☆☆☆☆☆ Rare News Footage!
A silent film of FDR in his wheelchair in the National Archives was uncovered by Journalism professor Ray Begovich of Franklin College in Indiana.
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| FDR in Wheelchair |
The footage below shows FDR being wheeled down a ramp of the ship as sailors stand in front blocking the view. FDR contracted polio in 1921 at the age of 39 and spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair. The media at the time helped FDR hide his handicap throughout his four terms as President of the United States. FDR's being wheelchair bound was one of the most closely guarded Presidential secrets of all time. The secret service that protects the President was tasked with making sure no one leaked FDR's physical handicap. The Great Depression and WWII needed an image of a strong and healthy leader that could guide his country through those hard times. If you closely watch the first eight seconds of the video below you will notice how the sailors blocked the frontal view of the camera as FDR was wheeled down the ships ramp.
Scholars at the National Archives and the Roosevelt Library agree that the footage is rare. FDR was visiting the USS Baltimore in Pearl Harbor in July 1944 when the footage was taken.
FDR was an inspiration to many people during his lifetime and now ours as we discover his physical weaknesses. Enjoy!
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