Made to Make History:Made to Make History:

Three Individuals Who Three Individuals Who Overcame Unique Challenges Overcame Unique Challenges

in Modern U.S. Historyin Modern U.S. HistoryDr. Kevin B. Witherspoon

Lander University

Charles Lindbergh

Franklin D. RooseveltJackie Robinson

Charles LindberghCharles Lindbergh• Family backgroundFamily background

– Loner; deeply privateLoner; deeply private

• Movement: Minnesota, Detroit, DCMovement: Minnesota, Detroit, DC– IsolationIsolation– Love of travelLove of travel– Skilled at occupying his mindSkilled at occupying his mind

Charles LindberghCharles Lindbergh• SchoolingSchooling

• 1912 air show1912 air show– Adventure/flightAdventure/flight

• The Roaring 20sThe Roaring 20s– Impeccable characterImpeccable character

• Aircraft schoolAircraft school– Natural skills: eyesight, reflexesNatural skills: eyesight, reflexes

Charles LindberghCharles Lindbergh• BarnstormingBarnstorming

– SkydivingSkydiving– ConnectionsConnections

• St. LouisSt. Louis– Grace under pressureGrace under pressure– LuckLuck

• Airmail routeAirmail route– PracticePractice

Charles LindberghCharles Lindbergh• The Orteig prizeThe Orteig prize

• Flying soloFlying solo– Trained in navigationTrained in navigation– HandsomeHandsome– Fresh faceFresh face– Contrast with othersContrast with others

• Sleep deprivationSleep deprivation

Made to Make History: Charles Made to Make History: Charles LindberghLindbergh

• LonerLoner• WanderlustWanderlust• Skilled of mindSkilled of mind• Love of adventure/flightLove of adventure/flight• Impeccable characterImpeccable character• Natural skillsNatural skills• Fostered connectionsFostered connections• Grace under pressureGrace under pressure• Luck Luck • PracticePractice• Training (navigation)Training (navigation)

Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. Roosevelt• BirthBirth

• ParentsParents– Dealt with adultsDealt with adults– Love of outdoorsLove of outdoors

• SchoolingSchooling– The The CrimsonCrimson

• EleanorEleanor

Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. Roosevelt• Early careerEarly career

– NY State SenateNY State Senate•Connection with farmersConnection with farmers

•Battled the political machineBattled the political machine

•Vision of welfareVision of welfare

– Asst. Secty. Of the NavyAsst. Secty. Of the Navy•MilitaryMilitary

•Relations between business and laborRelations between business and labor

Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. Roosevelt• Private lifePrivate life

– AffairAffair•Relationship with EleanorRelationship with Eleanor

– Bout with polioBout with polio•Unflagging determinationUnflagging determination

•Changed personalityChanged personality

•Out of the limelightOut of the limelight

Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. Roosevelt• Governor of NYGovernor of NY

– Defends the working massesDefends the working masses– Practice for New DealPractice for New Deal

•Relief measuresRelief measures

•““Brain trust”Brain trust”

•““Fireside chats”Fireside chats”

•Positive attitudePositive attitude

Made to Make History: Made to Make History: FDRFDR

• UpbringingUpbringing

• EleanorEleanor

• Early political experienceEarly political experience– Connection with massesConnection with masses– Ideas about welfareIdeas about welfare– Business/labor relationsBusiness/labor relations

• Affair/relationship with EleanorAffair/relationship with Eleanor

• PolioPolio– DeterminationDetermination– PersonalityPersonality

• Practice as Gov. of NYPractice as Gov. of NY

Jackie RobinsonJackie Robinson• UpbringingUpbringing

• PasadenaPasadena– PrejudicePrejudice– Athletic skillsAthletic skills– Admired his brotherAdmired his brother– Religious beliefsReligious beliefs– He fought backHe fought back– Witnessed racial injusticeWitnessed racial injustice

Jackie RobinsonJackie Robinson• Pasadena Junior CollegePasadena Junior College

• UCLAUCLA– 4 sports4 sports– EducationEducation– Interaction with whitesInteraction with whites– Rachel Isum, his wifeRachel Isum, his wife

Jackie RobinsonJackie Robinson• The militaryThe military

– Officer Candidate SchoolOfficer Candidate School– Court-martialCourt-martial

• Negro Leagues/KC MonarchsNegro Leagues/KC Monarchs– Style of playStyle of play

• Why Jackie?Why Jackie?

Jackie RobinsonJackie Robinson• Branch RickeyBranch Rickey

• Brooklyn DodgersBrooklyn Dodgers– RestraintRestraint

• Montreal Royals, 1946Montreal Royals, 1946– ““The Great Experiment”The Great Experiment”

• Breaking the color barrierBreaking the color barrier– His playHis play

Made to Make History: Made to Make History: Jackie RobinsonJackie Robinson• Early exposure to prejudiceEarly exposure to prejudice

• Athletic prowessAthletic prowess• ReligionReligion• UCLAUCLA

– National exposureNational exposure– Interaction with whitesInteraction with whites

• MilitaryMilitary– ActivismActivism

• Negro LeaguesNegro Leagues• RestraintRestraint

Other Individuals? You Other Individuals? You tell me.tell me.

Made to Make HistoryMade to Make History

• Born at the right timeBorn at the right time

• Evidence of “greatness” early in lifeEvidence of “greatness” early in life

• Hardship/suffering early in lifeHardship/suffering early in life

• Significant help from othersSignificant help from others