Franklin D. Roosevelt was the U.S. president who initiated the New Deal to address the Great Depression. Upon taking office in 1933, Roosevelt implemented a series of programs and policies aimed at economic recovery, relief for the unemployed, and reform of the financial system. The New Deal included initiatives such as the Social Security Act, public works programs, and regulations on banks and the stock market. These measures aimed to provide immediate assistance and create jobs, while also addressing the systemic issues that contributed to the economic crisis. Roosevelt's New Deal marked a significant shift in the role of the federal government in American economic life.