Roosevelt’s early life was privileged and does not give much reason for him to understand ordinary Americans, as he was not like most Americans at the time. There are certain things however that may contributed to Roosevelt’s understanding, as a boy Roosevelt had his own perfect world in Hyde Park, New York where he grew up, this could have inspired him to recreate his boyhood world in the real world. Ordinary Americans would have had some of the same concerns as Roosevelt as a boy as he looked for security, in response to his severely ill father. Much of young Franklin’s life was sheltered though and he led a comfortable, gracious existence, which was very unlike ordinary Americans.
Roosevelt’s formal education began at Groton Preparatory school, where the headmaster stressed to his students their obligation towards those less fortunate in society, (noblesse oblige). This sense of obligation could have made Roosevelt look deeper into the world around him and find out what was wrong with it and how it could be improved for ordinary Americans. Roosevelt also did not fit in at school and was made an outsider in the unforgiving world of adolescent boys; this could have made him understand people in the thirties, as he did not fit in. After Groton, Roosevelt went to the exclusive Harvard University, where he was also rejected when he tried to get into the Porcelain club but was black balled. This may have led Roosevelt to believe his rich and privileged background was pushing him away and he may have felt a sense of rejection. This sense of rejection from his own class could have helped him to understand the fears and concerns of ordinary Americans.
Roosevelt’s privileged upbringing meant he had little to do with ordinary Americans and the fact he was to assume responsibility for those less fortunate wax only done out of duty. It was only after he married his distant cousin Eleanor that he came into contact with the poor when through her charity work she introduced him to the slums of New York. Roosevelt’s background could have also created a negative effect on his understanding of the fears and concerns of ordinary Americans. His background could have created and enforced patrician airs and attitude of superiority that would not have made it easier for him to understand the fears and concerns of ordinary Americans.
Roosevelt’s illness could have helped him to understand the fears and concerns, from thirty-nine he was crippled by severe polio. The disease had almost destroyed him but through will power and the help of others he survived. Roosevelt could have related this to the fears of ordinary people as the Depression was destroying them so he would have felt the same feelings as them of desperation. The disease that was Roosevelt’s one weakness could also have helped to mature him and give him an insight into how ordinary Americans were feeling.
Roosevelt’s upbringing was so protected and privileged that it would have been difficult for him to gain understanding of ordinary Americans concerns and fears but there are certain elements that may have helped and made it easier for him. Roosevelt’s headmaster at Groton could have helped by encouraging public service. Much of Roosevelt’s early life would have just enforced the patrician attitudes of his class. Roosevelt may have understood the peoples suffering through his own suffering by his illness. Roosevelt understood that the suffering of the Depression had mostly affected ordinary Americans with great impact, but his background, character and upbringing had little to do with it. Roosevelt really only abandoned his patrician airs until after he entered politics. Some aspects of his upbringing and background helped him gain an understanding, but it mainly enforced the attitude of superiority.
