American History Tellers

American History Tellers

Conquering Polio | The March of Dimes | 1

Season 92January 7, 202641 min

0:0040:48

About this episode

In the summer of 1921, 39-year-old Franklin Delano Roosevelt was on vacation with his family when he developed a fever, muscle aches, and chills. Pain spread to his legs, and soon, he was paralyzed from the waist down. Doctors diagnosed him with polio, which was fast becoming America’s most dreaded infectious disease.Every summer, polio struck without warning, causing swimming pools and movie theaters to close and panicked parents to keep their children indoors. Polio killed thousands of America

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About the show

American History Tellers

The Cold War, Prohibition, the Gold Rush, the Space Race — how well do you really know the stories that made America? Hosted by Lindsay Graham, from Wondery.

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