“The Defining
Moment: FDR’s
Hundred Days
and the
Triumph of
Hope”

Most Worshipful Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s (FDR) presidency, particularly his first hundred days, offers profound lessons in leadership, adaptability, and the balance between individual influence and collective effort. The book illustrates how Roosevelt’s life experiences—his battle with disease, his strategic political maneuvers, and his ability to bring people together—shaped his approach to governance. He doubted experts, valued teamwork to complement his weaknesses, and leveraged new technologies to communicate directly with the public. His ability to project confidence and use media effectively made him a master of political persuasion. A key theme emerging from his story is the historical tendency of Americans to seek strong, singular leadership in times of crisis, even bordering on dictatorship. Yet, FDR understood that true progress required collaboration—forcing differing perspectives into a room to generate solutions rather than relying on one person’s vision alone. His presidency highlights the role of social trends, media influence, and the necessity of action over stagnation.

Freemasonry shares many philosophical parallels with FDR’s leadership principles. As FDR gathered advisors with diverse perspectives to tackle national crises, Freemasonry teaches that leadership is most effective when guided by wisdom and collective input. This input may not always present with mutual understanding.

The Masonic Lodge functions as a space for men of different backgrounds to work together toward self-betterment and societal progress. Masonic teachings encourage members to seek knowledge, refine their understanding of the world, and adjust their approach based on new insights. Interestingly, FDR also understood the power of symbols, rituals, and public perception, using fireside chats and political imagery to instill confidence in the American people.

The power of symbols within the Craft allow for communicating values and ideals beyond platitudes and, instead, towards a greater feeling and mutual understanding from experience. It is the understanding of symbols that allowed FDR to view his own political career, despite his own desire for smoothing his ego, as an embodiment of American progress and character to handle the challenges of the present with humor and hope, both of which would be critical for his addressing the Great Depression. Despite his ideals, FDR was not a perfect ashlar. Yet, through his determination and adherence to his ideals, FDR’s perception of his countrymen changed to one that embraced a positive spirit of change and harmony in the midst of great adversity. The imperfect ashlar embraced the process of roughing its own imperfections through engaging in trials of the common individual.

The major premise of “The Defining Moment” is the warning against placing too much faith in one individual to solve society’s problems. Freemasonry teaches that leadership should be distributed among many, reinforcing the idea that no single person can bear the full burden of change. The fraternity operates democratically, ensuring that wisdom and guidance come from collective participation rather than absolute authority.

Ultimately, “The Defining Moment” teaches that history is not shaped by one person alone but by the broader movements and struggles of society. This aligns with Masonic teachings, which emphasize that human progress is a shared responsibility. Both FDR’s leadership and Freemasonry highlight the necessity of unity, adaptability, and ethical responsibility in shaping a better future. By studying FDR’s life and Masonic principles, we are reminded that the path to meaningful change is built not through passive reliance on authority, but through active engagement, moral discipline, and the willingness to work together for the greater good.