New York's Waldorf Astoria hotel is known for its grandeur and opulence, but deep beneath the majestic landmark is a secret that remained hidden for decades. What you'll see today is just some aging, unused railway track, but in the middle of the 20th century, this underground passageway of Grand Central Station served as a private conveyor for U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The president and his staff were determined to keep Roosevelt's paralysis out of public view, so when he visited New York City, he needed some serious secrecy. With the help of the private railway car -- which offered thick steel walls and bulletproof glass -- Roosevelt could reach the Waldorf without being seen. He could then get a ride to an elevator that dropped him off inside the presidential suite. Today, Track 61 -- the official name of the access route -- mostly sits silent, but reports suggest that it is still a viable escape route should it be needed, and rumor has it that it was manned by Secret Service agents as recently as the Bush administration in 2003.
Facts about FDR:
- Roosevelt won all four of his presidential elections by significant margins, never gaining less than 53.4 percent of the popular vote.
- Roosevelt was the first U.S. president to fly in a plane during his time in office, crossing the Atlantic Ocean in 1943.
- Roosevelt's lengthy presidency (around 12 years) prompted the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which set a two-term presidential limit in 1951.