That entire generation [with exceptions, I'm sure] had that disconnect with FDR. My parents grew up during the First Great Depression and considered him a hero -- though I think his admittedly-admirable war-leadership was a big part of it. Dad's long gone, but Mom [now 89 and a staunch conservative] still gets uncomfortable when I criticize FDR.
"We all loved him then," she says.
Thank God my grandparents weren’t (none of them). We’re conservative through and through. (Well, cousins have fallen far from the tree - eviroNAZI commies, but my line is strong.)
Even today (we were all commiserating and venting about Tuesday) Mom recounted how her mother was NOT caring at all or sad about FDR’s passing. She told a woman she knew - aunt or cousin - who came to her house all crying about FDR’s death. Gramma said she was sad for the woman because it meant so much for her but really, it didn’t bother Gramma 1 bit. (Also, some little child was crying as they were walking in Baltimore, and he gushed that poor FDR had died - Gramma “oh well”.)