8 U.S. Presidents Who Were Once Great Entrepreneurs


Franklin D. Roosevelt

32nd President of the United States

March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945

 Being a polio patient himself, In 1927 Roosevelt founded the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation. This shows his entrepreneurial instinct and also compassion towards other fellow beings. Even today this organization performs well by serving around 4000 people with different types of disabilities every year.

“The country needs and, unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold, persistent experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it: If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something,” was a very famous quote by Roosevelt.

Harry S. Truman

33rd President of the United States

April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1953

Truman had a broader perspective in terms of entrepreneurship. He once said, “I studied the lives of great men and famous women, and I found that the men and women who got to the top were those who did the jobs they had in hand, with everything they had of energy and enthusiasm and hard work.”

Truman along with his wartime friend Eddie Jacobson started a men’s clothing store in Kansas City and their business flourished well in three years of its establishment. This entrepreneurial president did a good job with his business bur eventually the business shut down due to recession.

Also Read:

5 Entrepreneurial Lessons From Lord Shiva

8 Must Read Books For Every Indian Startup

Dharavi to Bollywood: Jameel Shah's Journey