The New Deal

Franklin Delano Roosevelt entered the White House in 1932 when the Great Depression was beating America like an angry King Kong, and he promised "a new deal for the American people." The package of legislative reforms that came to be known as the New Deal permanently and dramatically transformed the politics and economy of the United States.

Shortly after taking office, Roosevelt explained to the American people that his New Deal program would seek to deliver relief, recovery, and reform—the so-called "3 Rs." He allegedly wanted to include a fourth R: rodeo—you know, for America—but his advisors counseled against it.

While Roosevelt's New Deal didn't end the Great Depression, FDR did a heckuva job steering America through it. At a time when people had lost their jobs and their savings, saying there were high expectations for the new president...is an understatement.

Of course, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Our man of the hour was cracking quotable quotes from the start, and deserved it. Four won elections later, and FDR claimed his spot as one of the top presidents the nation has ever seen.

Doesn't hurt that he squeezed in one spot ahead his cousin. Take that, Teddy.