Franklin Delano Roosevelt, often referred to by his initials F. D. Roosevelt, was the 32nd president of the United States and served four terms in office from 1933 until his death in 1945. synonyms that can be used in place of F. D. Roosevelt include "President Roosevelt," "Franklin Roosevelt," "FDR," and "the New Deal president." Roosevelt is widely remembered for his leadership during the Great Depression and World War II, as well as his domestic policies that were aimed at providing relief, recovery, and reform to the American people. Roosevelt's legacy has helped shape modern American political and economic systems and his leadership is still celebrated and studied today.