FDR did much for the American people during the Great Depression and World War II. As the 32nd president from 1933-1945, he initiated New Deal programs to provide relief and create jobs. He led reforms in areas like civil rights, labor, banking, and established Social Security. During WWII, FDR launched a nationwide war effort and sent over 16 million troops overseas until the Allied forces were victorious in 1945. However, FDR died in office in April 1945 at Warm Springs, Georgia.

1. Presidents of the USA
№ President Date of the term(s) Additional information
1 George Washington 1789-1797 The only president to receive every vote. He had
to borrow money to go to his own inauguration.
"The Father of the Nation"
2 John Adams 1797-1801 "The Father of the US Navy", the first president
to live in the White House. Learned and
thoughtful, John Adams was more remarkable
as a political philosopher than as a politician.
3 Thomas Jefferson 1801-1809 He was appointed to write the Declaration of
Independence. In the thick of party conflict in
1800, Thomas Jefferson wrote in a private letter,
"I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal
hostility against every form of tyranny over the
mind of man."
4 James Madison 1809-1817 "The Father of the US Constitution", because he
was instrumental in its creation. At his
inauguration, James Madison, a small, wizened
man, appeared old and worn; Washington Irving
described him as "but a withered little apple-
John."
5 James Monroe 1817-1825 He created the Monroe Doctrine: no new
colonies are to be started in America.
6 John Quincy Adams 1825-1829 He helped to establish the Smithsonian
Institution. The only President who was the son
of a President, John Quincy Adams in many
respects paralleled the career as well as the
temperament and viewpoints of his illustrious
father.
7 Andrew Jackson 1829-1837 When he was a boy of 13, he was cut on the
face by a British officer's sword for his refusing
to polish his shoes. As President he sought to
act as the direct representative of the common
man.
8 Martin van Buren 1837-1841 The first president to be born after the USA had
become an independent nation. Only about 5
feet, 6 inches tall, but trim and erect, Martin Van
Buren dressed fastidiously. His impeccable
appearance belied his amiability--and his
humble background. Of Dutch descent, he was
born in 1782, the son of a tavern keeper and
farmer, in Kinderhook, New York.
9 William Henry 1841-1841 The first president to die in office. He served
Harrison (Died in office) only one month.
10 John Tyler 1841-1845 The "president without a party" because of his
actions. Nobody wanted him. He had 15
children. Dubbed "His Accidency" by his
detractors, John Tyler was the first Vice
President to be elevated to the office of
President by the death of his predecessor.
11 James K. Polk 1845-1849 During his term California became part of the
USA. Often referred to as the first "dark horse"
President, James Polk was the last of the
Jacksonians to sit in the White House, and the
last strong President until the Civil War.
12 Zachary Taylor 1849-1850 He was simply a soldier. Northerners and
Southerners disputed sharply whether the
territories wrested from Mexico should be
opened to slavery, and some Southerners even
threatened secession. Standing firm, Zachary
Taylor was prepared to hold the Union together
by armed force rather than by compromise.
13 Millard Fillmore 1850-1853 He opened trade with Japan. In his rise from a
log cabin to wealth and the White House,
Millard Fillmore demonstrated that through

2. methodical industry and some competence an
uninspiring man could make the American
dream come true.
14 Franklin Pierce 1853-1857 He tried to take over Hawaii and buy Cuba, but
nothing came of these actions.
15 James Buchanan 1857-1861 He was the only US president who never
married.
16 Abraham Lincoln 1861-1865 He gave freedom to the slaves.
(Assassinated)
17 Andrew Johnson 1865-1869 He had been a tailor before he became
president. He was the only president who made
his own clothes.
18 Ulysses S. Grant 1869-1877 He helped to set up Yellowstone National Park.
19 Rutherford B. Hayes 1877-1881 During the Civil War he was wounded 4 times
and had 4 horses killed under him.
20 James A. Garfield 1881-1881 He could write Latin with one hand and Greek
(Assassinated) with another. A man whom he had denied a
government job shot him.
21 Chester A. Arthur 1881-1885 He enacted the first effective civil service laws.
22 Grover Cleveland 1885-1889 He was married in the White House.
23 Benjamin Harrison 1889-1893 He was the grandson of W.H. Harrison.
24 Grover Cleveland 1893-1897 He was elected to non-consecutive terms.
25 William McKinley 1897-1901 He was shot by a deranged anarchist while
(Assassinated) shaking hands at a big fair.
26 Theodore Roosevelt 1901-1909 He established many national parks. The
original Teddy bear, which was named for him
was presented to him in 1903.
27 William H. Taft 1909-1913 He was the heaviest president. He weighed
more than 136 kilograms. He kept cows on the
White House lawn.
28 Woodrow Wilson 1913-1921 He suffered a stroke in his office.
29 Warren G. Harding 1921-1923 He had the most corrupt administration.
(Died in office)
30 Calvin Coolidge 1923-1929 He became known as "Silent Cal" because of
his short speeches.
31 Herbert C. Hoover 1929-1933 He was the president of the Great Depression.
32 Franklin D. 1933-1945 He was the fifth cousin of Theodore Roosevelt
Roosevelt (Died in office) and the only president to be elected 4 times. He
served 12 years and 39 days.
33 Harry S. Truman 1945-1953 He gave orders to drop the atomic bomb on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end World War II.
34 Dwight D. 1953-1961 The "Space Race" between Russia and the US
Eisenhower began during his term.
35 John F. Kennedy 1961-1963 He was the youngest and the wealthiest
(Assassinated) President the USA has ever had. He was the
first Catholic ever elected President. He was the
fastest speaker (327 words per minute). Once
he said: "My fellow Americans: ask not what
your country can do for you – ask what you can
do for your country."
36 Lyndon B. Johnson 1963-1969 He passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which
prohibited racial discrimination.
37 Richard M. Nixon 1969-1974 To avoid impeachment as a result of the
(Resigned) "Watergate Scandal", he resigned the office.
38 Gerald R. Ford 1974-1977 He was once a male model. He granted a full
pardon to former president R. M. Nixon.

3. 39 James E. Carter 1977-1981 He failed to win reelection.
40 Ronald Reagan 1981-1989 He was the oldest man (69, 73) to take that
office. He was a former actor. He also received
the greatest number of electoral votes.
41 George Bush 1989-1993 During the World War II he became the
youngest pilot in the US Navy.
42 Bill Clinton 1993-2001 He was the only president to be elected twice
without ever receiving 50% of the popular vote
(43% - 1992, 49% - 1996). He was much
criticized not only for his foreign policy but also
for his private life. His extramarital affairs
aroused much gossip and nearly led him to
impeachment.
43 George W. Bush 2001- The son of George H. W. Bush. President Bush:
"And part of the cornerstone of America is the
ability for somebody, regardless of where
they're from, regardless of where they were
born, to say, this is my home; I own this home, it
is my piece of property, it is my part of the
American experience."
Answer the questions.
1. Which presidents were elected for a second term? 2. Which president stayed longest in office?
3. Who held the shortest presidency? 4. Which presidents did not complete their terms? Why? 5.
Who of the presidents had been an actor? 6. Who of the presidents was not married?
Years Ending in Zero
Since 1840, American presidents elected in years ending in zero have been destined to die in office.
William H. Harrison, the man who served the shortest term, died of pneumonia several weeks after his
inauguration.
Abraham Lincoln was one of four presidents who were assassinated. He was elected in 1860, and his
untimely death came just 5 years later.
James A. Garfield, a former union army general from Ohio, was shot during his first year in office
(1881) by a man to whom he wouldn't give a job.
While in his second term of office (1901), William McKinley, another Ohioan, attended the Pan-
American Exposition at Buffalo, New York. During the reception, he was assassinated while shaking
hands with some of the guests.
Three years after his election in 1920, Warren G. Harding died in office. Although it was never proved,
many believe he was poisoned.
Franklin D. Roosevelt had been elected four times (1932, 1936, 1940, and 1944), the only man to
serve so long a term. He had contracted polio in 1921 and died of the illness in 1945.
John F. Kennedy, the last of the line, was assassinated in 1963, only three years after his election.
Will the next president elected in a year ending in zero suffer the same fate?
A Presidential Curiosity
How does one explain the many similarities in the lives of Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy?
Consider:
o Both were married in their thirties to women in their twenties.
o Lincoln won election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1846. Kennedy was elected to
the House in 1946.
o Lincoln tried and failed to get his party's nomination for Vice President in 1856. Kennedy failed
in his bid to get his party's nomination for Vice President in 1956.
o Lincoln was elected President in 1860, defeating Stephen A. Douglas, born in 1813. Kennedy
was elected President in 1960, defeating Richard Nixon, born in 1913.
o Lincoln was younger than his Vice President, Andrew Johnson, a Southerner, born in 1808.
Kennedy was younger than his Vice President, Lyndon B. Johnson, a Southerner, born in
1908.
o Lincoln was shot on a Friday (April 14, 1865) as he sat next to his wife. Kennedy was shot on
a Friday (November 22, 1963) as he sat next to his wife.
o Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth, fled and was killed before he could be brought to trial.
Kennedy's assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, fled and was killed before he could be brought to
trial.
George Washington
G. Washington is known in American history as "The Father of His Country".

4. G. Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Virginia, where he spent the first three or four
years of his childhood. After his father's death, 11-year-old George became the ward of his half
brother, Lawrence. His favourite subject in school was arithmetic. When he was 14, he wanted to
become a sailor, but his mother would not allow it. He enjoyed farming. His interests included
riding, fox hunting, fishing, dancing and theatrical performances. He also played billiards and
cards and ran his own horses in races. He was rather rich and as a landowner, he owned slaves,
as was the custom of the times, but he was a model master.
George Washington was a respected military leader, and he did much to help his young nation
achieve its independence.
Because of the leading role he had played in the Revolution and in defining the new government
George Washington was elected first President of the United States and served 2 terms. He saw
himself serving his country, not leading it.
On December 12, 1799 he rode his horse for several hours in cold, snowy weather and returned
home quite ill. He died 2 days later. The news of his death was received with sorrow, both in the
USA, and in Europe. Washington was one of the U.S.' greatest heroes.
Read the story carefully and replace the figures (1 – 10) with one of the following
variants: A. a, B. an, C. the, D. no article.
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln, (1) sixteenth President of (2) United States, was born on (3) farm in (4)
Kentucky, on February 12, 1809. Abraham's father made his living by farming and by working, from
time to time, as (5) carpenter. His mother died when he was only nine years old. Lincoln had no
more than (6) year's education, but during that time he managed to learn (7) reading, writing and
arithmetic. As (8) young man, Abraham had many jobs, some of which involved him in journeys
down (9) Mississippi where he could see auctions of Negro slaves. From that time he became
opposed to (10) idea of slavery.
o When A. Lincoln died, one of those watching at his bed announced, "Now he belongs to the
ages," Can you explain the meaning of this phrase?
Old Abe Lincoln
I. Old Abe Lincoln came out of the wilderness, (3 times)
Old Abe Lincoln came out of the wilderness, down in Illinois.
II. Old Abe Lincoln was our sixteenth President, (3 times)
Old Abe Lincoln was our sixteenth President many long years ago.
III. Old Abe Lincoln freed our nation from slavery, (3 times)
Old Abe Lincoln freed our nation from slavery, many long years ago.
Write an essay about Franklin Delano Roosevelt consulting FDR: A Brief Chronology. Say
what F.D. Roosevelt did for the American people.
FDR: A Brief Chronology
1882 – Born January 30, Hyde Park, N.Y.
1904 – Graduates from Harvard; enters Columbia Law School.
1905 - Marries Anna Eleanor Roosevelt; five surviving children born 1906-1916.
1911-13 – State Senator, New York.
1913-20 – Assistant Secretary of the Navy; U.S. involved in World War I, 1917-18.
1920 – Democratic nominee for Vice President; Cox-Roosevelt ticket loses.
1921 – Stricken with polio at Campobello; never again walks unaided.
1929-33 – Governor of New York.
1929 – Onset of Great Depression. By the early 1030s, about 30% of the nation's workforce is
unemployed.
1933-45 – 32nd President of the U.S. In "First 100 Days" FDR initiates New Deal programs to
provide immediate relief, create jobs, and foster economic recovery. In next few years, he leads
reform efforts in civil rights, labor relations, banking, and civil service; creates Social Security
Administration in 1935.
1939 – World War II breaks out in Europe. In 1941 АВК signs Lend-Lease Act to aid Allied
powers. U.S. enters war in December 1941; FDR launches nationwide war effort, sends more
than 16 million troops to war.
1945 – Dies at Warm Springs, Ga., April 12; allied forces victorious by August.