Polio

Roosevelt was stricken with polio in adulthood, after he already was an officeholder (not president, yet). His wheelchairs were not cumbersome and large, but were office chairs fitted with wheels. There were several of these in his house.

That Roosevelt had had polio wasn't a particular secret, but that he was disabled was certainly not advertised. This would not be possible today, but was then.

Roosevelt's reason? Some people are so ignorant and crude as to believe that if a person has a physical disability, zie must have a mental disability as well.

The elevator to the second story in Roosevelt's home. He would pull himself up or let himself down, using an arrangement of ropes. FDR had a powerful upper body. He never electrified this elevator, for fear there would be a fire, the power would be out, and he would be stuck.

This is the lane into the Roosevelt home. FDR set as his goal that he would walk this long driveway, but I don't know that he ever accomplished this. I may be wrong. I know that he would be exhausted after walking only a short distance.