Seminar paper from the year 2002 in the subject Politics - Region: USA, grade: 1, Macquarie University, language: English, abstract: In 1996 a group of distinguished American historians rated Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, one of the country’s greatest. He shared his place with George Washington and came second only to Abraham Lincoln. Roosevelt’s contemporaries were less unanimous about the president who served four consecutive terms from 1933 until he died in office in 1945. His supporters saw him as a political Robin Hood, establishing a social welfare system and ensuring that the poor and disadvantaged in American society were cared for. His critics viewed him as a power hungry Sheriff, dastardly advancing his individual interest in a successful career.