This document discusses inspirational stories of overcoming obstacles from former U.S. presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln on President's Day. It outlines the many challenges both presidents faced in their careers and lives, such as FDR's polio and paralysis and Lincoln's numerous political defeats, family deaths, and depression, before achieving the presidency. Both presidents showed perseverance and never gave up in the face of adversity, with FDR serving 4 terms as president and Lincoln preserving the United States as one nation and issuing the Emancipation Proclamation.

1. Inspirational Stories of
Former U.S. Presidents
To be Presented on
President‟s Day

2. Since it is President’s Day Today,
• We will consider the following questions:
• What would you do if you were President of the
United States of America?
• Who would help you to become President?
• How long do you think it would take to do this?
• What if you had a hard time, ran into some
difficulties, some obstacles? What would you do
then?

3. What Would You Do If You Were
President of the U.S.?
• You might be President
some day! Why not? It
might even be a reason
to care about your school
work.
• What great changes will
you make?
• Will those changes
improve the society and
help people?

4. Who Would Help You Become
President of the U.S.?
• No one is successful on their
own.
• Everyone has helpers and
needs help.
• Never hesitate to ask for help
if you need it and be prepared
to give help when you see
people having difficulty.
• Even if you cannot be
President, you can still do
some pretty important things.

5. How Long Will It Take For Me To Be
President of the U.S.?
• It takes time to get
important things done.
• Not everything is
instant.
• Important things take
planning and we have
to leave time for things
to happen.

6. What If You Run Into Obstacles?
• When trying to reach your goal, there
are always going to be difficulties, barriers,
obstacles, roadblocks, and trouble along the way.
• That‟s just the way things are, and when that
happens, we have to work to get around them. We
have to be persistent about the things we really
care about.
• We must NEVER GIVE UP!
• Former presidents also faced many challenges
before and during their presidency.
• Let‟s look at two:
• Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Abraham Lincoln

7. Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
32nd President of the U.S.
1932-1945

8. Obstacles President Roosevelt Faced
• In 1920, Roosevelt lost for the Post of the Vice
President.
• In 1921, Roosevelt, who had polio at that time, had an
attack which resulted in paralysis of waist which
continued for the rest of his life.
• In 1932, after winning the presidency election, President
Roosevelt faced an immediate challenge: economic crisis
– great depression, unemployment
• During his third term, he faced another challenge: World
War II
• Throughout his presidency, he suffered many health
problems.

9. Successes
• Only U.S. President to have served more than
two terms of presidency. (Each term is four
years).
• He was the only American President to be
elected FOUR times: 1932, 1936, 1940, 1944.
• Tackled the Great Depression in America and
led the country from a fast growing economy
to a mighty world power.
• Set into place programs and agencies that still
persist to this day: SEC, FDIC, and Social
Security.

10. Nothing Stopped Him
• Despite the fact that he had Polio and was in a
wheelchair, he went on and persevered through
it all.
• He showed the American people that you can do
anything if you set your mind to it, and that you
shouldn‟t let anything hold you back.
• One of his famous quotes is, “The only thing we
have to fear, is fear itself.”
• If we keep these words in mind and not let our
personal fears hold us back, we can accomplish
many things that we never thought we could.

11. Famous Quote
“It is common sense to
take a method and try it.
If it fails, admit it frankly
and try another. But
above all, try something.”
– Franklin D. Roosevelt

12. Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
16th President of the U.S.
1860-1865

13. Obstacles President Lincoln Faced
• In 1816, Lincoln „s family is forced out of home and
needs to work.
• In 1818, his mother passes away.
• In 1828, his sister passes away.
• In 1831, Lincoln‟s business venture fails.
• In 1832, he lost his job, denied from law school, and
was defeated for State Legislature.
• In 1833, he failed in business and became bankrupt.
• In 1835, his fiancée passes away.
• In 1836, he suffered a nervous breakdown and was
bedridden for 6 months.
• In 1838, he was defeated for Speaker.
• In 1840, he was defeated for Elector.

14. Obstacles President Lincoln Faced
• In 1843, he was defeated for nomination for
Congress.
• In 1846, he was elected to Congress and in 1848, he
lost renomination.
• In 1849, he was rejected for Land Officer.
• In 1850, his son, Edward, dies.
• In 1854, he was defeated for Senate.
• In 1856, he was defeated for nomination for Vice-
President.
• In 1858, he was defeated again for Senate.
• In 1860, he was elected President.
• In 1862, his son, Willie, dies.
• In 1865, he is assassinated.

15. Successes
• He issued the Emancipation Proclamation which
began the process of freedom for America‟s slaves.
• He was an unfaltering commander in chief during
the Civil War and preserved the United States as
one nation.
• He was successful in preventing other countries
from intervening in America‟s Civil War.
• He signed Acts and a Bill that chartered the first
transcontinental railroad.
• He set a fine example of strong character,
leadership and honesty which succeeding
presidents try to emulate.

16. Nothing Stopped Him
• Based on his past record • Success does not come
of failures, losing 8 times overnight, so keep your
goal in sight and keep
in 8 elections, Abraham
moving forward – no
Lincoln had no right to matter how slowly.
think he could win the
presidency of the United
States. But that did not
keep him from trying!
• One of his famous quotes
is, “I walk slowly, but I
never walk backward.”

17. Famous Quote
“That some achieve
great success, is proof
to all that others can
achieve it as well”
– Abraham Lincoln

18. Final Thoughts
• In order to achieve success, one must fail and
learn from it.
• However, the difference between those who
become successful and those who become
failures has to do with how they overcome
adversity and obstacles. Those who become
successful never quit (even though, they have
failed many times). Instead, they learn how
NOT to fail again and begin again more
intelligently.
• Therefore, never give up because success is
closer than you think.

19. The Presidents of the U.S.A.
• Want to see a video of all your
presidents? Click on the link below:
• The Presidents of the United States of America