America 1919-Chapter 696 - 239、Franklin Roosevelt

Chapter 696: 239、Franklin Roosevelt

In a secluded estate on the outskirts of New York,

Donnie and Alice, accompanied by a lady, came here. Donnie saw a man in a gray suit sitting in a wheelchair in the garden. Although he was making an effort to maintain his poise, Donnie could sense a deeply somber air emanating from the man.

This man was none other than the future President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt.

“Donnie, I’m terribly sorry,” said Roosevelt, “I should have risen to greet you, but as you see, I’m no longer capable of that.”

Upon seeing Donnie, Franklin Roosevelt joked self-deprecatingly; it was evident that he still struggled to come to terms with his situation.

Donnie could understand the mindset of Franklin Roosevelt at this time.

...

Previously, Franklin Roosevelt had been one of the foremost figures in the American political landscape and had even run for Vice President. Although he was unsuccessful, everyone believed that Franklin Roosevelt was bound to make a momentous comeback and become a person of great significance in the future.

But all of that changed last year.

After the Vice Presidential campaign failed in 1920, Franklin Roosevelt had temporarily stepped back from politics, returned to his old profession as a lawyer, and also served as Vice Chairman of the Maryland Trust and Savings Company.

Last year, Franklin Roosevelt took his family to Campobello Island for a vacation.

There, a fire broke out, and Franklin Roosevelt actively participated in extinguishing the blaze.

After controlling the fire, Franklin Roosevelt bravely plunged into the cold seawater. However, this act led to him contracting poliomyelitis.

The diagnosis from the doctors at the time was that Franklin Roosevelt would be permanently paralyzed from the waist down.

For the ambitious Franklin Roosevelt, it was undoubtedly a colossal blow, and he had not yet recovered from it.

Donnie sat opposite Franklin Roosevelt and calmly said, “Nothing is absolute. Medicine is advancing, and I believe there will be a way to treat your condition. After hearing of your situation from Alice, I inquired with many experts.”

Franklin Roosevelt’s expression wavered slightly, but then his eyes dimmed.

While Franklin might not have been able to compare with Donnie in terms of wealth, his influence was already on par with Donnie’s. The experts Donnie could contact, he too could reach, yet their responses had been nothing but further blows to him.

Even now, Franklin Roosevelt was puzzled why Donnie had come to visit him today.

Franklin Roosevelt had been paying attention to Donnie, knowing that he was the fastest rising figure in the United States over the past two years, with connections spanning the military, governmental, and business sectors.

If Donnie continued to progress at this rate, in perhaps a decade or so, Donnie Block could become a truly influential figure in the United States.

In such a situation, Donnie had no reason to visit someone like him, a ‘washed-up’ individual.

Furthermore, he was a Democrat!

Yes!

Although Theodore Roosevelt was a staunch Republican, and even before Franklin Roosevelt, the entire Roosevelt family were firm Republicans, Franklin Roosevelt was an exception!

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He had joined the Democratic Party!

This had even caused the still-living Theodore Roosevelt to denounce Franklin as a shameful traitor!

Even if Donnie intended to make early investments, he shouldn’t have sought out someone like him, a ‘useless’ person, right?

Although he harbored various doubts in his mind, Franklin Roosevelt still agreed to Donnie’s visit. Perhaps deep down, he still clung to some shred of hope.

“Thank you very much for your help, Donnie, but I’m well aware of my illness,” said Franklin, patting his wheelchair with another self-deprecating smile, “I’m afraid I’ll never leave this thing in my lifetime!”

Donnie shook his head, “If I hadn’t found any hope, why would I bring up this matter at this time, just to make you feel worse?”

A glimmer of light, filled with expectation, suddenly burst forth in Franklin Roosevelt’s cloudy eyes.

“What do you mean, Donnie?” Franklin Roosevelt asked, looking at Donnie excitedly.

Donnie didn’t play word games but spoke directly, “Recently, a gambler from Georgia at the Surf Hotel, whom I spoke with briefly, told me about a spring in the southwest of Georgia. This spring seemed to possess magical powers—it cured a young person with polio.”

The light in Franklin Roosevelt’s eyes became even more pronounced. If it could cure polio, then perhaps there was hope for his condition?

But soon, he reminded himself not to get too excited. In the past year, he had experienced too many hopes followed by too many disappointments, and he didn’t want to go through that again.

Yet, Franklin Roosevelt couldn’t help but hold on to some hope. After all, Donnie was a man of such stature that he surely wouldn’t speak of these things without some certainty.

Therefore, Franklin Roosevelt looked at Donnie with eyes ablaze.

Donnie continued, “After hearing this news, I immediately sent people there and had researchers analyze the spring water in detail. The conclusion was that the spring water contains various rich minerals and possesses extremely beneficial energy for the human body.”