I have time to think out this in detail, but off the top of my head:
Greatest war time president.
Steered us out of the Great Depression.
WPA programs not only put Americans back to work, but made great public works projects from that we still benefit from today.
Among those he hired were artists that fed the nation's soul.
Social security.
Great wife who was a leader in racial integration.
The GI Bill which you don't want to give him credit for.
Did all this while fighting a debilitating disease.
Thanks Reg. Well, I see a mixed bag more than you do, for the reasons I stated. Had we recovered sooner from the Depression absent some misplaced Federal meddling who knows what would have been. But I understand where you are coming from as to the programs you cite. I do think Evans got it wrong though, in his overstatement that it was FDR's programs that caused us to emerge from the Great Depression.
We were attacked in WWII and there was overwhelming bipartisan support for the war effort, of course. So after Pearl Harbor FDR didn't have to deal with partisan backbiting. Despite FDR's accomplishments, as we did win the war, I've shared my concerns as to the Jews, the Japanese-Americans, and the Soviets.
You'll get no disagreement from me regarding Eleanor's support for integration. But that was Elenor. In my view that doesn't make her husband the greatest President.
I have no agenda regarding the GI Bill. Other than the truth. I was actually surprised by what I learned last night when I looked into its history. I bet you didn't know what I found either, regarding the central role of its Republican author and the American Legion. Interesting, eh?
And again, thanks for so quickly responding with your thoughts. Helps to know where you are coming from for sure.