Reply #3: Folks knew he has trouble getting around - that was the general rationalization...

[Captain Hilts]

for Eleanor's activities.

But no one had a clue the degree to which he was crippled. The presidential train rarely went faster than 35 mph because he didn't have the back muscles to support himself. He also was incapable of dressing himself.

My uncle was on the battleship IOWA when they took FDR to the Teheran Conference. My uncle was shocked by the extent of his disability. He took him the ship's newspaper every day.

FDR made two pubic appearences in his wheelchair. The report after the Yalta Conference to congress, and one to the amputee ward at Bethesda Naval Hospital.

Holding him up was difficult because not only was he tall, but he was top heavy. It came in handy his wife was so big. Here she is holding him up on the campaign train in '32. That's her boy toy looking on on the left.