FDR was not well, struggling with heart disease and high blood pressure, brought on by the pressure of fighting, essentially, 2 major wars at once: Against Nazi Germany in Europe, and against the Japanese Empire in the Pacific. And he was also trying to set up the postwar country, with his G.I. Bill of Rights and other postwar economic measures; and the postwar world, with the United Nations.
His smoking and drinking didn't help. He was 62 years old, and looked at least 72. The Republicans began a "whispering campaign," saying that the Democratic titan was too old and tired to handle the Presidency, and possibly dying.
To counter this, FDR held a parade down Broadway in Lower Manhattan. In the rain. Not good for his health. I wonder if anyone warned him about William Henry Harrison, who was inaugurated as President on March 4, 1841, and then proceeded, without a hat, overcoat or gloves, in freezing rain, to give the longest Inaugural Address ever, 1 hour and 45 minutes. He died 1 month later.
To counter this, FDR held a parade down Broadway in Lower Manhattan. In the rain. Not good for his health. I wonder if anyone warned him about William Henry Harrison, who was inaugurated as President on March 4, 1841, and then proceeded, without a hat, overcoat or gloves, in freezing rain, to give the longest Inaugural Address ever, 1 hour and 45 minutes. He died 1 month later.
FDR's parade was attended by millions, cheering and chanting, "We want Roosevelt!" Prior to the parade, he held a rally at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. "I've got a confession to make," he told the crowd. "I come from the State of New York, and I've practiced law in New York City. But I have never been in Ebbets Field before." He was not booed.
He did say, "I've rooted for the Dodgers" -- even though he had, on numerous occasions, been to Yankee Stadium to cheer on the Yankees, to the Polo Grounds to cheer on the Giants, and saw them both at the Polo Grounds in Game 2 of the 1936 World Series. "And I hope to come back someday and watch 'em play." That got a huge roar.
FDR would be unable to go back. He had not been to a major league game since before Pearl Harbor, thinking it inappropriate for the President to do so. (There was Presidential precedent: Woodrow Wilson loved baseball, and threw out the first ball at every Opening Day of his first term, but not in 1917 and '18 due to World War I, not in '19 due to his trip to the postwar peace conference, and not in '20 due to his health.) FDR died at the dawn of the next season, of a stroke brought on by working himself to death to save civilization from fascism.
He did say, "I've rooted for the Dodgers" -- even though he had, on numerous occasions, been to Yankee Stadium to cheer on the Yankees, to the Polo Grounds to cheer on the Giants, and saw them both at the Polo Grounds in Game 2 of the 1936 World Series. "And I hope to come back someday and watch 'em play." That got a huge roar.
FDR would be unable to go back. He had not been to a major league game since before Pearl Harbor, thinking it inappropriate for the President to do so. (There was Presidential precedent: Woodrow Wilson loved baseball, and threw out the first ball at every Opening Day of his first term, but not in 1917 and '18 due to World War I, not in '19 due to his trip to the postwar peace conference, and not in '20 due to his health.) FDR died at the dawn of the next season, of a stroke brought on by working himself to death to save civilization from fascism.
In 2016, there was no "whispering campaign": The Republicans came right out and said that the year's Democratic nominee, also (officially) from the State of New York, Hillary Clinton, was "dying" and "doesn't have the stamina to be President." She did 3 90-minute debates, and kicked Donald Trump's ass in each of them.
In 2020, when it became clear that Trump was becoming more and more unhealthy and unhinged, they said it was Joe Biden who had "dementia." He did 2 debates that, because of Trump's interruptions, lasted more than 90 minutes, and mopped the floor with him both times.
This past July 21, after a disastrous debate with Trump, Biden, 81, accepted the appeals of major Democratic officials, and dropped out of the race, and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, who turned 60 late in the campaign. Trump, 78, now looked like a very old man indeed.
No comments:
Post a Comment