A 36.5" by 23" by 18.5" bronze bust of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, The War President, rests on top of an 60" by 21" by 18" red granite base. The bust was created by Walter Russell and dedicated October 28, 1945.
Roosevelt is shown from his shoulders up. The sculpture has only a suggestion of a collar bone. His hair is parted on his left side and he is looking straight ahead with his lips closed. The front of the bust is a pentagon with the inscription: THE WAR PRESIDENT. The red granite base is inscribed:
FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 1932 - 1945 PRESENTED BY THE ORDER OF AHEPA 1943
(note: Franklin Delano Roosevelt's presidency began on March 4, 1933)
Two bronze plaques ore attached to the rear of the base. They are inscribed:
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT BY WALTER RUSSELL {Great Seal of the United States} PRESENTED TO THE FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT LIBRARY BY THE ORDER OF AHEPA MARCH 10, 1945.
and FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT WAS INITIATED IN THE ORDER OF AHEPA ON MARCH 11, 1931 AND MAINTAINED MEMBERSHIP IN THE DELPHI CHAPTER NO. 25 OF NEW YORK CITY TO THE DATE OF HIS DEATH
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born at Hyde Park, NY on January 30, 1882 into a prominent and wealthy family. He spent nearly his entire life in public life as a New York State Senator (1910 -1913), Assistant Secretary of the Navy (1913), Vice-Presidential candidate with James M. Cox (1920), Governor of New York (1929 -1932) , and president of the United States (1933-1945). He was the only American president to be elected for four terms.
Despite being paralyzed from polio (1921) he led the United States during the worldwide economic crisis known as the Great Depression and World War II. He returned the nation to prosperity and, together with Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin, led the Allied Forces to victory against Germany, Italy, and Japan in World War II. He died at Hot Springs, AR, just before the end of the war on April 12, 1945.
