Ambivalent Accomplices: How the Press Handled FDR's Disability and How FDR Handled the Press.

Contrary to widespread belief, Franklin Roosevelt’s disability was never entirely hidden from the public—during his presidency, articles in leading publications even mentioned that he used a wheelchair—but Roosevelt generally succeeded in getting the press to present his condition the way he wanted. While most authors have attributed this positive treatment to a “gentlemen’s agreement” between Roosevelt and journalists, coercion on the part of the White House and pragmatic concerns on the part of the press were much more important factors. This dynamic would help FDR win reelection in 1944 despite his failing health and would influence the relationship between presidents and the press for decades to come. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]