Would the 22nd Amendment exist if FDR retired in 1940?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Yes; it was part of a general project aimed at preventing popular movements from any sort of lasting power in American government. The idea that FDR was breaking any sort of tradition by running for a third term is entirely false and easy to debunk as well. The 22nd Amendment was an entirely novel idea.

No idea how much of this is true, but a point in its favor worth mentioning is that America, beyond the first thirty years or so, never really had regular two-term presidents until after the 22nd Amendment was passed. This isn't cause and effect--party rotation became more regularized, and leaders started living longer. The only three I can think of that served a full eight years and nothing but are Jackson, Grant, and Wilson, and at least one of these had third term aspirations. America was a nation of one-term, assassinated, or accidental presidents, combined with either quick party rotation in office or long periods of one-party presidential rule.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Yes; it was part of a general project aimed at preventing popular movements from any sort of lasting power in American government. The idea that FDR was breaking any sort of tradition by running for a third term is entirely false and easy to debunk as well. The 22nd Amendment was an entirely novel idea.

No idea how much of this is true, but a point in its favor worth mentioning is that America, beyond the first thirty years or so, never really had regular two-term presidents until after the 22nd Amendment was passed. This isn't cause and effect--party rotation became more regularized, and leaders started living longer. The only three I can think of that served a full eight years and nothing but are Jackson, Grant, and Wilson, and at least one of these had third term aspirations. America was a nation of one-term, assassinated, or accidental presidents, combined with either quick party rotation in office or long periods of one-party presidential rule.

Grant and Wilson both did, with Grant actually seeking a third term at the 1880 RNC and Wilson hoping that the 1920 DNC would end up turning to him as a compromise option. (You also missed TR, who served virtually a full two terms, stepped aside in 1908 in accordance with tradition, but then regretted it for the rest of his life, seeking a third term as a third-party candidate in 1912 and being the initial frontrunner at the 1920 RNC before his untimely death).

I missed TR intentionally because his example is well known and obvious; note my wording: "a full eight years and nothing but".