosevelt's response to the laws being struck down- the Court Packing Scheme- was his biggest blunder because it completely abused Executive Power.

Helped get America out of the Depression and led America in a good way throughtout WW2.

BY FAR THE BEST.

Led the nation though the Great Depression and WWII also help built the foundations of the UN and NATO.

One of the most brilliant successes as President of the United States. He was a great wartime leader at a time one was desperately needed, who was able to unify the country in a way none of the other presidents who have presided over the country during a major war were ever able to do.

Many of the things we take for granted as Americans today were not reality before FDR took office. Saw the country through one of the toughest domestic periods in history, as well as one of the hardest international times in history. I referred to JFK as the last great Democratic president, but actually JKF was good while FDR was great.

A paradox: how do you evaluate a guy who was an unprincipled opportunist, yet also had the most brilliant success of any U.S. president, pushing the nation through two of its biggest crises? There's a wonderful old book by Richard Hofstadter -- The American Political Tradition -- with a chapter that makes just this point about FDR, and shows that his experimental, trial-and-error approach represented a genuine innovation at this level of American politics -- particularly in comparison with the previous Democratic president, Wilson. Wilson was undeniably smarter and more principled, yet in many ways a failure, while FDR's willingness to think pragmatically, rather than philosophically or legalistically, produced more successes than failures. That's why he should still rank as one of our very best presidents.

a little overrated, but did a fine job

I won't over-mythologize him, but I cannot give him lower than 3-stars for some decent leadership through some tough times. . .he has his virulent detractors- but FDR always will have the last laugh- he was successful.

The lying, hero worshiping bordello piano players masquerading as objective historians, but actually fawning hagiographers, are finally dying out! A new breed of objective truth-telling historians are ripping the hide off this frivolous pampered mama's boy and exposing the ugly truth. The longer we look back, the worse he becomes.

One of the greatest Presidents. Not only got the United States through a depression and World War but did it all while battling polio. Some of his "New Deal" programs were so successful they're still being used today. He was loved by most everyone and it's sad he didn't get to see the end of World War II and the Great Depression

One of my three "great" presidents, FDR was a great man by any standard; his persoonal courage in the face of crippling polio, his sunny optimism and great leadership abilities in the face of the Great Depression and World War II, an internationalist in the best sense; there are two or three black marks on his presidency- internment of Japanese citizens, the attempted packing of the Supreme Court, and some might say a socialist bent, but overall I can't imagine any other leader who would have done as well during his time in office.

In my opinion the greatest democrat, and for those liberals opposed to war, your idol was a big wartime president

He did much for America that benifts us to this day.

Lion in winter is right. To the extent that he employed socialism, he employed it ironically to save capitalism.

FDR was one of the towering figures of the 20th century. He saved the nation from anarchy and collapse during the dark days of the depression.

History has shown that FDR was no raging liberal or socialist- but actually moderate, who instigated the needed reforms so that the nations underlying free enterprise system could be preserved. When he took office he basically started no programs other then Hoover had started. But by 1935 with the economy not turning around, he was forced to 'turn left' after being criticized by the far left. He then started social security, the FDIC, and the Security and Exchange Commission, and later taxed corporations and the wealthy to appease the ultral liberals who said he was not doing enough. He was a great war time leader as well-

The safeguards many Americans enjoy today where started by FDR

One of the towering figures of the 20th century and of all time. Began serious reforms of the American system of economics- where would we be today without those reforms? Perhaps in the GW Bush cellar of hell-

Created the New Deal, which was a resounding success; but shot himself in the foot with the Gold Confiscation Act. Yeah, taking our gold, good idea!

Related either by blood or by marriage to 11 former presidents.

I have read lots about this idiot.I am only 40 yrs old.I think that this leftist,brain dead,Commie coddling,Supreme Court packing imbecile is up there with the truly inept and inane presidents of all time.I hear people say that he was the best president of all times.HOW????He did NOT get us out of the depression(in fact I think he prolonged it),he spied on political opponents for no reason,as I said above he illegally packed the Supreme Court.He also started the modern welfare state.WWII?Well,he did a good job there except for the aforementioned games of footsie with Stalin.True,he overcame personal illness(as did I) so I obviously give him credit for that.True,he rallied a nation's mood during 2 bad periods.But the question I ask:Were we better off with this cucumber in the White House?My answer:NO!!!!!

The BEST President we've ever had, hands down. His apt leadership got us through The Great Depression and World War II. He was one of the last truly COMPASSIONATE Presidents as well. America was truly a great nation around that time, but has been going downhill since the ultra right-wing neocons have come into power.

Folks who grew up under FDR in general tend to look back on him with fondness, apparently because he was a charismatic leader who made the American people feel good about their plight and helped unite them under an ostensibly noble cause (WW2). History, I think, will eventually begin to take a dimmer view of the man. Where to begin? The court-packing scheme? His soft spot for "Uncle Joe" Stalin that led to all of Eastern Europe coming under the control of the communist dictator's iron fist? The Japanese-American internment camps? His alphabet soup of New Deal programs that were mostly a miserable failure and did nothing to alleviate the Great Depression? If it weren't for WW2, FDR would most likely be remembered as a failure every bit as much as Herbert Hoover was. A Hamiltonian in the worst sense of the word, FDR created the oppressive federal monolith and the gimme-gimme mindset that exists today. He apparently thought he should be president for life, breaking with the two-term tradition that every other president before him adhered to. He was also a shameless opportunist who would use any excuse, any tragedy, for personal and political gain. New Deal not working? Let's let Japan bomb us; then I can backtrack on my promise to stay neutral and let the war kick-start the economy. Yes, there is much speculation that FDR knew Japan was going to bomb Pearl Harbor and chose to do nothing, specifically to get us into the war. If true, there's a lot of blood on his hands. Even if not, his shameless opportunism is well-known, even among his supporters. He had no regard for the Constitution or on reasonable limits on government power -- all that mattered, much as with Bill Clinton years later, was his own legacy. A contemptible man who duped a lot of people by being able to talk a good game.

the best ever, hands down.

Best president of all time, save Ronald Reagan.

Come on people could we not have a better president besides James Monroe. He created Social Security. United a downtrodded nation. Lead us through WW2. How could u possibly give TR a higher vote than FDR.

Franklin Rossevelt was not a great president. Everyone blames Hoover's policies for getting America into the Depression but FDR had the same policies for the first six years of his presidency! Those policies only extended and deepened the Depression. And the New Deal was a disaster. It created a culture of dependency and helped socialize America. We still suffer from FDR's New Deal policies to this day. However, FDR had singular vision and fortitude when it came to WWII. FDR defeated Nazism and he should be lauded for his wartime policies. The combination of bad domestic policies and superb wartime policies makes FDR only an average president. If I ranked all forty-two presidents from best to worst, FDR would likely fall somewhere between fourteen and twenty.

Historic figure for his leadership during a particularly rough patch in our past. The packing the court incident keeps from a 5 star rating.

The last truly great president we ever had. Now Bush is completely undermining every decision this great man made, and is undoing the good things he did. Damn shame. Oh and the New Deal and first hundred days, without a doubt, saved america from being stuck in the depression for ever. He is deffinetly turning in his grave right now. And one more thing, he didn't start socailism, just socail security, which is now going to be lost the next time the stock market crashes or even falls on rough times. Carl Marx started socailism. You can't deny he was a great presient, he was elected to 4 terms, by an absolute landslide every single time, and one them winning all but 2 states. Don't mess with FDR.

Amazing handling of government through such tough periods of handling government.

People who give F.D.R. a bad rating aren't true Americans at all, without him there would be no America, and no Jewish people.

Brought us out of the depression and helped win WWII, no one better.

I think Roosevelt was a great president, he got the U.S. back on it's feet after WW II. He had to bend quite a few laws to do it but without his projects we wouldn't have become one of the strongest countries in the world. He was also instrumental in beginning to rebuild Europe.

The Roosevelt years were the make or break years for this country. He came into office leading a starving, impoverished nation and left it a military super power in firm control of the world economy.

The godfather of socialism who is responsible for expanding government and sky high taxes that we have to pay for him. Before FDR, the average federal income tax was only 8%. Now, even the smallest tax bracket pays more than this. Everyone would have more money if he wouldn't have been our president

Saved democracy and capitalism, although World War II had a lot to do with it.

Greatest president of the 20th century. He's da man!

unorthodox methods, but got us out of the second largest crisis in this country's history; however, he ignored the holocaust until we got attacked and had to fight necesary

Responsible for prolonging the Great Depression (New Deal), handed Eastern Europe over to Stalin, violated Washington's two-term precedent, let Stalin get away with crimes twice as bad as Hitler, tried to illegally pack the Supreme Court, Social Security is an unconstitutional pyramid scheme that anyone under 50 years old should oppose or at least want reformed, I could keep going.

One of the best presidents that this nation has ever had! He lead our country through the Great Depression with the Fire Side Chats and his good leadership. He lead us to victory in WWII i don't know if that means anything to you people, but it means alot to me. My grandparents and great uncles were in that war and it would have sucked if they had died. Yeah this president did alot for our country.

The man saved the world, if anything the greatest leader EVER.

He was a fast machine. He kept his motor clean. He was the best damn President we have ever seen.

People can call him socialist if they want but there is a reason that he spent more time as president than anyone else. He had tremendous foresight callimg on the congress to appropriate funds to begin strengthening the military well before Pearl Harbor. Using fireside chats he was able to relate to the people and was more open than any other president. The WPA and TVA along with the CCC created many utilities, hospitals and schools still in use today. Unlike welfare today FDR had the people earn wages instead of taking handouts. This country is lucky that he risked being called a socialist by showing compassion instead of allowing millions to die.

LED U.S. THROUGH 14 OF THE MOST TURBULENT YEARS IN U.S. HISTORY. Defeated the third anti-christ that was Adolph Hitler, and also did more for the domestic welfare of citizens than any president.

Hands down the greatest President, if not the greatest politician or even the greatest person of power in American history!!!

This anti-American tyrant illegaly locked up thousands of innocent Japanese Aericans for one reason alone: being Japanese. He is the cause of the massive amounts of taxation we se today. Increased the size of government to new heights. New that the threat of Japan was high, yet pulled resources out of Pearl Harbor, thus, leaving it defenseless. He did everything in his ability to save and support the Soviet Union. Too bad he gave the Communists so much support they soon became one of the 2 wold powers. But the worst thing he did was lock up the innocent Japanese in camps. Can you imagine the flak that Bush would recieve if he locked up all Muslims after 9-11? The outcry would be enourmous! Let's expose FDR for what he really is: A socialist, racist pig.

I wish I had been around when FDR was President. He seems like he was wonderfully inspiring;but not only did he inspire, he took action. He was truly a hero, and all the presidents who followed him pale in comparison to his resplendent example. UPDATE: Yes, wasn't FDR so demonic actually coming up with these awful programs to help people get jobs and get out of the hole! Shameless government interference! I hear that before the evil FDR took office starving families lived in tent cities called Hoovervilles. Isn't this just so cute and original? Talk about cheap housing!

The damage of the New Deal is still being felt. Cuddled up to Stalin.

Was the hardest workin president EVER. Brought us out of the depression with his New Deal programs.

Shouldn't even be on the lisr. We can thank him for Pearl Harbor. Same as Bush for 9/11

SOCIALIST!!!

Again, another leader that saved our country. The Republicans are still trying to reverse everything this man accomplished.

got us out of the depression and WWII, what more could we ask for.

FDR was one of the greatest Presidents ever. He led us out of the depression by creating jobs and jumpstarting the economy. If not for Abraham Lincoln, he would be the greatest President, ever.

An old socialist from day one. Was in a socialist fog most of his presidency and a misty fog when he delt away most of Europe to the murdering Communist after they had suffered through the Nazis. He was truly a proped up president physically and by the leftest press in this country.

Prolonged the depression. He should have had a reality radio show instead. He new how to talk into the mike but we are still paying for his lack of leadership economicly.

He took a liquidity crisis and made it much worse by raising tax rates - reverse supply side. He took unemployment from 10-15% up to 25% by shear ignorance. The confiscatory tax rates made tooling up for World War II very difficult. The military supplied tax lawyers and accountants to help companies evade the tax rates so they could expand in order to provide supplies and munitions to the military. These are two major screwups in a time of crisis. His abilities barely raise his performance to mediocre.