Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) was the longest-serving President of the United States, winning four consecutive terms in office beginning in 1933.
Approaching his fourth election, FDR and his advisors knew they needed to shake up the election ticket. The current Vice President, Henry Wallace, was widely viewed as “too far left,” and Conservative-Democrat opposition was growing louder. FDR selected a new running mate, tapping then US Senator and Missouri native Harry Truman for the role.
While the election resulted in victory once again for FDR, his last term would end prematurely when he suffered a fatal stroke on April 12, 1945, at the age of 63.
To many in 2025, the above timeline of events could appear mundane, but a closer examination reveals an astonishing maneuvering of the Lord in the White House of the United Statesโa power shift that would have grand implications for God’s chosen people and His prophetic promises.
Over the years, Roosevelt’s views on a potential Jewish State were mixed. At times, he would make overtly pro-zionist statements, at other times, he took the opposite positionโeven suggesting that the Jews should seek out alternative locations instead of their ancestral homeland. FDR’s views would be most evident in his conversations with Arab leaders.
In March of 1945, Roosevelt received a letter from King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia calling on the President not to assist the Jewsโin any aspectโin the establishment of a Jewish nation-state. FDR responded to the letter, assuring the Saudi King that under his leadership, the United States would not assist in the formation of a Jewish State without full Arab consultation.
The following week, Roosevelt’s presidency would be cut short by a fatal cerebral hemorrhage. The Presidential term, which stretched to 1949, would be handed over to another.
His death placed Vice President Harry Truman in the position of Commander-in-Chief for the remainder of the term, during which time, the hour of decision would come for the United States regarding a Jewish State.
The decision would not be uncomplicated, sparking a firestorm in Washington, DC. In 1948, Truman faced mounting pressure from his administration not to recognize an independent state of Israel. Secretary of State George Marshall insisted that it would enrage Arab leadersโa sentiment clearly shared by FDR. Marshall lobbed threats, not only to resign from his position, but also to campaign against the President in the upcoming election.
The Secretary of State was not alone. Truman would write about multiple State Department diplomats seeking to thwart his effort to support the Jewish quest for statehood. According to a review by Harper Law, “The elitist career diplomats within the State Department, were opposed to the Presidentโs position and tried to derail any attempts to support the Jews. For example, in March 1948, the United States UN representative, Warren Austin, a State Dept. official, went public with a new plan for a temporary UN ‘Trusteeship’ over Palestine. Austin made it seem this change was supported by the President. In truth, Truman wrote in his diary that the State Dept. bureaucrats had been out to get him, and he considered this one of the worst days of his life.”
Truman ultimately ignored the noisome voices of opposition, making the United States the first nation to recognize the State of Israel, a mere eleven minutes after its establishment.
In Isaiah 66:8, God not only promised that Israel would be re-established, but that it would miraculously become a nation within the span of a single day. On May 14th, 1948, that very miracle fortold in Scripture occurred. The British mandate over the land ended, Israel declared its independence, and the United States recognized its sovereigntyโall in 24 hours.
Notably, the document recognizing Israel was modified by Truman prior to his signature. The President crossed out the words “Jewish State” and wrote “the State of Israel” in its place. To students of Biblical prophecy, this is a significant change. Psalm 83 prophetically speaks of Israel’s enemies as a modern state, where they would exclaim, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance” (Ps. 83:4 emphasis added). This was a subtle but important distinction in America’s recognition of the new stateโthe nation would not simply be the Jewish State, it would be a re-established nation of Israel, just as God’s Word had foretold.
US President Harry Truman took a stand for Israel, even if it meant angering those in Washington and the Arab world. FDR’s own words testify that he would not have done the same had he remained in the Oval Office.
There was a reason for Truman’s stand. His Christian upbringing and literal interpretation of Scripture would play a key role in his powerful decision. The President later stated, “I had faith in Israel even before it was established. I knew it was based on the love of freedom, which has been the guiding star of the Jewish people since the days of Moses.”
Chief Rabbi of Israel, Isaac Herzog, during a visit to the White House in 1949, told Truman: โGod put you in your motherโs womb so you would be the instrument to bring the rebirth of Israel after two thousand years.โ
In Daniel 2:21, we read that God “changeth the times and the seasons: He removeth kings, and setteth up kings…” As with all world leaders, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was seated in power by God’s willโfrom 1933 to 1945 during the Great Depression and the majority of World War II. However, just as God raised FDR for a time, he would also bring him down, passing the presidency to a man who was needed in those specific years to carry out His purpose: the re-establishment of Israel as a nation in fulfillment of Biblical prophecy.
