Franklin Delano Roosevelt had more influence on American history than most. The longest-serving President in American history at more than 12 years, he was in office during much of the recovery from the Great Depression and World War II. FDR died on April 12, 1945, three months into his fourth term as President. | American Experience | PBS

President Franklin Roosevelt revolutionized the use of the radio. He used a series of 31 “fireside chats” to reach into millions of American homes to discuss international and domestic challenges. He believed that an informed nation would make the right choices. Roosevelt rarely spoke directly about Adolf Hitler and never mentioned the persecution of European Jews during these chats. Instead, FDR prioritized recovery from the Great Depression and concerns regarding US involvement in World War II