Dedicated on May 3, 1997, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial celebrates the profound legacy of courage, optimism and social conscience credited to the 32nd president of the United States. The memorial depicts Roosevelt's influence over twelve years of American history, including such events as the Great Depression and World War II. Roosevelt also oversaw great strides in the American quest for civil rights, through the establishment of more inclusive national policies.

Roosevelt appointed the first woman, Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins, to the presidential cabinet, and promoted more women to federal posts than any of his predecessors. Additionally, Roosevelt appointed the first black woman, Mary McLeod Bethune, to head a federal office. Bethune was one of several African American advisors who came to be known as Roosevelt's "Black Cabinet."

While he supported emergency aid to the poor, Roosevelt firmly believed that work programs, were better than relief payments. Roosevelt promoted New Deal legislation designed to employ tens of thousands of Americans with public works and construction projects, and his administration banned racial discrimination in all federal programs.

Under Roosevelt's direction, the military began training black pilots in 1940. The same year, the army promoted African American Benjamin O. Davis to the rank of brigadier general, and FDR appointed William Hastie to the War Department. Roosevelt's Executive Order 8802, outlawed discrimination in the defense industries, and established a committee to monitor compliance. In 1944, Roosevelt signed the G.I. Bill, providing many minority veterans a path to college.

The Roosevelt administration created an American dialogue regarding racial injustice and equal opportunity. Civil rights leaders would eventually build upon these important strides towards social and economic inclusion. The FDR Memorial dramatically captures Roosevelt's vision of an inclusive nation, where, as he stated in 1941,"the democratic way of life can be defended successfully only with the help and support of all groups living within its borders."

Written by Kimberly Messer,

Graduate Student, University of West Florida.