President Franklin Delano Roosevelt is arguably one of America’s greatest presidents leading the nation out of the great depression and leading America to victory over the Axis Powers in World War Two. To others he is a four term wannabe dictator who greatly expanded the federal government and is responsible for many of our country’s current problems. Yet one trivial fact about the man is often forgotten – he more than likely invented the dirty martini.

On January 30th 1882, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born in Hyde Park, New York a bucolic town in the Hudson Valley. He came from wealthy stock being descended from the Anglo-Dutch Nobility that once ruled New York. The political gene clearly ran in the family – his cousin Theodore from Manhattan would go on to be President from 1901 to 1909 and Franklin was distantly related to 8th President Martin Van Buren.

FDR was destined his whole life to be a politician first running for New York Senate representing Dutchess county and winning an uphill victory. Next he was appointed assistant secretary of the navy by Woodrow Wilson overseeing much of the navy during World War One. This made FDR the natural democrat vice president nominee in 1920 (an election he lost in a landslide to Warren G. Harding). From there FDR would go on to become the governor of New York, narrowly winning a special election to replace Governor Al Smith.

As governor of New York FDR would take decisive action to fight the great depression which made him a national figure propelling him to the 1932 democrat nomination where he beat Republican President Herbert Hoover in a landslide. One of FDR’s first acts as president was passing the 21st amendment which repealed prohibition. It is said that the first legal martini made after prohibition was made by FDR.

Throughout his Presidency, FDR would use a cocktail hour ritual to escape from the trials of the Presidency. Many other World War Two world leaders had similar habits – Finnish Leader Marshal Carl Gustav Mannerheim would use elaborate dinners to distract from the war and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill would take long baths as well as enjoy whiskey and cigars to relax. Yet FDR’s cocktail hour took the trend to new heights.

Roosevelt would do his cocktail hour ritual even when meeting with foreign leaders like Churchill and Stalin, often enjoying a drink with Churchill. During this time, FDR would forbid all conversation about the war and politics as a way to get away from the stress of the presidency for a few hours. 

FDR’s drink of choice was either a dirty martini which many claim he invented, made with copious amounts of olive juice and a few drops of absinthe or the vintage tropical cocktail the Bermuda Rum Swizzle. Another favorite was a Manhattan made with Applejack, probably a nod to his Hudson Valley roots. He would always enjoy his drink with a cigarette and company of friends and family.

FDR made his drinks with this asian motif cocktail shaker

For Roosevelt, the cocktail hour provided a glimpse of normal life outside of the intensity of the Presidency as well as time to relax with family and friends. Unfortunately, FDR’s heavy smoking as well as his use of alcohol would deteriorate his health in the latter part of his presidency leading helping contribute to his demise in 1945.

This Article was Written by Adam Danberg