Question

What was FDR's big secret? How did he keep it hidden?

Answer 1

Answer: Franklin Roosevelt's body

Explanation:Roosevelt was a man of tremendous determination who developed great upper body strength and endurance, but he needed braces and something to lean against to stay upright. He didn’t ever want the public to see that, or they would associate physical weakness with vulnerability or frailty.Otherwise, FDR seemed to embrace his polio like any other challenge-head on. He loved to show how physically fit he was, what a tireless and cheerful campaigner he was. And people loved him for it. In 1938 Roosevelt and his friend Basil O’Conner founded the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, later known as The March of Dimes.Ironically, Roosevelt probably didn’t have polio. Scientists now believe there’s a better than 60% chance that he had Guillain Barre syndrome, which has similar effects on the bodies of adults. If it had been known at the time and publicly announced, I’m not sure the public would have accepted him as they did. People have a greater fear of the unknown and very little was known about Guillain Barre. It worked out well for everyone.Incidentally, Roosevelt had a bump above his left eye that got bigger and was surgically removed during his presidency. It is quite possible he had skin cancer, but his doctor kept it quiet. Back then people had a much more strict code about privacy. People just didn’t assume that the media and the public had the right to pry into every aspect of other people’s private lives. I remember in the 1980’s when president Reagan had a benign polyp removed during a colonoscopy and it was very big news. Some things should be private, IMO!