Which president was responsible for signing legislation to establish the National System of Interstate Highways?

Franklin D. Roosevelt played a pivotal role in the development of the National System of Interstate Highways, particularly through his policies and initiatives in the 1930s and 1940s. While he did not sign the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, which actually established the interstate system, his administration laid much of the groundwork for the highway system we see today. Roosevelt initiated large-scale public works projects aimed at improving infrastructure and creating jobs during the Great Depression, emphasizing the importance of road transportation. His New Deal programs included significant funding for roads that ultimately paved the way for the more extensive interstate system established later.

Thus, his visionary leadership and commitment to infrastructure improvements fundamentally contributed to the conceptualization and eventual realization of the interstate highway network, making his administration crucial in this context.