Franklin D. Roosevelt was the president of the United States during the Great Depression, which lasted from 1929 until the late 1930s. He took office in March 1933, a time of monumental economic hardship. Roosevelt implemented a series of programs and reforms known as the New Deal, aimed at providing relief for the unemployed, recovery of the economy, and reform of the financial system. His leadership and innovative policies helped to reshape the American economy and mitigate the effects of the Great Depression, making him a central figure in this pivotal period of U.S. history.