Geoffrey Ward delivered the keynote address at the Roosevelt Reading Festival. He talked about his book, A First-Class Temperament: The Emergence of Franklin Roosevelt. He described Roosevelt's childhood influences and his crippling bout of polio at age 39, explaining how they affected his presidency. After his presentation the author responded to audience members' questions. Geoffrey Ward also wrote, Before the Trumpet: Young Franklin Roosevelt, 1882-1905. The event was part of a year-long celebration of the 125th anniversary of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's birth. The annual Roosevelt Reading Festival featured talks by authors of recently published works that drew upon the Roosevelt Library archives.