# How many people knew FDR could not walk? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 7, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-knew-fdr-could-not-walk/655075 "2013-04-07T14:41:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-knew-fdr-could-not-walk/655075/21 "2013-04-07T22:48:49Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > So if you want to read that as a man who was\*\* confined \*\*to a wheelchair and receiving physical therapy, you certainly can. > [@moriah](#): > > So… people can overlook a\*\* wheel-bound \*\*president if he’s… This may be a nitpick but FDR was not “confined” nor “bound” to a wheelchair; he used one. This type of language is outdated and generally frowned upon by the wheelchair-using community. (my bold) ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-knew-fdr-could-not-walk/655075/22 "2013-04-07T23:15:19Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > People back then used their brains differently than we do today–they thought in words, not pictures. > Even if many people knew that FDR was ill, there were no attention-grabbing visuals of him acting sick. So it was easier to ignore his illness, and concentrate on the verbal side of the news. And since FDR was a powerful speaker , it was easy to imagine him as having a powerful body. Or more importantly, a powerful and indomitable will. And _that_, I believe, is something people clung to through the constant troubles of 1932-'45. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-knew-fdr-could-not-walk/655075/23 "2013-04-07T23:20:00Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > I read somewhere that one enemy in particular, a certain Adolf H., said things like that, to the effect that he scornfully considered Americans a bunch of wussies for electing a helpless cripple as their president. > > A few years ago, when that statue of Roosevelt was being planned in Washington, there was public debate about how he should be portrayed. Should his wheelchair be hidden (or not even present), in accordance with the sensibilities of the time? Or should his chair be more prominently visible, in accordance with modern sensibilities? (IIRC, it was during that debate that I read of Hitler’s remarks.) The final decision was to show FDR sitting in his chair, covered by a blanket, such that a small bit (but not too much) of the chair is visible. > > I just googled up images for Roosevelt statues, and [this one](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7061/6848140118_abb49bdb71_z.jpg) seems most likely to be the one I think I’m talking about. That looks like his [cape](http://www.cvce.eu/viewer/-/content/d70b4a1a-ad51-4dc3-95ee-f8205bbbed7b/en) that he wore to the [Yalta conference](https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&newwindow=1&safe=off&tbs=simg:CAESRwmWx0FeAWGnEBozCxCwjKcIGioKKAgBEgLYBxogzMb2mTgtemauaJawWmZp1q6oADLxIIrq5Pe1YHkm24gMIQCFb2bcDtDO&q=yalta+conference&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=eP5hUbLFHKzWiALLz4Eo&ved=0CEAQsw4&biw=1366&bih=659#q=yalta+conference&hl=en&newwindow=1&safe=off&tbs=simg:CAESRwmWx0FeAWGnEBozCxCwjKcIGioKKAgBEgLYBxogzMb2mTgtemauaJawWmZp1q6oADLxIIrq5Pe1YHkm24gMIQCFb2bcDtDO,isz:m&tbm=isch&source=lnt&sa=X&ei=hf5hUfeaH6qfiQK_74BI&ved=0CB0QpwUoAg&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.44770516,d.cGE&fp=397fcd0f2c519df2&biw=1366&bih=659&imgrc=MNpDGqA4x-gVEM%3A%3BD8ArdytbM2Q9iM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.cvce.eu%252Fcontent%252Fpublication%252F2001%252F5%252F30%252F60939c79-5270-4e0a-be5e-e2208b96091e%252Fpublishable.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.cvce.eu%252Fviewer%252F-%252Fcontent%252Fd70b4a1a-ad51-4dc3-95ee-f8205bbbed7b%252Fen%3B956%3B768) with Stalin and Churchill near the end of the war. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-knew-fdr-could-not-walk/655075/24 "2013-04-07T23:31:32Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > This may be a nitpick but FDR was not “confined” nor “bound” to a wheelchair; he used one. This type of language is outdated and generally frowned upon by the wheelchair-using community. (my bold) It would have been exactly the language used by the general public of FDR’s day. If you’re talking about what they thought, then you must also reference the language in which they talked. If they had been forced to refer to him, it would have been as a cripple, but they preferred not to think of it. This point is made by his grandson [in this interesting article](http://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/05/opinion/05iht-edcurl.t.html) written by his grandson, which also addresses the OP’s question. > [@](#): > > FDR the man cannot be understood without comprehending that he was crippled. He could have died from the severity of his polio attack in 1921. As it was he lost all movement in his legs and even some strength in his right hand. For six to seven years he tried to regain some use of his legs, but his success was marginal. > > Within the first year of contracting polio, when the extent of FDR’s disability became generally known in political circles — it could hardly be hidden in public appearances — his political future was written off. ---
**Author:** ![KermitTheFrig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/47e85d/32.png) [@KermitTheFrig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KermitTheFrig)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-knew-fdr-could-not-walk/655075/25 "2013-04-07T23:39:43Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > This may be a nitpick but FDR was not “confined” nor “bound” to a wheelchair; he used one. This type of language is outdated and generally frowned upon by the wheelchair-using community. (my bold) And how would the wheelchair-using community covey the idea of a person completely incapable of moving from one place to another without being in a wheel chair or being carried? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-knew-fdr-could-not-walk/655075/26 "2013-04-07T23:39:58Z")
People here are talking as if FDR’s condition was unchanged during these 2 decades! Obviously, it wasn’t – he suffered from an ongoing syndrome, which progresses (gets worse) over time. His physical limitations when campaigning in 1930 were different than in 1945. Plus his advancing age, and the responsibilities of being President during the Hoover Depression and the World War took an obvious toll on him. Look at pictures of modern presidents like Clinton at the start & end of their term and you can see how the office ages them. Hell, I’m only responsible for myself & some cats, but I don’t get around like I did 20 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-knew-fdr-could-not-walk/655075/27 "2013-04-07T23:45:26Z")
> [@KermitTheFrig](#): > > And how would the wheelchair-using community covey the idea of a person completely incapable of moving from one place to another without being in a wheel chair or being carried? Would that even apply here? I’d say those instances are few and far between and would be limited to only the most severely disabled wheelchair users who truly have no independence of movement. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-knew-fdr-could-not-walk/655075/28 "2013-04-07T23:48:02Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > It would have been exactly the language used by the general public of FDR’s day. If you’re talking about what they thought, then you must also reference the language in which they talked. If they had been forced to refer to him, it would have been as a cripple, but they preferred not to think of it. Fair enough. ---
**Author:** ![VernWinterbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c67d28/32.png) [@VernWinterbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VernWinterbottom)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-knew-fdr-could-not-walk/655075/29 "2013-04-08T00:16:16Z")
The Delano family “homestead” is in my hometown in Massachusetts. FDR was here many, many times from infancy into early adulthood and from time to time later in life. The last time FDR visited Fairhaven was in October, 1936. He had spoken in New Bedford then was driven into town. His car drove slowly in front of our high school. The students gathered outdoors to see him as he waved from the open convertible in the driveway before continuing on to the homestead. At the Delano house, he was helped inside. There, he and Mrs. Roosevelt had lunch with the President’s mother. I’ve heard, in recent times, that some people were upset that the President did not stop at the high school, go inside and address the students. They obviously had no idea what an undertaking it would have been to get him up the front steps of the building and then up even more stairs to the auditorium. And there would have been no way to do it sheltered from public view. ---
**Author:** ![VernWinterbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c67d28/32.png) [@VernWinterbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VernWinterbottom)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-knew-fdr-could-not-walk/655075/30 "2013-04-08T00:31:10Z")
I should add that much later the general public had no idea that Jackie Kennedy smoked. The press went along with the administration’s wishes not to photograph the First Lady with a cigarette. A lot of people think Nixon’s Watergate scandal led to the less glossy press coverage of first families since the '70s. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-knew-fdr-could-not-walk/655075/31 "2013-04-08T00:38:58Z")
Since the press did not care about JFK banging all kinds of women I guess overlooking smoking was pretty minor in comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-knew-fdr-could-not-walk/655075/32 "2013-04-08T00:45:54Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Since the press did not care about JFK banging all kinds of women I guess overlooking smoking was pretty minor in comparison. I don’t think that was photographed, though. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-knew-fdr-could-not-walk/655075/33 "2013-04-08T00:55:26Z")
> [@KermitTheFrig](#): > > And how would the wheelchair-using community covey the idea of a person completely incapable of moving from one place to another without being in a wheel chair or being carried? Well, if someone asks me, I tend to say that I am stuck with my chair today. [On good days I can manage to get around for between 5 and 10 minutes with crutches, anything longer than that and I do need to use my chair. On an average day I use my chair to preserve any ability I might have to actually walk on my own in case of emergency. Bad days I can pretty much manage to transfer chair to/from bed, toilet, shower chair. Really bad days I am stuck in bed with a bedpan.] It is a tool, nothing to be ashamed of and I do make jokes about it. And I lust after the Bounder power chair that will do 11 MPH, and dream of one using a fuel cell 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-knew-fdr-could-not-walk/655075/34 "2013-04-08T00:55:30Z")
Did he have feeling in his legs? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-knew-fdr-could-not-walk/655075/35 "2013-04-08T01:42:10Z")
Using his leg braces to walk and stand for speeches apparently caused a huge amount of pain, so I guess the answer is yes. It’s possible that the pain was in his back or spine, but that’s not the impression I get from my reading. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-knew-fdr-could-not-walk/655075/36 "2013-04-08T02:02:12Z")
Let’s also keep in mind that FDR smoked like a chimney and drank like a fish. These also took a huge toll on him. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-knew-fdr-could-not-walk/655075/37 "2013-04-08T02:12:28Z")
Paralyzed means your nerves don’t work so you don’t feel pain. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-knew-fdr-could-not-walk/655075/38 "2013-04-08T02:27:31Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Paralyzed means your nerves don’t work so you don’t feel pain. No, not necessarily. The nerves that control motion are different nerves than the ones that transmit pain, mostly. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-knew-fdr-could-not-walk/655075/39 "2013-04-08T02:33:57Z")
How much did the rest of the world – as in governments know? For example, Stalin or Hitler? I know he used one at Yalta, but FDR could have used the excuse that he wasn’t in such good health at the time. In college, I had a classmate with polio – he was an exchange student from Rwanda. His leg was all twisted up. It was quite sobering to think about – something we all take for granted, that polio is pretty much a thing of the past. And one of my professors had it as an adult – apparently the first year the vaccine came out, they were only giving it to children at the time. She used a walker. Also, our school nurse in high school had worked with Salk when he was distributing the vaccine. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-knew-fdr-could-not-walk/655075/40 "2013-04-08T02:34:36Z")
So you could sort of propel/flip/toss one leg forward by lifting and twisting that hip? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-knew-fdr-could-not-walk/655075.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-knew-fdr-could-not-walk/655075.md?page=3)