FDR Memorial: Tribute to the longest-serving U.S. president
The FDR memorial is an unusual and unique tribute to an unusual and unique president. Unlike other memorials which feature a statue of the individual standing tall with wise words inscripted around him, Franklin Delano Roosevelt is sitting, naturally, and his memorial is like a small park with many visuals of his presidency and the historical moments that took place during it.
The memorial was completed and dedicated in 1997.The memorial is situated by the cherry blossom path by the tidal basin, in a quiet part away from the pomp and circumstance of Jefferson's memorial. Spread over 7.5 acres, the memorial traces 12 years of American history through four outdoor “rooms”. Each room represents one of FDR's four terms in office, the most ever held by any president under a special circumstance.
Several sculptures, reliefs and waterfalls make up the memorial. One sculpture shows the president with his dog, Fala. Another shows a bread line from the Great Depression and citizens listening to a fireside chat on the radio. There is also a bronze statue of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt by a United Nations emblem, with which she dedicated a great deal of her service. She is the only First Lady to be depicted in a presidential memorial.
Each room also holds a waterfall which becomes more complex as his presidency. The large single drop, for example, represents the economic crash that started the Great Depression. Another showing chaotic falls at different angles represent World War II, and then a still pool represents his death. Various quotes and famous lines from speeches are carved into walls, including his “I hate war” speech and his “Four Freedoms”.
The memorial did not come without controversy. The National Organization on Disability fought for a statue of Roosevelt clearly sitting in a wheelchair. Yet other disability advocates voiced against that, saying that he should not be heralded as a hero simply because he was disabled. The current statue has him sitting in a suggested wheelchair where the wheels can only be seen from behind. Braille was placed throughout the memorial, but some argue it is too high for even a tall person to reach, therefore no blind people would ever find it.
Posted by Rin-rin Yu
