Chodosh 1

Megan Chodosh
Wilson Clasby
English Comp II: 180
29 October 2016
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
The FDR memorial is a constant reminder of the strength and leadership Roosevelt
exhibited during his polio laden presidency; the negative aspects of his three terms, such as
Executive Order 9066: Japanese Relocation, were disregarded to maintain the publics loyalty.
Annotated Bibliography
Clinton, William J. "Remarks At The Dedication Of The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial."
Weekly Compilation Of Presidential Documents 33.18 (1997): 632. Academic Search

Alumni Edition. Web. 20 Oct. 2016.

President Clinton spoke at the dedication of the FDR memorial; his address was
strategically constructed by a team of speechwriters. He spoke of the former president
with high regards, honored by the chance to commemorate one of Americas greatest
leaders. Grandiose comments of Roosevelts impressiveness were supported by the
acknowledgment of various organizations that were created through the New Deal.
Clinton remembered how FDR lead the country out of incredibly tough times from his
wheelchair. The current president of the United States celebrated the impact of a man
who formerly held the esteemed position.
Clintons speech showed what the American government thought about the
memorial; national pride was in no shortage during the dedication. This oration
demonstrated how the government wants the American public to perceive the FDR
memorial. Only positive aspects of Roosevelts three terms were mentioned, to create a
specific take away for American society. In my paper analyzing the commemoration of
the former president I will include how Clinton shaped the national gaze with regards to
this memorial.

Moses, Michael Valdez. "A Rendezvous

With Density." Reason. Academic Search Alumni

Edition. pp.52.
Moses discussed the value of Clintons dedication to the FDR memorial in great
depth including the overall purpose of the commemorative parkground itself. The
architect, Lawrence Halprin, emphasized the importance of educating those who came to
see the memorial about the president and why he was so influential. The author gave the

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readers a visual understanding of the land; he described the layout thoroughly. Different
rooms were dedicated to his three terms in office, each had information pertaining to
significant legislature during each four year period. In describing the memorial, Moses
gave his insight covering the statue of Roosevelt sitting in his wheelchair; he viewed it as
an insult to the president. The author argued that FDR had always hid his disability from
the public, there are almost no pictures of him in a wheelchair, therefore there should not
be a memorial forever remembering him in one.
Moses text will be instrumentative in my essay concerning Roosevelts memorial
in providing my counterargument. I will contest that it was wrong to commemorate the
president in his wheelchair because of the visibility it gives to those in the disabled
community.

Nielsen, Kim
E. "Memorializing Fdr."
OAH Magazine Of History. America: History & Life. pp.
23-26
Nielsen provides readers with an understanding of the stigma surrounding
disability in Roosevelts time. He examines specific circumstances, explaining the
publics and the governments treatment of people who had a disability. Americans hold
traditional values, such as independence and individualistic strength, with great
admiration which was challenged by handicap. Therefore, having a disability had a
negative connotation of inadequacy. Nielsen detailed how mistreatment was apparent in
the United States administration; it was not until 1990 that a bill was passed to protect
people who had disabilities basic civil rights. A foundation of information pertaining to
the abuse of the underrepresented community aided in Nielsen's explanation of why
activist groups held issue with the exclusion of FDRs wheelchair. Their argument was
examined; a minority group having a former president publicly represent them was of
great importance. This memorial would showcase the former leader of the nation in a
wheelchair sitting proudly, his disability did not inhibit him from running the country
which emphasized that the stigma linked to handicap was unnecessary and inaccurate.
Nielsen discussed the controversy that encompassed the construction of the memorial to
highlight that even in todays society having a disability is equated to being less; this
nonsensical relationship must be deconstructed.
The texts use of historical examples of maltreatment of people with disabilities
illustrated the significance of Roosevelts memorial. My discussion regarding this subject
will employ the specific instances analyzed in Nielsens piece to further the readers
appreciation of the impact FDR had as an influential positive role model to all. He
showed people without handicaps that those who have them are strong and equally
capable. The three term president especially made it clear to those who are in the disabled
community that there is no limit to their greatness, this ideology was captured in his
memorial.

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Parsons, John G. "The Public Struggle To Erect The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial."
Landscape Journal 31. Business Source Complete.pp. 145-159.
Parsons detailed the bureaucratic exertion to form the Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Memorial. The head committee for the commission of the piece originated only ten years
after the presidents death. This alone sparked controversy. Officials and public alike
claimed that not enough time had passed to create a historical memorial; many people
were still recovering from FDRs three terms which consisted of tumultuous economic
and war stricken times. The author explained the intricate political process that takes
place when a commemorative piece is dedicated to a historical figure; it took forty two
years for this memorial to be erected. Many executives did not approve of the
committees design which lead them create a contest open to top architects; this was
twenty years after the piece was originally commissioned. Parsons made it clear that the
winner, Lawrence Halprin, was chosen partially for his concept, but more importantly his
willingness to be open to the revision of his plan. More delays followed due to
disagreements on the congressional level; the final approval came in 1990. The
complexity of the government contentions were clarified in the text. Once the overall
design was cleared, the financing struggle began. Excuses to not fund the project were
overwhelming. A speech given by a man who served closely with Roosevelt compelled
committee leaders to find the means to finally build the memorial to a president who was
most deserving of one. The issue of whether or not to depict FDR in a wheelchair became
a prominent question of the design team; it was decided to exclude the concept (until the
addition of one in 2001).
The text examined the specific steps it took to form the FDR memorial. This
background knowledge will be imperative to provide context of the political process in
my essay which will analyze the creation of the memorial.

Glastris, Paul. "Spoiling a proper memorial." U.S. News & World Report 05 May 1997: 9.
Business Source Complete. Web. 20 Oct. 2016.
Memorial

to

FDR

Is

Being

Built.

Tribunedigital-Baltimoresun,

27

Feb. 1995,

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1995-02-27/features/1995058156_1_fdr-memorial-delan
o-roosevelt-memorial-washington-memorials.

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Disability.

Tribunedigital-Chicagotribune,

10

Jan.

2001,

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2001-01-10/news/0101100187_1_fdr-memorial-new-sc
ulpture-disability.
CNN. CNN, Cable News Network, http://www.cnn.com/2001/us/01/10/fdr.memorial/.
Following the addition of the statue of Roosevelt sitting in a wheelchair in his
memorial opinions were formed by the public and captured by journalists. There were
two sides of the debate pro wheelchair and anti wheelchair. Articles defended their side
and attacked their opponents. Those who were pro wheelchair celebrated that history was
portrayed accurately, the exclusion of polios effect would have been an exclusion of
history. A benefit from the new statue was that it represented a group that typically does
not have any positive visibility at this level. Those who opposed the incorporation of the
wheelchair deemed it unnecessary because Roosevelt was never seen or documented in
public using the aid. They argued that since FDR had a deal with the press to bar photos
of the president in a wheelchair there should not be an effigy of him in one.
This collection of pieces arguing their beliefs concerning the advantages of the
inclusion or exclusion of a figure of FDR in a wheelchair provided insight into the
publics opinions about the memorial. In my essay I will integrate these perspectives to
showcase how Roosevelts memorial was received by society as a whole.

Chodosh 5