>> american history tv is on social media. follow us at c-span history. ♪[music]♪ ♪[music]♪ >> franklin roosevelt began the long trip home. slowly the long black funeral train, then down pennsylvania avenue to the beat of drums, the president was born for the last time to the executive mansion that for 12 years had been his

official home. the passing of f.d.r. from the american scene came as a personal shock to the nation. people wept openly, unashamed of their grief. ♪[music]♪ >> drawn by six white horses, the flag-draped caisson was brought to the main entrance of the white house. carried into the great east room where, 80 years before almost to the day, the body of abraham lincoln also had laid in state. at hyde park, his ancestral home, the guns of west point cadets, the final curtain on the man known round the world as f.d.r. [shots firing] >> to measure something of his greatness, we turn back the clock to franklin roosevelt as a young man making his first

political campaign torks the time when -- to the time when, only 28 years of age, he was elected new york state senator and brought the powerful republican machine that had rolled the county for over 28 years. ♪[music]♪ >> emerging as a national figure, he served president wilson as the secretary of -- assistant secretary of the navy. in 1920, as running mate of james m. cox, f.d.r., at the age of 38 was the youngest vice presidential candidate in history. married on st. patrick's day to eleanor roosevelt, f.d.r. founded a dynasty typical of his hudson river forebears. it was to the roosevelt retreat the vacation cottage on campobello island, that f.d.r. sailed with his friends and family after his strenuous campaign for the vice president si. it was in these same waters that he was first stricken with the dread polio germ that was to

paralyze his legs but never his life. called in 1928 to the state capital in albany, franklin roosevelt was elected governor of new york. with al smith, the happy warrior at his side, he threw himself into the fight for better government. became the champion of the common man was widely thought to have his next democratic candidate for the presidency of the united states. the dye was cast. a country still mired in the morass of depression, wanted a new president. called to chicago to accept the nomination, governor roosevelt flew from albany with his wife, son elliott and son john. who knew it then, but this was the beginning of an era unparalleled in american history.

f.d.r.'s appearance in chicago stadium was the beginning of a series of spectacular personal triumphs. swept into office by the greatest landslide in history, his first words were fearless, prophetic. >> i am prepared, under my constitutional duty, to recommend the measures, in the midst of a stricken world, may require. these measures or such other measures as the congress may bill, out of its experience and wisdom i shall seek within my constitutional authority to bring to speedy adoption. but in the event that the congress shall fail to take one of these two, in the event that the national emergency is still critical, i shall not evade the clear course of duty that will

then confront me. i shall ask the congress for the one remaining instrument to meet the crisis. broad executive power to wage a war against the emergency as great as the power that would be given to me if we were in fact invaded by a foreign foe. [applause] >> f.d.r.'s first term was marked by an ominous period of world unrest. men of many nations were again taking up arms. our own national defense was at its lowest ebb. america knew famine and drought and the dust bowl. f.d.r. brought farm relief and flood control. water power and giant public works. social security was born. old age insurance became a new

responsibility of government. the price of gold was fixed. the american dollar became the soundest in the world. the forgotten man was remembered. the country hailed its leader as a pathfinder. the initial f.d.r. began to stand for progress, national security. the fireside chat became an american institution, with steve hurley marv mcintyre. the white house secretarial staff helped in his radio reports to the nation. the president's talks were masterpieces of simplicity and directness. >> ladies and gentlemen, the president of the united states. >> my friends, the american public -- >> and with that now familiar salutation, he brought his messages straight to the firesides of the people.

he talked with them in their homes about the vital issues of the day. roosevelt never gave up hope in his battle against infantile paralysis. in the healing waters of warm springs, in the white house pool swimming was his one relaxation, his only exercise. how he organized the great warm springs foundation for the eventual benefit of the nation's half million polio victims will forever stand as a living monument to his name. each year on his birthday, all over the lands, little children sing his praise. ♪[singing]♪ ♪ happy birthday to you ♪ ♪ happy birthday to you ♪ ♪ happy birthday, dear president ♪ happy birthday to you ♪ ♪ >> this intimate study of the president and his beloved is one

of the rare personal portraits in a busy, crowded life. for no man in our time, nor in any time perhaps, has been called on to make the momentous decisions that have been his. his one goal, his greatest ambition was to lead the nations of the world into a lasting peace. royalty for many nations, the king and queen of england have been guests in his own. with the world's most powerful rulers, he commanded supreme respect. with a keen grasp of international affairs, he foresaw by many years the world's march. 1936, speaking in new york, he gave the nation words that have been quoted again and again. >> i've always thought that peace, like charity, begins at home. [applause]

>> and that's why we have begun at home, here in north and south and central america. but peace in the western world is not all we seek. i have seen war. i have seen war on land. i have seen blood running from the wounded. i have seen children starving. i have seen the agony of mothers and wives. i hate war! [applause] >> 1940 found the nation facing war. voters took the issue squarely to the polls. with the magic power of f.d.r. shatter all presidents? the voice of the people was heard. >> the results are now conclusive. roosevelt wins!

[cheers and applause] >> the nation was jubilant. f.d.r. had done it again! and at hyde park, roosevelt received the well wishes of the neighbors. again, the president addressed the nation. in the presence of cabinet members, diplomats and leaders from nations south of the border, f.d.r. asked for broader powers than had ever before been given to any american president. >> the first and final four fact is that -- fundamental fact is that what started as a european war, as the nazis always intended it should develop, into a war for world domination. therefore, with profound consciousness, to my country's cause, i have tonight issued a proclamation that an unlimited national emergency exists and requires the strengthening of

our defense to the extreme limit of our national power and authority. >> with the world facing the greatest conflict of all time, with the rights of all free people endangered, roosevelt met winston churchill on the high seas, gave a pledge to the world. the right of all people to choose their own form of government. history records this meeting as the birth of the atlantic charter. december 7 1941, a day of i fam mi -- infamy, burned into the pages of american history. the president faced the nation

united. >> i ask that the congress declare that since the unprovoked and das dastardly attack on sunday, december 7 1941, a state of war has existed between the united states and the japanese empire. [applause] >> in 1942, f.d.r. startled the world by meeting churchill in casablanca gave the axis ii axis two words.

this most critical period is indelibly written in history. at cairo, more conferences f.d.r. wrote a new chapter in international relations. gave assurance to the people of china of unstinted aid in their war against japan. it was the guiding hand in bringing together the many conflicting forces of east and west. fritz was the man who met stalin for the first time, who gave the world its first promise of complete accord between the three great powers. but these were called the big three, was no empty phrase. franklin roosevelt steadfast in his conviction, was the biggest of them all. pearl harbor for the first time since the outbreak of war the commander-in-chief conferred with general macarthur. he took an active part in planning the war in the pacific is now apparent.

from this conference emerged the blueprint for liberation of the philippines. f.d.r. began his fourth term in office firm in his belief that men are capable of their own government. but no king no tyrant, no dictator can govern them as wisely as they can govern themselves. upon that night, he put the world's future on the conference table, made plans to bring together the nations and the peoples of the world in a lasting peace. history has recorded that first step as the san francisco conference. in this, his last report to congress, is to be found the text of his life. in the last words of a man grown tired in public service, is a heritage for all men everywhere. ♪[music]♪

>> congress, the american people this conference as the beginning of a structure of peace. upon which we can begin to build, under god that better world in which our children and grandchildren, yours and mine, the children and grandchildren of the whole world must live and can live. >> this is american history tv. featuring events, interviews, archival films and visit to college classrooms museums and historic places. exploring our nation's past every weekend, on c-span3.