Sacred Heart High School - Vine Leaves Yearbook (Vineland, NJ)

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Roosevelt was handed another setback in the presidential campaign of nineteen twenty-lour, when, running as the Democratic nominee for the vice presidency, he was defeated, while the reins of the government were handled by Warren Harding and the group, which caused such scandal throughout our country. It may be interesting to note here that an examination of the program advanced by Roosevelt sensed the needs of our country perfectly and would have aided much in preventing the great financial depression which now giips our nation. His proposal for a national budget was rejected while the small budget adopted by the Republican party failed to meet the crisis. However, there is good in everything and in visiting every state in the union during his extensive campaign, he has gathered a knowledge of the needs of each State and also of the entire nation. In nineteen twenty-one, Franklin Roosevelt was stricken with infantile paralysis, a disease from which he was not expected to recover. For three long years, a bitter struggle was carried on between the two forces. It was in nineteen twenty-four that, through the remarkable treatment at Warm Springs, Franklin was able to return to politics, to regain his rightful place in the public eye. Again good came out of evil, for his sensational recovery was heralded over the nation and once again, Franklin Roosevelt became a national figure, from whom great things were expected. His complete recovery is evidenced by insurance policies to the extent of a half million dollars. After examinations by six physicians, one is almost sure to be fit for any public position. Although he had just re- covered from his malady, Roosevelt was elected to the position of governor of the Empire State in the fall of 1928, despite the great Republican land- slide of that year. In the fall of nineteen thirty-two the great climax of Roosevelt’s ca- reer was reached, when he was selected as the Democratic nominee for the presidency of our nation. To show his appreciation for this honor, to show his enthusiasm, Roosevelt flew to the Democratic convention, disregarding former cus- toms. refusing to wait a month to be officially notified of his nomination, in order to convince the Democratic party that they had chosen wisely. Roosevelt thrilled the nation with his acceptance speech, part of which I shall quote for you. “My friends.” he said, “may this be the symbol of my intention to be honest and to avoid all hypocrisy and sham, to avoid all silly shutting of the eyes to the truth in this campaign. Let it also be symbolic that in so doing (Flying to the scene of the convention) I broke traditions. Let it be from now on, the task of our party to break foolish traditions. We will break foolish traditions and leave it to the Republican party, far more skilled in the art, to break premises.” To further describe the Democratic nominee, we quote two of the lead- ing newspapers of our nation thus: “Roosevelt stands on the broad middle, liberal ground between radical and conservative, intensely concerned with the American people. If Am- ericanism exists at all. this is Americanism.”—Philadelphia Record. 31

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Instead, he became the Editor of The Crimson, the Harvard daily. It was then that he hit his stride, the determined gait that has carried him through the various public offices to the nominee of the Democratic party for the presidency of the United States. He was chosen for many fraternities. Then came the first real sorrow of his life. His beloved father passed away even as Franklin was attract- ing attention by his long list of friends. He became a leader of the univer- sity. He displayed marked ability to command loyalty and co-operation from his mates. Even then, he formed friendships as he pleased, without regard to class or set. Just as evident as his leadership was his lack of snobbish- ness. His broadmindedness was apparent. The liberal statesman of today was already in the making. Franklin Roosevelt married at the age of twenty-three to Anna Eleanor and became a typical family man. There were three children in the Roose- velt family. Roosevelt had become a leading man in his community, happy in his own home life, concerned in the welfare of the community. Roosevelt’s first plunge into politics gained for him the respect of not only his own party but even drew the unstinted praise of his opponents. By his great spirit and friendliness to everyone. Franklin garnered a victory in a reputed Republican stronghold and secured his first public office. State Senator from the twenty-sixth district of New York. Much to the surprise of everyone, except his own backers, he carried out all pre-election promises. In the year nineteen hundred eleven, Roose- velt again showed his courage by bucking up against Tammany on the question of placing William Sheehan in the United States Senate. His subsequent victory gained new supporters for this rising leader, who by now was anxious to retire from politics. He was drafted by his friends however, and was reelected to the Senate by a larger majority than he had enjoyed in the first election. During his second term, Franklin became a national figure. His spirit- ed support was one of the chief factors in the election of that eminent statesman. Woodrow Wilson. But had it not been for Franklin Roosevelt, the war president might have been submerged for it was the New York Senator who pointed out the inadequacy of the American navy. As a re- sult, when Wilson finally declared war on the Imperial Government of Germany, the American navy v as able to assist in its share of the program. It was Franklin Roosevelt who first granted an interview to the Am- erican inventor of the undersea mines, those infernal machines which caused the German undersea boats so much difficulty. It was Franklin Roosevelt who directed the demobilization of the American navy abroad. It was Franklin Roosevelt who advocated America joining the newly formed League of Nations. The failure of the American diplomats to heed the advice of Roosevelt, left this body but another European alliance, posses- sing little effectiveness. JO

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“Roosevelt demands only one thing—legislation with enough teeth in it to make utility companies play fair with the public. This isn’t radi- calism. It’s just common honesty.”—Camden Post. Whereas Herbert Hoover, the Republican nominee, was uncertain in his standards up until the Republican party’s victory in 1920, Franklin Roosevelt has always been an avid Democrat, even refusing to let blood ties interfere with his party principles. Whereas Mr. Hoover has lived in England during the majority of his life and thus is unfamiliar with existing conditions in America, Mr. Roose- velt has lived with the American people, has traveled through every state in the union, studying each state’s conditions. Surely, there can be little question as to which man is the better fit- ted to act as president of the United States during the expected recovery from the current morass. —JOSEPH REILLY