ROOSEVELT, FRANKLIN D. (1882–1945).The 32nd president of
the United States between 1933 and 1945. Awartime leader, Presi-
dent Roosevelt set the stage for the establishment of the contempo-
rary U.S. intelligence community (IC). Alawyer by training, Roo-
sevelt entered state politics in 1910, but in 1913, President Woodrow
Wilson appointed him his assistant secretary of the navy, a position
FDR held until 1920. His popularity convinced Democratic Party
leaders to field him as a vice presidential candidate, but Warren Hard-
ing, the Republican candidate, won the presidency.
In 1921, Franklin D. Roosevelt contracted polio, which affected
his legs. Yet, he pursued his political ambitions, first serving as gov-
ernor of New York beginning in 1928 and then running for the pres-
idency in 1932. His activism and personal charm, and the effects of
the deepening depression, helped elect him to the presidency by a
wide margin of votes.
President Roosevelt’s many contributions to the nation included nu-
merous New Deal laws, such as social security, direct relief to the poor,
the works projects administration, and the like. In addition, he led the
nation into and through World War II, during which he established the
position of coordinator of information (COI), which in 1942 evolved
into the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). His wartime strategy was
to create a “grand alliance” against the Axis powers through the “Dec-
laration of the United Nations” on 1 January 1942, in which all nations
fighting the Axis agreed not to make a separate peace and pledged
themselves to a peacekeeping organization in victory. President Roo-
sevelt died in office on 12 April 1945 from a massive stroke.ROSENBERG CASE.SeeVENONA.RULE X. Arule of the House of Representatives that in 1977 estab-
lished the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
(HPSCI), articulated its structure, and defined its authorities as an en-
tity overseeing U.S. intelligence agencies and activities. Under the
rule, the committee is restricted to no more than 18 members, of
which no more than 10 may be from the same political party. The
committee’s membership, moreover, must include at least one mem-
ber from the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed
Services, the Committee on International Relations, and the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary. The HPSCI evolved from the Pike Commit-172 • ROOSEVELT, FRANKLIN D.05-398 (2) Dictionary.qxd 10/20/05 6:27 AM Page 172