Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945) was president of the United States from 1933 until his death in April 1945.  President for four terms, his early focus was on economic revitalization during the Great Depression.  For this purpose, he introduced the New Deal programs and policies, which were viewed by their opponents as socialist, while supporters saw promise in the U.S. government helping the unfortunate. 
 
Roosevelt perceived the Nazi threat in its early stages and, despite U.S. neutrality laws, he was a quiet supporter of the Allied cause.  However, Roosevelt was cautious on the subject of European Jews.  In order to maintain his domestic political alliances at a time when American antisemitism was at its height, he did not increase Jewish refugee quotas.  Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, he led the United States into World War II.  He died of a stroke on April 12, 1945, less than a month before the end of the war in Europe.