FDR

Nathan had to do an assignment about Franklin D. Roosevelt. In an article about the former President, it stated that Roosevelt was left disabled after suffering a bout with polio. His leg muscles were weakened, and he used either leg braces or a wheel chair. He hid his disability, insisting that no one could photograph him being carried, and he wore his leg braces under his pants, because disabilities were seen as a weakness at the time, and he most likely would not have been elected, had people known. It went on to say that he passed many laws to protect the poor, the elderly and the disabled.

At the end of the article, it asked Nathan to tell whether or not he thought Roosevelt should have hidden his disability.

This was his answer:


"Yes, he should have hidden that he was disabled, because if he didn’t, then he never would have been elected as President and important rules about protecting the poor, elderly and disabled, wouldn’t have been passed. But I think it’s mean that he had to hide his disability. He shouldn’t have to hide his disability. Just because he’s different doesn’t mean you have to ignore him. I think it’s sad that Roosevelt had to hide his disability. I don’t think he’s really disabled. I don’t think the polio made him disabled. It just made his legs so sore that he can’t hold himself up. It doesn’t mean he can’t do the job. He’s not disabled, he’s able! Just like me."