franklin d. roosevelt（f.d.r）was one of the most im- portant leaders of twentieth-century america and perhaps in thewhole span of american history.he significantly changed therole of the federal government in the american system，his ideasand prejudices helped to determine the shape of the post-worldwar Ⅱ world，and he changed the nature and constituency of the democratic party.in addition，his administration did muchto give american labor and agriculture the form they have today.
roosevelt's ideas for helping the country were labeled “thenew deal”。though he was not personally responsible for all theprograms tried and laws passed in his years as president，he wasthe man in charge.supporters and critics alike measured suc-ceeding presidents and other leaders against him.
for those admired roosevelt，a later leader was as good as，or not as good as their hero.those who disliked，even hated f.d.r.complained that a later president was as bad as，or worsethan roosevelt.such strong feeling pro and con was commonduring the new deal years.
roosevelt himself enjoyed some of the criticisms.one of hisfavorite cartoons showed a girl in front of a prosperous-lookinghome telling her mother，“look， mama，wilfred wrote a badword.” her brother had written“roosevelt”on the sidewalk.
whether people liked or disliked f.d.r.they could notoverlook the impact he had had and continues to have.almostevery president since roosevelt's time has supported or opposedthe roosevelt legacy but could not and cannot ignore it.if thesignificance of a leader is measured by the lasting impact on suc-ceeding leaders and generations，then franklin d. roosevelt isone of the most important people of the twentieth century.
富兰克林·d· 罗斯福是美国二十世纪，或许是美国整个历史上最重要的领导人之一。他极大地改变了联邦政府在美国制度中的作用，他的思想和偏见帮助确立了第二次世界大战后世界的格局，而且他改变了民主党的性质和选民。另外，他的政府为赋予美国劳工和美国农业今天的结构形式做了大量的工作。
罗斯福造福国家的主张被称作“新政”。尽管他没有亲自负责他执政时期所实行的计划以及所颁布的法律，但这些工作都是在他主持下进行的。支持者和批评者以同样的方式，以他为例来对比这些计划和法律、评估以后继任的总统和其他领导人。
对于那些崇拜罗斯福的人来说，继任领导人与罗斯福同样好，或不如他好。那些不喜欢，甚至恨罗斯福的人抱怨说继任的总统象罗斯福一样坏甚至比罗斯福还坏。这种正面与反面的强烈感情在新政时期是非常普遍的。
罗斯福本人也喜欢某些批评。他最喜欢的一个卡通片演一个小姑娘站在她那看上去很富有的家的前面对她妈妈说：“看，妈妈，威尔福雷德写了一个不好的词。”她是指她弟弟在人行道上写的是“罗斯福”。
不管人们喜欢还是不喜欢罗斯福，他们都不能忽视他已经和继续带来的影响。罗斯福以后的几乎每一位总统都支持过或反对过罗斯福的“新政”，但都未能而且也不能忽略它。如果一位领导人的意义是由他对其继任者和后代的持续不断的影响来判断的话，那么富兰克林·d·罗斯福就是二十世纪最重要的人物之一了。