Abstract

Franklin Roosevelt was born into an aristocratic American family. His childhood was one of wealth and privilege. He had very little in common with the trials and tribulations of the average American youth. He later became America’s only fourterm president and served in that capacity during a particularly tumultuous period of American history. President Roosevelt suffered from hypertension. His blood pressure rose steadily as he led the nation through the Great Depression and World War II. The medical professionals of Roosevelt’s era did not have a very thorough understanding of hypertension. Fortunately, there are many effective medications available today for those who are hypertensive. There has been considerable research performed since the 1940’s which has greatly expanded the medical community’s knowledge of hypertension and its effects.