Franklin D.Roosevelt- Hope for America
President Roosevelt made his mark in America’s history as a gifted leader while serving during a time of great economic crisis. He was elected to an unprecedented four terms as President due to his popularity. No doubt the Great Depression had affected the Republicans chances for election in 1932 which was Roosevelt’s first term in office as President. The movement seems to be more anti-Hoover than pro-Roosevelt at the time due to the economic depression for most Americans. The Democrats harnessed the national grudge and let it pull them to victory over the much-unloved incumbent, President Hoover. In that time a vote for Roosevelt was a vote against Hoover. Reminds us of the politics of today. The overwhelming American majority indicated an intense demand for change; “a new deal” was in the making. One questions whether any upstanding Democratic candidate could easily win since Hoover was so unpopular at that time.
The “lame duck” period between the time of the pre-inauguration period ground slowly to an end. Hoover, though defeated and rejected was still President for four long months during this hardship period for Americans. Coincidentally, he was helpless to make any long-range changes to policies. Hoover did attempt to arrange a meeting with the President-elect to discuss issues and in hope of making beneficial changes. Roosevelt remarked to the press “It’s not my baby”. He did not wish to take on the responsibility without legal authority to make any of the needed changes prior to taking office. With Washington deadlocked, America’s economic machine was clanking to a virtual halt. Banks were locking doors all over the country. People began to stuff cash into mattresses or bury in their yards. The Hooverites accused Roosevelt of deliberately permitting the depression to worsen, so he could emerge as the savior. The hand of destiny had called Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) to his role as leader of the United States, a true turning point in our United States history. On his inauguration day, he gave hope to all Americans. He denounced the “money changers” who had brought on the nation 's economic calamity. Roosevelt declared that the government must wage war against the Great Depression as if they were an armed enemy. His words were “Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself”. Roosevelt moved decisively. As Time-Life writes, Roosevelt states” This nation asks for action, and action now”, he declared. We must act and act quickly.” Now that he has full responsibility, he boldly declared a nationwide banking holiday on March 6-10, 1933 as a preliminary to opening most of the banks on sounder ground. He then summoned the overwhelmingly Democratic Congress into special session to cope with the national emergency. As PBS writes, “ Together with his “brain trust,” a group of university scholars and liberal theorists, Roosevelt sought the best course of action for the struggling nation. A desperate Congress gave him carte blanche and rubber-stamped his proposals in order to expedite the reforms. During the first 100 days of his presidency, a never-ending stream of bills was passed, to relieve poverty, reduce unemployment, and speed economic recovery. “ These members of Congress worked on their tasks for the so-called “Hundred Days” grinding out an unprecedented amount of legislation to bring relief to the American people. As …show more content…
Higgs writes, “Had Roosevelt only kept his inoffensive campaign promises of 1932—cut federal spending, balance the budget, maintain a sound currency, stop bureaucratic centralization in Washington—the depression might have passed into history before his next campaign in 1936.” Many believed Roosevelt 's programs were close to Communistic ideas. Bureaucratic meddling and regimentation were also bitter complaints. The Federal government had become one of the largest single business in the nation. The most damning indictment of the New Deal was that it had failed to cure the depression. It was merely a sedative. Many remained unemployed. Robert Higgs writes, “Had the masses understood that the New Deal was only prolonging the depression, they would have had good reason to reject it and its vaunted leader.” The government did not have enough money to cover all the new programs
President Roosevelt made his mark in America’s history as a gifted leader while serving during a time of great economic crisis. He was elected to an unprecedented four terms as President due to his popularity. No doubt the Great Depression had affected the Republicans chances for election in 1932 which was Roosevelt’s first term in office as President. The movement seems to be more anti-Hoover than pro-Roosevelt at the time due to the economic depression for most Americans. The Democrats harnessed the national grudge and let it pull them to victory over the much-unloved incumbent, President Hoover. In that time a vote for Roosevelt was a vote against Hoover. Reminds us of the politics of today. The overwhelming American majority indicated an intense demand for change; “a new deal” was in the making. One questions whether any upstanding Democratic candidate could easily win since Hoover was so unpopular at that time.
The “lame duck” period between the time of the pre-inauguration period ground slowly to an end. Hoover, though defeated and rejected was still President for four long months during this hardship period for Americans. Coincidentally, he was helpless to make any long-range changes to policies. Hoover did attempt to arrange a meeting with the President-elect to discuss issues and in hope of making beneficial changes. Roosevelt remarked to the press “It’s not my baby”. He did not wish to take on the responsibility without legal authority to make any of the needed changes prior to taking office. With Washington deadlocked, America’s economic machine was clanking to a virtual halt. Banks were locking doors all over the country. People began to stuff cash into mattresses or bury in their yards. The Hooverites accused Roosevelt of deliberately permitting the depression to worsen, so he could emerge as the savior. The hand of destiny had called Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) to his role as leader of the United States, a true turning point in our United States history. On his inauguration day, he gave hope to all Americans. He denounced the “money changers” who had brought on the nation 's economic calamity. Roosevelt declared that the government must wage war against the Great Depression as if they were an armed enemy. His words were “Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself”. Roosevelt moved decisively. As Time-Life writes, Roosevelt states” This nation asks for action, and action now”, he declared. We must act and act quickly.” Now that he has full responsibility, he boldly declared a nationwide banking holiday on March 6-10, 1933 as a preliminary to opening most of the banks on sounder ground. He then summoned the overwhelmingly Democratic Congress into special session to cope with the national emergency. As PBS writes, “ Together with his “brain trust,” a group of university scholars and liberal theorists, Roosevelt sought the best course of action for the struggling nation. A desperate Congress gave him carte blanche and rubber-stamped his proposals in order to expedite the reforms. During the first 100 days of his presidency, a never-ending stream of bills was passed, to relieve poverty, reduce unemployment, and speed economic recovery. “ These members of Congress worked on their tasks for the so-called “Hundred Days” grinding out an unprecedented amount of legislation to bring relief to the American people. As …show more content…
Higgs writes, “Had Roosevelt only kept his inoffensive campaign promises of 1932—cut federal spending, balance the budget, maintain a sound currency, stop bureaucratic centralization in Washington—the depression might have passed into history before his next campaign in 1936.” Many believed Roosevelt 's programs were close to Communistic ideas. Bureaucratic meddling and regimentation were also bitter complaints. The Federal government had become one of the largest single business in the nation. The most damning indictment of the New Deal was that it had failed to cure the depression. It was merely a sedative. Many remained unemployed. Robert Higgs writes, “Had the masses understood that the New Deal was only prolonging the depression, they would have had good reason to reject it and its vaunted leader.” The government did not have enough money to cover all the new programs