Why was FDR allowed to serve four terms? (Short Animated Documentary)

FDR (whose name isn't Frederick) is the only US president to win a third term and stay in office for over 8 years. The two-term limit wasn't introduced until after he had snuffed it so why didn't any president before him manage the feat. To find out watch this short and simple animated history documentary.
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[@GuildsmanPirate]

“Professional stupid name haver” is a title you could’ve used sooner, but I’m glad you saved it for Wilkie

[@spunkyboyo]

I'm from Wilkie's hometown and I can confirm that his name is stupid. Especially when it's plastered on everything like it was when I was a kid.

[@RedLogicYT]

@@spunkyboyo at least you're honest haha

[@Grey11s]

If Wilkie was born in the 2000's, not even Lana Rhodes son would face the amount of bullying he would face.

[@ashsmith5522]

Never stop history matters! One of my favorite channels.. much love ❤️

[@justincronkright5025]

Just make it German or Slavic maybe even... Get the 'W' into a 'V' and you'll be fine! Except we all just finished fighting the Germans & now the Russians are our biggest contenders, so maybe not.

[@D2RCR]

“When he took the important constitutional decision…to die.” Still got it.

[@DeerJerky]

"Professional stupid name haver"

[@enolopanr9820]

FDR literally was the best president so it makes perfect sense to me that he won 4 times. His predecessor, Hoover, was so bad, and he himself was so good, to the American people suffering through the great depression and ww2 he was a godsend.

[@playersoftheworldcomrade1631]

Made my day

[@0011peace]

@@enolopanr9820 that is totally propaganda from the left. He signed the law to inter Japanese Americans in violation of the US constitution.

[@kolomaznik333]

@@enolopanr9820 Well I do not think so, because New Deal was destructive for the US and created problems US deals to this day (it started "socialisation" of us society and politics). Federal goverment is that big thanks to FDR and his people. FDR massively used propaganda to be popular. When I was young and my main hobby was WWII, I also thought that FDR was great president. But as I said, I was younger and my target was war not economy, politics or regulation. To be fair, his republican predecessor started that "goverment regulation market to help people" which created opposite. FDR and his New Deal was just on the bigger scale and without gov. intervention market would probably recover earlier. They meddled with market "so good" that it was WAR production that helped to get over. If I had to choose group of potential best US presidents, then FDR or Hoover would not be picks but C. Coolidge.

[@finlty01]

Ok. I knew why FDR was elected to 4 terms, but I didn’t realize so many presidents sought a 3rd term. Thanks for the info!

[@marscaleb]

I love how this show, despite being a short summary, does enough research and goes into enough detail that even on subjects I already know about I still manage to learn something new.

[@rancidcrawfish]

I think shows are longer than 3 minutes. This seems more like an informative video

[@sugeknightiswatchingyou]

FDR was allowed to serve 4 terms, but James Bissonette could easily serve 9 terms if he wanted to

[@vuchaser99]

After vanquishing Phil the Oink Oink a few years back

[@equasimilione6493]

That’s-! [furious abacus noises] 36 years!

[@erikeriks]

James Bissonette is my favorite founding father

[@Jimbob7595]

With Kelly Moneymaker as Secretary of the Treasury anything is possible

[@bud9133]

Lets be real, James Bissonette is more of a kingmaker than a king.

[@cadesummers5866]

Another fun fact: LBJ could have actually served 3 terms because technically any vice president who assumes the presidency for less than 2 years can still run twice for election

[@deplorabledegenerate2630]

He tried to run. Some weird thing was going on that people didn't like so he dropped out of the primary and his replacement still lost.

[@AlanSmitheeman]

It would be 10 years minus a day under US law. So LBJ could have served almost two and a half terms.

[@sonoftheway3528]

So maximum is technically "10 years". So you still can't be ELECTED for more than 2 terms.

[@CrazyYurie]

@@deplorabledegenerate2630 A "weird thing" called the Vietnam War you mean.

[@Doogie2K3]

@@CrazyYurie More specifically, I believe this is where Nixon quietly interfered with the ongoing peace process in order to make LBJ look bad, so he could then sweep in and "solve" the problem himself. Spoiler alert: It didn't work.

[@markmacanovik7813]

My respect to the author of these videos. I love history and I am always surprised how he is able to find the most interesting topics in history. Plus his comedy style is insane. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

[@mam162]

Strictly speaking, Roosevelt only really served three terms. He won a fourth, but died so early into it that Truman effectively served the whole thing.

[@peteinwisconsin2496]

You are correct. Roosevelt's "fourth term" (82 days) was followed by Harry Truman's first term in office, which was the remainder of FDR's term, lasting three years and nine months.

[@Robostate]

Roosevelt's first term was actually the shortest full term, because it went from March 4, 1933 to January 20, 1937, less than four years.

[@peteinwisconsin2496]

@@Robostate > because it went from March 4, 1933 < . . . until he died on April 12, 1945. When I was in high school, just 25 years after Roosevelt died, our history teacher made such a big deal about FDR being elected four times. We were allowed to believe he was President for 16 years when in fact he served for 12 years, 1 month and 8 days. That is not much longer than the present day limit of two terms or 10 years.

[@sydhenderson6753]

@@Robostate Washington's was the shortest. He wasn't President until April 30, 1789, and his term ended on March 4, 1793. That's a couple of weeks less.

[@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm]

@@peteinwisconsin2496 Two terms are not 10 years.

[@05TE]

"How did the American people react to this and did anyone try to stop him?" I like to think that this line was in reference to him dying.

[@delila5034]

"You're not going to die if I have anything to say about it! Get back here and keep being president!"

[@jakubpociecha8819]

"I did not have permission to die!" -TF2 Soldier

[@andreaseveraerts1555]

​@@delila5034 franco_irl

[@Tethloach1]

People: You need permission to die, don't violate our rights.

[@jacob4920]

Certainly didn't stop THE ANGEL OF DEATH!!! lol (Seriously, who knew that the Grim Reaper was an American Citizen??)

[@candiman4243]

His opponent in 1940, Wendell Willkie is actually rather fascinating considering he actually had a pretty similar foreign policy to Roosevelt and thought America should support Britain in the war more, even taking a bit of ire from his own party for doing so. He made a visit to Britain on behalf of both FDR and himself to show that the US' support was bipartisan, and also went to China, where he spoke out against colonialism. He was an advocate of civil rights, criticizing when Roosevelt had to appease the racist southern democrats. He was even considered to be appointed to a position in government by FDR after 1940, but he refused because he wanted to remain a supportive outside voice regarding the efforts around the war. Roosevelt even proposed running him as VP in 1944 after he lost the republican primary! This man was a true example of bipartisanship and cooperation for the good of all and deserves more recognition.

[@alanpennie8013]

He was too good a man to be president.

[@cald1421]

lol but he was a Republican

[@sid2112]

@@cald1421 Andrew Jackson founded the Democrat party. Little has changed for them.

[@klas666]

@@sid2112 are you dumb or what

[@jmwoods190]

​@@cald1421 A politician with honor & integrity can come from any political party- especially when you eschew party politics!

[@spudgamer6049]

Now if we could get an ammendment that established term limits for the senate(I'd go 3 terms if I were setting the limit, I think) and house(I think I'd set that 4 or 5 if it were my choice) as well as a combined limit for all 3(I think I'd set it at no more than 20 years combined between house, senate, and presidency)

[@peteinwisconsin2496]

I want to see that too. Term limits in the House and Senate won't happen because the members would have to agree to limit their cushy jobs/ insider trading/ $$$. I believe that the office of President has a term limit because those in the House and Senate wanted that even cushier job.

[@jasonlopez2697]

​​@@peteinwisconsin2496 Yeah. Getting congress to limit their powers would be a lottery ticket win. You should see how quickly they can pass a pay raise for themselves though. Lol.

[@hillbilly4895]

That remedy already exists...it's called "elections". In a representative republic, citizens engage. Residents react with talk of legal band-aids because they're lazy and don't want to (or, cannot) personally put in the time and money. Long-lived members of Congress, and their supporters, know this. 50%+1 = winner takes all is the only math the encumbents need care about. Beat that, beat the rest.

[@garrywallace1007]

Throw in the Supreme Court as well (at least a retirement age).

[@user-zp7jp1vk2i]

Although in Canada most of our Senate is appointed, at 75 you stand down, and retire.

[@butcherboy2008]

0:40 Washington Supporters: We would like you to run in 1800. George Washington: I died in 1799.

[@danielrichwine2268]

Grant came very close to getting a third term. He was immensely popular.

[@tomtomtrent]

If only he had, maybe Reconstruction could have actually been finished

[@eduardogutierrez4698]

FDR: Fuck*ng Disabled Rascal

[@Cerberus-wd7ue]

@@bro83748 Reagan probably would have won a third term (and kinda did since his VP was elected handily to replace him,) but the amendment was already in place, similarly I think Clinton might have managed to win a third term if he could have, but that probably would have been closer.

[@nileshkumaraswamy2711]

Grant's historical legacy is the biggest rollercoaster. In the immediate aftermath of the civil war he was revered in the early to mid-20th century he was hated as a corrupt drunk and then his reputation started getting rehabilitated more recently.

[@RedDeadSavvy813]

Grant had super popularity after returning from his global tour of Europe and Asia. He was not only viewed as a General, but as an elder statesman. Although Grant never attended the 1880 GOP Convention, but NY Senator Roscoe Conkling served as his de facto House Manager and spearheaded his candidacy on the convention floor. NY carried a ton of votes for that convention. Grant was defeated on 36th Ballot to dark horse candidate James Garfield. Tantamount to Garfield’s victory were fellow candidates John Sherman & James G. Blaine releasing their delegates to back Garfield.

[@connorgolden4]

This is one I already know. The term limit thing wasn’t law yet. It was a mix of tradition, no one wanting to run again, and losing if they did.

[@erikeriks]

Bravo.

[@deleted-something]

Ye

[@itsblitz4437]

Tradition vs. Law

[@royale7620]

Because he was a liberal that loved to screw over the American people with his crappy New Deal.

[@stephenschiffman5940]

Yeah. This one must have been made for curious non-Americans, because it seems like anyone who passed a middle school level American history course would know this.

[@nicolaso.8666]

1:45 "Professional stupid name haver" man his British humor is the best.

[@chicobicalho5621]

The list of sponsors is most impressive! I can only imagine they are pouring billions into this channel, as they should.

[@Kissless0]

1 dollar patrons

[@the_fixer2593]

Perhaps you can answer a question I've always had. Why does Virginia own the lower part of the eastern peninsula that Maryland and Delaware sit on despite not being connected to it by land?

[@timmccarthy872]

A video about the Delmarva Peninsula and it's wack-ass borders would be great! The short answer is, Virginia managed to nab the whole mouth of the Chesapeake early on, as it was the center of the colony back then, and Maryland lost every attempt to get it.

[@mrterp04]

Another good idea would be, Why did Pennsylvania Lose Delaware?

[@stefanschleps8758]

A better question is why is Washington a district of Columbia? (Ssshh, I know the answer.)

[@InternetDarkLord]

In a nutshell, Virginia came first (1607) and Maryland 2nd (1634) so Virginia got the land first, Maryland was cut out of their claim later on.

[@trien30]

​@@stefanschleps8758 Well, at least it isn't a district in Colombia.

[@Stonewall42]

Jefferson was the one who established the two term precedent by saying that nobody should serve longer than Washington and declining to run for a third term.

[@pocketmarcy6990]

Even though he totally would’ve won

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

@@pocketmarcy6990 precisely!

[@jimwelke1286]

Washington had been reluctant to seek a second term, but realized there was more that needed to be done.

[@pocketmarcy6990]

@@omi_god he was a national hero and helped guide the nation to independence, the good Washington did outweighs the bad, while owning slaves is wrong, it shouldn’t be the sole quality you judge him by

[@Chocolatnave123]

@@omi_god nice bait

[@mikev4135]

Can we all just agree that Washington was such a great dude that it influenced the nation for the next 200 years

[@GDuncan8002]

Washington was such an admirable figure that when he died in 1799, the British Royal Navy was ordered to lower their flags to half mast. The London Morning Chronicle opined that ‘The whole range of history does not present to our view a character upon which we can dwell with such entire and unmixed admiration’.

[@mailfergal]

Great vid as always - more to this story than I thought! 👍

[@CivilWarMan]

"Wilson had hoped for a third term, but his party refused to nominate him." Probably in part because he had a stroke the previous year that was so severe that some speculate that his wife was the de facto President for several weeks.

[@brucewelty7684]

Seems to be a de facto Democratic modus operendi.

[@gorilladisco9108]

@@brucewelty7684 It's Democrats talent.

[@staringcorgi6475]

Technology is why biden was able to serve in his old years

[@str2010]

Somehow I was hoping this comment wouldn't trigger pointless political gesturing, specifically from a certain party, but it looks I was wrong

[@joestalin2375]

Roosevelt's wife was the president for the last year ......

[@Yokat01]

There's always that little christmassy feeling when History Matters pops up again and we can once again thank James Bisonette for it

[@benjiskyler7836]

Let's not forget about Boogly Woogly or Spinning Three Plates

[@gogobrasil7185]

James Bisonette is the hero we don't deserve

[@erikeriks]

James Bisonette is our hero

[@maximianocoelho4496]

And Kelly Money Maker.

[@Yokat01]

@@benjiskyler7836 I'd also wish that Kelly Moneymaker could make me some.

[@bloqk16]

The public over the years have wondered why the media makes such a big deal about the health of presidential candidates in election years? Well, in some of the TV documentaries I've seen about FDR, it was downright scary to hear of the accounts of his declining health when he ran for the fourth term; with his handlers doing all they could to shield that information from the voters in 1944.

[@michaelbayer5094]

FDR's health was in decline, but he was able to travel to Yalta in 2/1945. The real problem with FDR is that he did submit a VP candidate to the Democratic convention, and kept Truman out of the loop.

[@ToddRobinson13]

Wilson was believed to be incapacitated while his wife secretly executed his duties.

[@MagicManICT]

Let's not forget the most recent case--Ronald Reagan. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's just a couple of years out of office. Given what we know today about the disease and our current methods of diagnosis, he likely would have been diagnosed before his re-election had he actually been tested for it. The jokes in the 80s were that Nancy was running the Oval Office.

[@sosimy]

Your videos are always so good. Well done man.

[@edwardmikus7556]

A few things: 1. 1:07 Cleveland, interestingly enough is the only President to serve two non-consecutive terms (1885-89 and 1893-97). He also won the popular vote in 1888 but lost because of the Electoral College. 2. 1:36 Wilson actually suffered a major stroke near the end of his second term. Might have been worth a mention here. 3. 2:25 Regarding the Vice President Loophole mentioned in the graphic: The 12th Amendment, which transitioned the Vice Presidency from the 2nd place in the POTUS election to a distinctly elected office, has a provision that any person ineligible to be POTUS is also ineligible to be VPOTUS. Most legal scholars believe this excludes term-limited Presidents from later serving as Vice President. (The 22nd Amendment, however, does allow a VP who becomes POTUS for two years of a previous term to run for two terms in their own right).

[@stephenfoulard3484]

"the only President to serve two non-consecutive terms" ... so far. On a personal note, I'd like to add that Cleveland is the only US president named Stephen... also so far.

[@C_H_Toons]

@@stephenfoulard3484 well played

[@grondhero]

@@stephenfoulard3484 You can't trust people named Stephen. Every Stephen I've known either has a foul lard smell or wants to be called King. And I know of two Stephen Kings. 🤔 😁

[@Birb728]

@@grondhero says the guy named kirby

[@RAFMnBgaming]

What if someone had two non-consectutive 6 year presidencies? Assuming of course they can find 2 other preisdents willing to conveniently die just after 2 years into their term?

[@reygonzalez4719]

The first and only president to do that, because after that, we made it illegal.

[@ObsidianUrsine]

Oh boy a new video I hope I enjoy this episode and end up thankful for watching

[@hewhoneverdies001]

I like the crack in the wall at 2:27 (during the time when The White House was in severe need of repairs). Little details like that are what make History Matters amazing!

[@gamebawesome]

0:04 I love his constant attack on Dave

[@burtiq]

Who exactly is Dave??

[@burtiq]

@PepsiMan2333 hi Dave

[@richbandicoot]

@PepsiMan2333 pete?

[@reasonvoiceof]

​@@GothicDoritosHarley?

[@writerconsidered]

I didn't catch that, thank you. Its nice to see history matters guy chime in on the Dave Bissonette running gag joke.

[@thunderbird7020]

1:20 “But they stayed with William Taft” That’s a nice way to describe how Teddy actually had more delegates, but Taft supporters controlled the convention so they literally didn’t let the pro-Teddy delegates in the building.

[@munjee2]

Thankfully they changed the rules now so that they don't even have to count the delegates to decide the nominee, glad that hassle is taken care of

[@richbandicoot]

sounds like what the dnc did to bernie in 2016 and 2020

[@uingaeoc3905]

Teddy also had a bullet in his chest after a failed assassination attempt, after his presidency. He actually got up and went to the convention .. "I am sorry I am late, but I have just been shot ..."". Bully-bully for Him!

[@ChomoBidensMules]

I'm sure Taft called it an insurrection.

[@munjee2]

@@ChomoBidensMules he called it being changed in his favour an insurrection?????????

[@Loner4life20]

I love how short and informative this was.

[@bigscarysteve]

When I was in school, we didn't have any proper, formal history classes until the eighth grade (for you non-Americans, that means when we were thirteen years old). Before that, all we got were teachers telling us history via anecdote. I had one teacher who mentioned that presidents were only allowed to serve two terms. Then she said they made an exception for FDR. When asked why, she didn't know. The sad part is, she was old enough to remember the passage of the 22nd Amendment. I did the math, and she would have been forty years old when it passed. The fact that she was unaware of this Amendment is a sad tell on the state of American education fifty years ago. It hasn't gotten any better.

[@arlen_95]

Thank you Teddy for splitting vote in 1912 and giving us Woodrow Wilson, who was instrumental in setting up almost all of America’s major problems of the 20th century.

[@howtoappearincompletely9739]

As well as Europe's in the aftermath of the First World War.

[@gene7887]

Man, TR not running for another term in 1908 and/or not splitting the 1912 vote, thereby handing the presidency to Wilson is one of the greatest what ifs in US history that doesn't get enough play in media. Wilson was an extreme racist and his isolationist policy toward Europe, while probably correct in a vacuum, probably led the war to drag on far longer and cause untold more death, not to mention that with the US being a latecomer our argument for a peace without victors/vanquished led Germany down its own dark path. There's also that other tiny thing: if the war ends by 1917, we most likely never get a USSR or communist China, at least not like what we got in this timeline. Therefore likely no Russian Civil War, no Holodomor, no purges, no gulags, no cold war, no Korea/Vietnam/Afghanistan/endless CIA/KGB coups in global south countries with countless millions dead. Who knows if nuclear weapons ever get created and proliferate the way that they did. Extremist Islam probably still happens, but more likely in reaction to the British Imperial holdings in places like Pakistan and Iraq. That also means probably no 9/11, nor a global war on terror. Just an incredibly bad presidency that too many wrongly think was in fact great. Thank god for the stroke that ended his designs on a third term, or who knows what other horrors his continued reign would have resulted in.

[@reddykilowatt]

yeah I’m sure TR would not have wanted to go to war. he was a well known pacifist. 😂😂

[@Zraknul]

I wouldn't blame the problems of Versailles on Wilson. If anything he wanted to slow down the French/UK land grab and reparations orgy. If Germany isn't so badly broken, you don't necessarily get Hitler.

[@Zraknul]

@@gene7887 What happens if Tsar Nicholas wasn't a clueless moron?

[@hotman8218]

Can we all take a moment and appreciate that history matters actually takes the time to write actual newspapers lol

[@garcjr]

For like a dollar.

[@frostyblade8842]

I've misses these videos, they're always excellent and thos one was no different

[@kareemlane7126]

These vids are so good! Thanks!

[@youtubeadministration8037]

I can't believe Charles I came back from the dead just to support history matters' work. This must be a sign that we shall finish the 10 minute history of erngland series!

[@stevevernon1978]

Sometimes, when I listen to "History Matters" say the name: "Charles the First" I think I hear: "Charles the Third" but it may be recent events influencing me.

[@robinrehlinghaus1944]

​@@stevevernon1978 Charles the Third should surely also support someone contributing to British culture in such a funny way

[@Drave_Jr.]

Also, technically Teddy Roosevelt wasn't going to be elected for the third time. He was VP in the 1900 election and the President was assassinated early in his tenure, so Roosevelt considered it his first term, and didn't run for a "third" term in 1908.

[@johnlynch1353]

It would have been his third term. But it would have been his second elected term. You can have a term as president without being elected if you were the VP and the president dies. In that case under the constitution you become the president and serve out the rest of the term.

[@LaEsquelaVieja]

Anarchists gave this country one of the greatest Presidents it ever had. By killing his predecessor

[@matthewgillies7509]

Legally speaking it was his first term, despite not being elected president directly. The USA assigns the ownership of the "full term" to whomever served the majority of it. This is why Theodore Roosevelt's slightly shorter first term counted, whereas Lyndon Johnson's did not. And if Johnson had run again, and by some miracle won against Nixon, his would have been the second longest presidency after FDR, despite being bound by the two term limit.

[@uingaeoc3905]

@@matthewgillies7509 No, you are applying the post WW2 Amendment to Teddy R. He served McKInley' s remainder term, won his first term and did not stand again. Then he ran again and it would have been his second term divided from first, like Cleveland.

[@brandonlyon730]

@@matthewgillies7509 Theres a bit of funny fact that Gerald Ford is technically the only U.S president who was never elected, he wasn't the original VP who would've been voted along with the President, he was appointed in the position by the Republican party after Nixon’s original VP Spiro Agnew had resigned after getting into a lot legal trouble with Tax fraud just before the Watergate Scandal happened. And after his unpopular decision to pardon Nixion among other things in his term he lost his election by the end of with Jimmy Carter taking his place, so unlike the likes of Harry Truman who did eventually win an election on there own, he never won any election either through a normal election as a candidate or being elected with the president as the VP.

[@Donald_the_Potholer]

0:45 No, Washington said "no" because he was suffering an acute case of death.

[@AlexCaesel]

retired from life

[@speedy_comet]

Very interesting info thanks!

[@camhabibi2217]

Fun fact: Grover Cleveland won the popular vote in 3 straight elections. He lost the Electoral College in the 2nd race.

[@gerardryan5364]

Ah the Electoral College, the gift that keeps on giving to the Republican Party!

[@Leonard_Wolf_2056]

​@@gerardryan5364if Dems didn't have to rely on illegals and the dead they would treat EC like it's a gift from God.

[@sid2112]

@@gerardryan5364 You mean the gift that prevents the two major population centers from dictating to the rest of the country?

[@FIREBRAND38]

I remember I had a history teacher tell us once that it was the Republicans who pressed for the 22d Amendment in reaction, of course, to FDR. Then, when Eisenhower became President they realized that they now had a President who could have been elected to a third term of office.

[@tomhenry897]

True but a bunch of democrats would have to support it also in case a Republican became popular

[@KevinDavis338]

But I think his health was failing at that time

[@memesthatmakeyouwannadie3133]

You wonder which Presidents would have gotten a third term post-22nd if they could have. Likely Eisenhower and Reagan since they won both times pretty easily, and a decent chance that Clinton and Obama could have with how popular they were at the end of their terms and how close 2000/2016 were.

[@KevinDavis338]

@@memesthatmakeyouwannadie3133 I think that Clinton and Obama would have gotten a third term. I'm not sure about Reagan and Ike. Their health was starting to fail at the end of the 2nd term.

[@ryaj2356]

@@memesthatmakeyouwannadie3133 Ronald Reagan would not have sought a third term, in his last address to the nation he expressed the desire to retire and happy to have it over to his VP. Before then end of daddy bushes first term it was discovered that he had Alzheimer’s too. Good o billy and Obama would have never left tho. The eras of little bush would have been delayed or never happened, and certainly trump would have never happened. Too man black people supported both bill and Obama for a republican to have won.

[@arananation]

I love how when someone dies in these clips the character just tips over. 😂gets me every time!

[@leeham6230]

If there is anything I have learned (mainly from watching Ancient Roman politics) is that laws, rules, and the like are all made to be broken. Power, political tricks, and the will of men decide what actually happens, rather than things written down on paper. During mellow times, the rules work to a fault. During desperate times, they are cast aside without so much as a 2nd thought.

[@Bigdog5400]

Fun fact about Wilson, he suffered a stroke in the middle of his second term. It is thought that his wife Edith made most important decisions for him as she kept most of his cabinet at an arms length, which is why she’s often considered the first female US President.

[@xxxBradTxxx]

Oh, that explains the Federal Reserve and Income Tax

[@yaboi672]

@@xxxBradTxxx haha

[@michaeleldridge5640]

@@xxxBradTxxx was he supposed to veto it?

[@calmbbaer]

That is highly controversial and not a consensus view. If I recall correctly, most historians now believe that his wife's role was nearly entirely one of gatekeeping, not one that involved her making any decision that directly affected the American people.

[@xxxBradTxxx]

@@michaeleldridge5640 Yes

[@carltonleboss]

History Matters is the only channel where I listen to them reading out the names of their Patrons.

[@adamdickinson2894]

1:09 you better believe I paused it and read the entire newspaper page

[@yokermitthefrog5169]

That man that will probably die had a big family

[@adamesd3699]

I remember in the late 1980s, some Republicans wanted Reagan to try for a 3rd term. This was bad for two reasons. First, it goes against the 22nd Amendment, that Republicans had pushed for due to Roosevelt. Second, Reagan by the end of his 2nd term was clearly suffering from diminished capacity and that would have been a cruel thing to do to him and to the country. In regards to the 2nd point above, I think the same about Biden now.

[@noonespecial9704]

There is actually a clause that states a president can serve up to 10 years as president provided the previous one was killed or during a crisis

[@diegobroad2851]

Not just killed...it is related to death or incapacitated. It is the VP serving out the last 2 years of the predecessor plus 2 terms for themself

[@tomtomtrent]

Yeah, LBJ could have run again in 1968, and almost made a surprise appearance at the DNC, but the massive unpopularity of Vietnam made them all realize he shouldn’t try

[@megarockman]

Well not necessarily killed - the presidency could also be vacated by resignation. The rule is basically "if you got into office more than halfway through your predecessor's term that doesn't count toward the limit." It was relevant when LBJ succeeded JFK after the later was assassinated, as JFK's term had less than two years left on it so LBJ was legally allowed to run for President again in 1968 after having won in 1964 (he didn't because he had become way too unpopular due to Vietnam).

[@ssnful123]

It’s not about crisis it’s about if the VP has to ascend 2 years in

[@noonespecial9704]

@@diegobroad2851 I know, I'm just trying to use real world examples like the JFK assasination/Richard Nixon Resignation

[@tjdasdada3786]

I clicked faster than Denmark's surrender in ww2

[@VagueCastle649]

Took you 5 hours just to click?

[@billclintonofficial35]

BRUH💀🗿🍷

[@ap1jpanimations920]

*impossible*

[@MajSolo]

these short clips are fun as hell only youtube showed I already watched this video till the end and I do not remember a thing. 'That is somewhat a problem.

[@Lord.Kiltridge]

What I want to know is what would have happened if Henry Wallace hadn't been cheated out of a second term as VP in 44? He was _very_ supportive of FDR's policies and far less under the influence of party hacks. Which is exactly why he was replaced with Harry Truman. How they cheated him is an interesting story and should be covered by this page.

[@Swordsman1425]

Wow, "Make Room for Trum" would have been a great campaign phrase... that gave me a chuckle, good job once again History Matters!

[@SoDakJason]

There's also an exception in the 22nd Amendment that says James Bisonette can serve more than two terms.

[@balabanasireti]

Don't care

[@zacharyelliott7161]

@@balabanasireti I do!

[@sudhanvakashyap297]

@@balabanasireti I do!

[@Patches2212]

Only if Kelly Moneymaker serves as VP

[@buccizero]

@@Patches2212dammit - you beat me to the punch 😂

[@joelperez7286]

I think it is important to mention the New Deal and how he was a much better president than the "Do-nothing" Hoover before him. A lot of problems that came in the 1930s was the Great Depression and Hoover was unable to satisfy a lot of Americans needs. FDR had a strong connection with many citizens too with having "fire side chats" in which he had a mock like one to one session with everyone in the country. Nonetheless, with Hoover being unable to do much FDR was the opposite creating the WPA (Works Progress Administration) and helping the unemployed. Additionally, FDR also tried his best to help people get loans for their homes with the Home Owners Loan Corporation, but that only helped most of the middle class and he did not help a majority of the lower class. There are many factors though to FDR and why he got many of the terms. I think it would be important to mention a lot of the economic policy he brought to America while also being conservative near the end 1930s. With WWII he also made some great policies such as the lending program which we still do today by letting countries use our old weaponry to then create new ones and create employment. FDR did so much in the span of his presidency and this is only the tip of the iceberg.

[@gammafoxlore2981]

He arguable prolonged the depression by stifling the American economy. Price fixing, artificial reduction of food supply (yes he ordered the burning of crops), and threatening the Supreme Court when they pointed out that several "New Deal" policies were unconstitutional. The closest the US has been to having a dictator (with LBJ & Nixon following close behind).

[@spitfireBoon]

0:13 nuff said you earned you like and comment 🤣

[@vinnynj78]

Oddly enough, Willkie and FDR managed to work well together after the election... for a time. They had even toyed with the idea of joining to create a progressive party after the war was over and there might have been something too that if, 1) Willkie had been less sure that FDR was just using him, and 2) both had not come down with a severe case of death before hostilities ceased.

[@Mustapha1963]

I'd read something along those lines. In the end, FDR got Willkie's Progressivism- and then some- without having to draft a Republican: Henry A. Wallace. Wallace was, by all accounts, an excellent Secretary of Agriculture, but his ideology wasn't merely Progressives but rather Socialist. I'm not a fan of "machine politics", but we should all be thankful that the Democrat machine forced Wallace off the ticket in 1944 and substituted Truman. Wallace made several speeches saying that we were being too hard on the Soviets and that we should give them greater reign over Europe. It's rather hard to imagine how much more reign they could have received than what FDR gave them, but it wasn't enough for Wallace. Under a President Wallace, the possibility exists that there would have been no divided Berlin...but because the border between East and West was the English Channel and the Atlantic Ocean.

[@nileshkumaraswamy2711]

Love these little visual gags they never get old.

[@MidasStorm]

They are great, but I feel a little called out by 0:03

[@Autumn-ko4pr]

We need a playlist of all of these in chronological order to get a full summary of strange history tidbits

[@nik65stgt60]

Very interesting! Thanks!

[@ricardokowalski1579]

1:20 Teddy is one of the greatests.

[@dogood8750]

I like how History Matters keeps inventing new ways to say someone dies

[@gerg5555]

Also, he was extremely popular and loved for the new deal. Surprised it wasn't mentioned.

[@xaviersaavedra7442]

LOl that description is hilarous.

[@Lyendith]

Kind of like in France… the two-term limit − well, "two consecutive terms" − was only introduced in 2008 but no one had ever served more than two terms before that anyway. Though part of the reason is that before 2000 presidential terms were stupidly long − 7 years, meaning that two terms was the equivalent of 4-and-a-half American terms! It’s only after it was reduced to 5 years and presidents serving 3 terms became a more realistic scenario that some thought "okay, maybe we should have some kind of safeguard". Also, this show’s ever renewed ways of saying "died" never get old. XD

[@oz_jones]

I wonder what would happen if a president had his or her two terms, and tried to run after another president had a term? My guess is that he or she would be told by the Supreme Court (or whatever it is in France) that no, you indeed do not get to run for a third time.

[@Lyendith]

@@oz_jones There’s a precedent in Russia, where the rule is similar − Putin served two terms between 2000 and 2008, then Medvedev took his place, then in 2012 Putin ran again. Macron will have served two terms in 2027 so he can’t run for that election, but he could theoretically run again in 2032, if the constitution hasn’t changed by then.

[@gorilladisco9108]

3 1/2

[@Lyendith]

@@gorilladisco9108 Yeah sorry, I suck at math lol

[@Zerradable]

​@@Lyendith French I see.

[@uytteb]

I was convinced the two-term limit was actually a two consecutive term limit but that does not appear to be the case. It's a strict two-term limit, whether consecutive or not.

[@mankytoes]

The important loophole is that no "body" can serve more than two terms. You can serve more, you just need a fancy new body.

[@howtoappearincompletely9739]

@@mankytoes Nice Futurama reference. 🙂

[@jackguest145]

If that were the case we could be enjoying Obama's third term right about now

[@stackhat8624]

You're thinking of Russia and Putin where Putin served two terms, put puppet Medvedev as President (2008-2012) and served as the real power as Prime Minister and then became President again in 2012

[@SuperNeos2]

@@jackguest145 You are enjoying Obama’s third term right now. You think Biden is running shit? 😂

[@1TakoyakiStore]

The interesting thing is that amendment states that the US president can only be in office for 2 terms or 10 years under a rare set of circumstances. This can only happen if a VP becomes president (as a result of the standing president dying, being unable to fulfill his duties as president, or resigns) wherein he's allowed to stay president for 2 years before having to run for office and he can run twice while still having those 2 additional years as president. So in a way it's like a partial 3rd term. But that's the only exception to the usual 2-term 8 year run as president.

[@Freakears]

Also in the way of Wilson seeking a third term was that he kind of had a pretty big stroke later in his second.

[@tommo258]

Love the videos mate, one of my favourite channels.

[@Vanalovan]

Wilson tried to get a third term? The dude no one saw for like two years … wanted four more? God, I wish I had balls like that

[@keithcross2102]

A nice illustration of how conventions and norms often govern politics, but can be changed. And how long standing norms can be turned into law if broken.

[@majesticfirebird2310]

Suggestions for the next video: 1. why did tsarist Russia give Finland autonomy? (I am not the first person to suggest this) 2. why did Yugoslavia exist?/how did Yugoslavia come to be?

[@alanpennie8013]

It is remarkable how autocratic Russia allowed Finland to do its own thing.

[@averagebub]

For your second question, there was a movement that envisioned a South Slavic state dating back to the age of enlightenment in the late 18th century. Over time, there was a desire for southern Slavs, who were either under Austrian or Ottoman rule to form their own state, so that they couldn't be threatened by other powers. Following the First World War, the State of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes broke off and after forming a union with the Kingdom of Serbia and Kingdom of Montenegro, became the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, later known as Yugoslavia in 1929.

[@majesticfirebird2310]

@@averagebub I know, another history channel called Feature History mentioned this in a video covering Yugoslavia's entire history. It would still be interesting to see how Serbia came to govern Bosnia, given how much they desired independence before The Great War (it was a Bosnian who killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand, after all).

[@averagebub]

@@majesticfirebird2310 many people in Bosnia at the time were in favor of unification with Serbia, which is what Gavrilo Princip (Franz Ferdinand's assassin) wanted as well. He saw the Austrians as oppressing the Slavs and a roadblock to a South Slavic state. Princip wasn't a Bosnian nationalist, but rather a pan-slavic nationalist.

[@indefatigable8193]

I have a British friend who always asks me “why in the hell just two terms?” I’m sending him this video.

[@ginch8300]

In Canada most of our Prime Ministers either serve for a really long time like 14-16 years average, or a really short time, like a couple months max. We usually either get really liked Prime Ministers, or really hated Prime Ministers. The longest serving Prime Minister lasted about 21/22 years, or about 6/7 terms.

[@blubbsblabbs2245]

I'm German and already knew everything in this video and I honestly still don't quite get it. FDR consistently ranks among the top 3 US presidents, along with Washington and Lincoln and is arguably one of the most notable political figures in world history, without whom todays world could look very different indeed. All of which was only possible because he served for more than 2 terms. The US response to that? Well, let's enshrine it into law that this stroke of luck will never be able to happen again...

[@richbandicoot]

@@blubbsblabbs2245 yeah now right wingers see fdr as a socialist dictator. it’s sad what revisionists have done to him

[@Osterochse]

@@blubbsblabbs2245 It actually makes a lot of sense though considering that in many countries presidents turned into effective dictators by changing laws that would make sure that they stay in office. In South Korea you can only serve for one term only for precisely that reason. We don't know if another president who would have run his third turn instead would have made such a huge difference. Roosevelt was serving in historical important times but we can t say that sombody else wouldn't have made an equally good or even better job in the years 1941-1945.

[@JonahNelson7]

@@blubbsblabbs2245yeah. I’m American and would gladly lobby for a 4 term max. If someone’s right for the job they’re right for the job. They can be impeached at any point. It would solely be a benefit

[@henkdevries7573]

I have watched so many of these in a row now sometimes I wake up at night and hear "I hope you enjoyed this episode with a special thanks for my patrons..."

[@kevinmaclean6607]

Wilson trying to get a 3rd term while he had dementia is wild.

[@d.k8257]

Biden

[@Tutel9528]

This reminds me of the walking corpse we have in Oval Office right know

[@timfortune9]

I did see a campaign button from the 1940 election that did summarize it nicely (albeit it was an anti-Roosevelt one). It said "Washington wouldn't, Grant couldn't, Roosevelt shouldn't".

[@jasonlopez2697]

It's not wrong.

[@JanKosmas]

Calvin Coolidge was expected to run for a third term since he was so popular and his party might've allowed him to do so but he decided not to possibly due to exhaustion of the job and would've made his presidency 10 years which he hated it for being "too long".

[@danieldishon688]

"Then Teddy realized his successor sucked...." lol

[@panathatube]

I think the people should decide if a head of state deserves a third term.

[@jokuvaan5175]

The term limit is actually pretty good thing imo. Finland introduced the 2 consequtive term limit after Urho Kekkonen served as the president continously for 5 terms (6 years per term) from 1956 until he physically couldn't do the job anymore and resigned in 1982, then died shortly after. He got so much power that some consider him as the country's only dictator. Luckily he didn't go full dictator like Lukashenko of Belarus even though he easily could have. He would have also had the backong of USSR for it with his close ties to their leadership. The term limit was introduced after his death and the presidential powers were reduced a lot.

[@edipires15]

I don’t necessarily agree: If a person/party is constantly elected by the public in a free and fair election, and there’s enough checks and balances that prevent that person from abusing the powers of the office, then there’s no need for term limits. For example, Angela Merkel was German chancellor for 16 years.

[@jsquared1013]

@@edipires15 as he said, during his lengthy term he took more power for himself, so much so that the Presidential powers were reduced significantly after he left power. Germany/Merkel are an exception to the trend.

[@edipires15]

@@jsquared1013 like I said: if there is enough check and balances that prevent a person in office to take more power for himself it isn’t a problem: most modern parliamentary democracies don’t have term limits. Germany (for the Chancellor, the President does have a term limit), the Netherlands, the UK, Canada, etc

[@cowfat8547]

@@jsquared1013 but in the US the president can't just increase his own power

[@SkepticalSteve01]

Russia should have a two-term limit - in fact I believe they do, but Putin gets around it by swapping jobs with the nominal Premier or something. China’s Xi got his tame Communist Party to declare that term limits don’t apply to him so he can stay boss for as long as he feels like it. And if Trump’s January 6 attempted coup d’état had worked, you can bet his Repug ass-lickers would have abolished the 22nd amendment to keep him in power as long as he still has a pulse in that bloated sack of shit he calls a body.

[@MatheusLB2009]

There was also the chance to be elected 'president for life' given to James Bisonette, but he politely declined

[@frigginjerk]

James Bisonette was elected with 114 percent of the popular vote, but he decline to take office.

[@cookiecola5852]

Also precident ttump also decline precident for life Public housing wasnt for him

[@Baizenberg]

0:12 this caught me of guard 😂😂😂

[@anishtuladhar3037]

Ghost Geroge Washington was a touch of class. 👏👏

[@jmsgridiron5628]

Now if only their was a limit to how many terms senators and house members could run...

[@procrastinator41]

The Framers built term limits into the constitution, they're called "Elections".

[@DST-1-hp]

And SCOTUS justices.

[@NickValentine_2287]

@@DST-1-hp The whole point of SCOTUS is to appoint judges that would be uninfluenced by politics. That's the idea at least.

[@DST-1-hp]

@@NickValentine_2287 well considering the president appoints it and that politics are decided in part by the president, I think it kind of failed lol

[@anthonyle1838]

That will have entireleton unattended consequences

[@CJGuy01]

Technically, with Teddy Roosevelt, his first term was actually McKinley's term. Teddy was McKinley's VP, and he died, Teddy because the President to finish McKinley's term. This make Teddy the youngest President in US history, but not the youngest elected, that went to JFK. Teddy's technical first term, was the in 1905-09, he didn't run again in 1909 because he considered McKinley's term that he finished, his first term.

[@KingsleyIII]

TL;DW: there wasn't a constitutional amendment limiting a president to two four-year terms yet; it was just an unwritten rule/tradition that an incumbent president retire after two terms.

[@theoabbot8822]

I like these because they’re all facts and education our younger populate woefully lacks.

[@jdotoz]

John Schrank, the man who shot TR, claimed to have done it in part because he was seeking a third term. (He also claimed that McKinley's ghost appeared to him and demanded revenge on TR.)

[@Hrafnskald]

Good video overall, but it misses a huge part of the reason why: FDR came into office at a time when the country was crumbling due to the Great Depression, with fears of a communist revolution or a takeover by oligarchs. The economy was in ruins, with widespread unemployment and poverty. He got the economy back on track, got people working again (a big deal in the US where employment = self worth), and delivered regular radio addresses where he won over the people. He stabilized our banking system, insituted the first real retirement policies, and raised the quality of life for much of the country. By the time WW2 started, he was wildly popular and trusted by large majorities.

[@jsquared1013]

The New Deal didn't get the economy back on track, the expansion of industry to support the European war effort did. Most of the programs he initiated did more to expand federal power than anything else. The early spike was just papering over the cracks, as there was another recession in his second term. A significant number of his programs were struck down by the Supreme Court because they were unconstitutional. He also imprisoned American citizens without due process due to their race. He was an ideological descendant of Woodrow Wilson, one of the worst Presidents in the modern era. Social Security is garbage, it hinders the retirement potential of most people these days.

[@exercisethemind]

Long story short - FDR was AMAZING and a huge majority of the country absolutely LOVED him. They literally hung pictures of him in their homes.

[@nomnomxddd7341]

Ahh yess, the democratic dictator, I wonder how he's doing in the boiler room of hell

[@Tutel9528]

​@@nomnomxddd7341 If FDR was a dictator, then what the hell is Joe Biden??

[@nomnomxddd7341]

@@Tutel9528 I don't remember saying a God damn good thing about him

[@bemoore4]

Excuse my foul language, but his video was fuckin' awesome. I'm a LONG time subscriber, I've seen a tone of your videos, but this one really delivered. I expected it to be the obvious answer, There was no law against it, but that quick in depth run through the "history" of two terms was a pleasant surprise.

[@rklammer]

This is really interesting to learn. I was always told he had more terms because the war meant not a significant amount on the population would be able to cast a vote, what with all the men spread out across two oceans.

[@Stonewall42]

The only election where the nation was at war was the fourth and final one

[@wppb50]

The USA held the vote just the same, and the federal government passed a laws in 1942 and 44 to guarantee soldiers overseas the chance to cast absentee votes. Say what you will about the US' democratic processes, the country has never failed to hold an election for its officials on schedule regardless of circumstances. Presidential elections were held in the middle of the US Civil War, although unsurprisingly the secessionist states declined to participate.

[@alanpennie8013]

​@@wppb50 There was a real risk that Lincoln would not be re-elected in 1864.

[@ryaj2356]

@@alanpennie8013 Lincoln wasn’t worried about being re-elected. Knowing he had full support of the north to win the south was to bitter to vote in a country they claimed they weren’t part of

[@michaelbayer5094]

@@ryaj2356 Sorry, but you're glossing over too much to claim, "wasn't worried". By November 1864 your statement is correct. But the re-election campaign began with the nominating convention on June 7, when the war was still in doubt. The Republicans re-branded themselves as the National Union Party and in an attempt to win over pro-Union Democrats, they nominated the Southerner and War Democrat Andrew Johnson for Veep. The Fall of Atlanta would signal the end for the rebels but that wasn't until September. This victory helped Republicans carry state elections in OH, IN, and PA held in October. But before IN Gov. Morton is re-elected on 10/11/1864, "wasn't worried" is not correct.

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

FDR was so close to becoming the Senate.

[@carloscolon198]

On a more serious note; I think that FDR first and second term was seen as FDR leading the country through the Great Depression and second and last leading the country through WWII. He represented consistency and a smart leader during hard times. He was well received by all world leaders… even his enemies. If he had lived to the end he would have dropped the Bomb on Japan twice …. ( for those that waste time in “what ifs” The Manhattan Project was his creature and he would have used it … simple fact that saved maybe millions of lives

[@tremensdelirious]

Could you do a quick history video on Buggly Wuggly? He/she sounds fascinating.

[@DisorderlyFashion]

I love how antagonising Dave is now a running joke.

[@user-tj6tr4qx3p]

What's the story behind it?

[@writerconsidered]

Its great and damn funny. I saw him in the comment section once and asked him how he felt about being used as an on running joke. He said it was kinda flattering but awkward for him. I have a feeling he went into incognito mode in the comment section to keep his anonymity. Because I haven't seen him since. It is an interesting dynamic that was completely organic in its inception.

[@Nestalgba92023]

Like ongoing attcks Dave Rubin?

[@stevejohnson3357]

FDR wasn't one to stick with running mates. He had 3 and my grandfather was college roommate with his second.

[@eduardogutierrez4698]

FDR: Fuck*ng Disabled Rascal

[@whatwhat5948]

The based Henry Agard Wallace?

[@tomtomtrent]

Yeah, Garner was incensed that FDR ran again, then Wallace was actually a pretty cool Progressive guy, but the party would not allow him the VP nomination again in 1944, so we got Truman. It’s really interesting to wonder what if Wallace had been VP when FDR died. Maybe we’d have universal healthcare, maybe there wouldn’t have been a Cold War

[@stevejohnson3357]

@@whatwhat5948 Yep.

[@candiman4243]

Even weirder is the fact Roosevelt offered for Willkie to be his VP in 1944, though he declined

[@randoir1863]

Ty for this video

[@stewartoutandabout]

Would be more accurate if you showed FDR in a wheelchair or standing but supported as he frequently did in public. While he preferred to hid his disability for fear of showing weakness, I think he should be celebrated for what he achieved despite it.

[@Carlton-B]

His brain was so heavy with wisdom, he couldn't stand up.

[@owenlindkvist5355]

Would be more accurate if your picture was wife being fucked by her boyfriend, but we don't need pointless things.

[@stewartoutandabout]

@@owenlindkvist5355 you ok? You seem to be having some kind of episode. Perhaps best you stay off the internet for a bit.

[@owenlindkvist5355]

@@stewartoutandabout Nah, mate. Just noticing that your points have about much natural ability to stand as FDR.

[@bustavonnutz]

His entire career as a polititician was centered around decieving the public. Wouldn't hold my breath.

[@charleslohr9603]

Teddy only won 1 term (he became President early in McKinley's 2nd term)