If you’ve ever seen this question in a history exam, quiz, or trivia game, you’re not alone.
Franklin D. Roosevelt served longer than any other U.S. president, and that’s exactly why this question trips people up.
Multiple terms. Multiple vice presidents.
And a long list of famous political names from the same era.
Let’s break it down clearly, step by step, so by the end of this article, you’ll never get this question wrong again.
Why This Question Is So Common (and So Confusing)
Franklin D. Roosevelt (often called FDR) was President of the United States from 1933 to 1945—the longest presidency in U.S. history.
Because he served:
- During the Great Depression
- Through most of World War II
- Across four presidential terms
…he did not have the same vice president the entire time.
👉 That’s where confusion begins.
Many people assume:
- A famous leader from the same era must have been his VP
- Or that a later vice president also served under FDR
Both assumptions are often wrong.
How Many Vice Presidents Did Franklin D. Roosevelt Have?
Franklin D. Roosevelt had three vice presidents during his presidency.
Not two.
Not four.
Exactly three.
Each served during a different phase of his presidency.
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The Three Men Who Actually Served as FDR’s Vice Presidents
Let’s look at them one by one, in chronological order.
1. John Nance Garner (1933–1941)
John Nance Garner was FDR’s vice president for two full terms.
- Served from 1933 to 1941
- Played a key role during the New Deal era
- Known for being more conservative than FDR
- Eventually disagreed with Roosevelt’s policies
💡 Fun fact: Garner famously said the vice presidency “wasn’t worth a bucket of warm spit.”
2. Henry A. Wallace (1941–1945)
Henry A. Wallace became vice president during FDR’s third term.
- Served during World War II
- Known for progressive and internationalist views
- Strong supporter of New Deal reforms
- Later became controversial within the Democratic Party
Wallace’s ideas were considered too forward-thinking for some leaders at the time, which affected his political future.
3. Harry S. Truman (1945)
Harry S. Truman was FDR’s final vice president.
- Served only a few months as vice president
- Became President of the United States after FDR’s death in April 1945
- Went on to make historic decisions, including ending World War II
Even though his vice presidency was short, Truman absolutely counts as one of FDR’s vice presidents.
So, Who Was NOT One of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Vice Presidents?
Now that we know the only three correct names, anyone outside this list is the answer to the question.
❌ Men Who Were NOT FDR’s Vice Presidents (Common Traps)
These names often appear in exams and quizzes:
- Hubert Humphrey – Vice president under Lyndon B. Johnson
- Dwight D. Eisenhower – WWII general and later U.S. President
- Adlai Stevenson – Democratic presidential candidate, not VP
- Lyndon B. Johnson – Vice president under John F. Kennedy
👉 None of these men served as vice president under Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Direct Answer (Exam-Ready)
Any man other than John Nance Garner, Henry A. Wallace, or Harry S. Truman was NOT one of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s vice presidents.
If a question asks:
“Which man was not one of FDR’s vice presidents?”
Simply check whether the name appears in this short list of three.
If it doesn’t — that’s your answer ✅
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Quick Comparison Table (Easy to Remember)
| Name | Role | FDR’s Vice President? |
|---|---|---|
| John Nance Garner | Vice President | ✅ Yes |
| Henry A. Wallace | Vice President | ✅ Yes |
| Harry S. Truman | Vice President | ✅ Yes |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower | President | ❌ No |
| Hubert Humphrey | Vice President (LBJ) | ❌ No |
| Lyndon B. Johnson | Vice President (JFK) | ❌ No |
How to Remember This for Exams & Quizzes
Here’s a simple memory trick:
FDR’s Vice Presidents = G → W → T
- Garner
- Wallace
- Truman
Only three letters. Only three names.
Final Recap
- Franklin D. Roosevelt had three vice presidents
- Their names were:
- John Nance Garner
- Henry A. Wallace
- Harry S. Truman
- Any other name is NOT the correct answer
If you remember this, you’ll handle MCQs, trivia questions, and history tests with confidence.