The historical figure associated with the "New Deal" programs in the U.S. is Franklin D. Roosevelt. Elected as President during the Great Depression, he initiated a series of programs and reforms aimed at economic recovery and social welfare. The New Deal included initiatives like the Social Security Act, the establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps, and various regulatory measures to stabilize the economy and provide relief to the unemployed. Roosevelt's New Deal fundamentally reshaped the U.S. economic landscape and expanded the role of the federal government.