Who was the U.S. President during the Great Depression and most of World War II?

Franklin D. Roosevelt served as the U.S. President during the Great Depression and most of World War II, making him a pivotal figure in American history during these tumultuous times. He took office in 1933, just as the Great Depression was deepening, and introduced his New Deal programs, aimed at economic recovery and providing relief to millions of Americans. Roosevelt's leadership during World War II began when he became a key ally in supporting the Allied Powers against the Axis Nations. His decisions and policies during both the Great Depression and the war, including the establishment of Social Security and various economic reforms, significantly shaped the modern welfare state and U.S. foreign policy.

The other figures listed do not align with the timelines of these major events. Herbert Hoover preceded Roosevelt and is often associated with the initial years of the Great Depression; however, he was not in office during the majority of it or during World War II. Dwight D. Eisenhower became president after World War II had ended, serving in the 1950s, and Harry S. Truman assumed the presidency after Roosevelt’s death in 1945, thus only overseeing the end of World War II. Therefore, Franklin D. Roosevelt is distinctly recognized as the president throughout these critical periods in