Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) was the President during the Great Depression, which lasted from 1929 throughout much of the 1930s. Taking office in 1933, Roosevelt implemented the New Deal, a series of programs and reforms designed to alleviate the economic hardships faced by millions of Americans. His administration focused on recovery through government intervention in the economy, providing jobs, alleviating poverty, and stabilizing the banking system. FDR's approach fundamentally reshaped the role of the federal government in American life and laid the groundwork for future social welfare initiatives, impacting the economy and society in profound ways.