Franklin D. Roosevelt died 75 years ago #OnThisDay – 3:35 pm on 12 April 1945 – in Warm Springs, Georgia. He was 63. The last known photos of #FDR show him to be sickly and gaunt. He had won a fourth presidential term just five months earlier. (A THREAD.) #USPolitics #Roosevelt
When #Roosevelt died, he was working on a speech for Jefferson Day that would never be delivered. He was to say: “The only limit to our realisation of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith.” #USPolitics #FDR #OnThisDay
At 5:00 pm Vice President #HarryTruman was summoned to The White House by #Roosevelt's press secretary Steve Early. He arrived at 5:25 pm and met the First Lady. “Harry, the President is dead,” Eleanor Roosevelt said. Truman was stunned and speechless. #USPolitics #FDR #OnThisDay
Truman asked the widowed First Lady: “Is there anything I can do for you?” She replied: “Is there anything we can do for you? For you are the one in trouble now.” #Truman had been Vice President for just 82 days. #USPolitics #FDR #Roosevelt #Truman75 #OnThisDay
At 7:09 pm, #Truman was sworn-in as the 33rd president by Chief Justice Harlan Stone in the Cabinet Room at The White House. After repeating the presidential Oath, he kissed the Bible and added, “So help me God.” #USPolitics #FDR #Roosevelt #Truman75 #OnThisDay
#Truman told reporters the next day that on hearing the news of #Roosevelt's death, he felt like “the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen on me.” He maintained that he never had any ambition to be president. #USPolitics #FDR #Truman75 #OnThisDay
Few presidents have taken office in more challenging circumstances. Yet #Truman was an extraordinary president who left a huge legacy. He won re-election against the odds in 1948. And he is now rated among the greatest presidents in history. #USPolitics #Truman75 #OnThisDay
Coda: I've always admired #Truman, read his books, letters, diaries, and devoured movies/docos. It was a thrill to visit the @TrumanLibrary, now being renovated/expanded. Truman had an office there and greeted visitors until his death in 1972. END #Truman75 #USPolitics #OnThisDay
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