FDR's 57th Birthday Celebrated at Waldorf-Astoria Ball

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In January 1939, as World War II loomed in Europe and the lingering effects of the Great Depression persisted, President Franklin D. Roosevelt celebrated his 57th birthday with an elaborate ball at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City. The event, which charged between $5 and $250 per ticket, drew 3,800 attendees including Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, though FDR and his wife Eleanor did not attend in person.

Why it matters

FDR's birthday balls were a long-standing tradition dating back to his first year in office in 1933, serving as both social events and charity fundraisers for research on infantile paralysis, a disease that had afflicted the President himself. These celebrations reflected the public's enduring fascination with the charismatic leader during a tumultuous time in American history.

The details

The menu for the 1939 Waldorf-Astoria ball featured a selection of wines and liquors, though the supper menu itself was relatively modest, with items like scrambled eggs and bacon. While FDR and the First Lady did not attend in person, the President did send a message that was broadcast to the attendees. Smaller birthday balls were also held in other cities like Brooklyn.

• The 1939 Waldorf-Astoria birthday ball was held on January 30, 1939, Franklin Delano Roosevelt's 57th birthday.
• FDR's birthday balls had been a tradition since his first year in office in 1933.