Final answer:
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who suffered from polio, had a ramp built for the West Wing and installed an indoor swimming pool to assist with his mobility. His disability and determination greatly influenced his presidency and also impacted federal policies on disabilities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The President in question was Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR), a leader who contracted polio in 1921 and was subsequently paralyzed from the waist down. Despite his affliction, Roosevelt never wanted his disability to be publicized because he feared it would raise concerns about his capability to lead the nation effectively. Consequently, there was an unwritten rule in the media not to photograph him in his wheelchair.
FDR's strong will and the support of his wife Eleanor allowed him to continue his political career, eventually becoming governor of New York and then the President of the United States. In the White House, accommodations such as a ramp in the West Wing and the installation of an indoor swimming pool facilitated his mobility and allowed him to cope with the effects of polio.
Roosevelt's tenure as President was marked not just by his personal struggle with disability but also by major events like the Great Depression and World War II. His leadership qualities and the optimistic attitude he maintained resonated deeply with the American public.
FDR's determination helped shape federal policies on disabilities, and he played an influential role in changing public perception towards individuals with disabilities.