No cooperating press to quell bimbo eruptions. And he apparently made Clinton, Bill look like a monk.

Back during the 1928 democratic convention (I believe) with hidden braces on his legs and a huge amount of practice, he was able to walk out from behind a curtain the short distance to the podium with canes. THIS made it seem to everyone like he was recovering and would be back to normal before long. This was a lie. Being able to take a few assisted steps with braces and lock them so he could stand was the best he could manage.

When he ran for president n '32, he made sure he was seen by voters either as standing up in those braces, or seated; the news media had a gentleman's agreement not photograph him when he was in his wheelchair. Voters didn't know he was disabled. Now, thanks to plenty of examples of politicians in wheelchairs (Tammy Duckworth, for example), FDR would actually have had an easier time running for office without having to hide his disability. It would have certainly have been harder for him to hide his disability, but it wouldn't have been assumed that he couldn't hold political office because of it.

Don't get me wrong; yes, his disability and health would have been an issue and opponents would have used it to undermine him. But it's a mistake to assume that he'd have had more questions and grilling about his health now then back in 1932. Back then, his inability to walk would have gotten him dismissed from consideration; and rightfully so, voters likely would not have voted for a man in a wheelchair. Now, he'd be seriously considered. Men and women in wheelchairs are voted into office.

Excuse the pun, but that's a step up.

He was ill, fever, massive pain.. He had massages and therapy hidden from pulic. Today you can't hide. He surely would have been scutenized for lying about it.

acceptable now. Big deal. People with plegia live long lives now, very unlike those pre-antibiotic days.

Those who think FDR couldn't be elected now are also kind of forgetting that we'd elect a mentally disordered pumpkin if it had a charismatic TV personality. Remember that silly man Ross Perot? "It's simple folks. Open the hood, fix the problem, close the hood -- case closed!" Sarah Palin? All nothing but gas bags whose ability to perform well on TV put them within reach of the White House. FDR would have left them far behind in the dust. He had that too and much more.