FDR and the role of president

Summary

This script revisits the era of President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression, highlighting his bold actions and inspiring words that reshaped America's self-perception and democracy. FDR's New Deal represented a new social contract, fostering a collective spirit and government support, evident through the construction of infrastructure and public works. Despite opposition, his leadership during the Second World War and his emphasis on providing for the less fortunate set a moral standard for democracy, challenging today's leaders to emerge stronger from crises.

Takeaways

• 😔 The Great Depression brought about widespread suffering and unemployment, with 25% of the population out of work and a collapse in banking.
• 🌟 FDR (Franklin Delano Roosevelt) was elected during this crisis and believed in immediate action, emphasizing it six times in his inaugural address.
• 🗣️ FDR's famous line 'the only thing we have to fear is fear itself' received more applause than any other part of his speech, highlighting the importance of hope and action.
• 📜 The New Deal was a transformative social contract between the government and the people, shifting from 'every man for himself' to a collective approach to recovery.
• 📻 FDR's 'fireside chats' were a powerful tool for connecting with the American public, offering reassurance and information about government actions.
• 🏥 FDR's personal experience with polio and his establishment of a facility in Warm Springs, Georgia, helped him empathize with the struggles of the American people.
• 🏛️ The New Deal led to the construction of significant infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, airports, state parks, and major projects like the Hoover Dam and the Lincoln Tunnel.
• 🤝 Despite facing strong opposition and accusations of becoming a dictator, FDR worked with Congress to implement a wide range of programs.
• 🌍 FDR's leadership during the Second World War helped lift the country out of the depression and positioned America as a global beacon of hope.
• 📊 FDR proposed a new measure of national progress, focusing not on the abundance of the wealthy but on providing enough for those with too little, setting a moral standard for democracy.
• 🛣️ The script draws a parallel between FDR's leadership during the Great Depression and the current challenges faced by America, suggesting a need for bold action and a collective spirit.

Q & A

What significant economic challenge did President Franklin Delano Roosevelt face upon his election in 1933?

Upon his election in 1933, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt faced a 25% unemployment rate, the collapse of banking, and widespread poverty.

What was the core belief of Roosevelt's approach to tackling the Great Depression?

Roosevelt's core belief was in taking 'action and action now,' as he emphasized the need for immediate and bold measures to address the economic crisis.

How did Roosevelt's inaugural address reflect his commitment to action?

Roosevelt's inaugural address reflected his commitment to action by using the word 'action' six times, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

What specific measures did Roosevelt implement as part of the New Deal to address the economic crisis?

Roosevelt implemented various measures such as the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Public Works Administration (PWA), and Social Security Act as part of the New Deal to address the economic crisis.

Outlines

00:00

📜 The Resilience of FDR's New Deal Era

This paragraph delves into the historical context of the Great Depression and the transformative leadership of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR). It highlights the economic challenges faced by the United States, including high unemployment rates and a collapsed banking system. FDR's response to these crises was to redefine the social contract between the government and its citizens through the New Deal, a series of programs aimed at economic recovery and social reform. The paragraph also emphasizes the importance of FDR's 'fireside chats,' which served to reassure and connect with the American public during a time of great uncertainty. It concludes by noting the significant infrastructure projects that were undertaken, such as the construction of schools, hospitals, airports, and major public works like the Hoover Dam and the Lincoln Tunnel, illustrating the tangible impact of FDR's policies on the nation's development.

05:01

🛤️ FDR's Legacy: A Measure of Progress and Challenge for Modern Leaders

The second paragraph builds upon the legacy of FDR, focusing on the enduring test of progress he proposed: providing for those with the least. It suggests that the current leaders of America are faced with a similar challenge to not only survive but to emerge stronger from the crisis at hand. The summary implies a call to action for today's leaders to learn from FDR's example of resilience and innovation in the face of adversity, and to ensure that the nation's progress is measured by its ability to support those who are most in need.

Keywords

💡Great Depression

The Great Depression refers to a severe worldwide economic downturn that took place mostly during the 1930s, beginning in the United States. It was the longest, deepest, and most widespread depression of the 20th century. In the video, the Great Depression is used as a historical parallel to the current economic challenges, illustrating the severity of the situation and the need for bold action, as seen with the long lines for food relief and the high unemployment rate of 25%.

💡FDR

FDR stands for Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, who served from 1933 until his death in 1945. He is a central figure in the script as he led the country during the Great Depression with a series of programs and policies known as the New Deal. His initials are used in the script to draw a direct comparison between his leadership and the actions needed in the current crisis.

💡New Deal

The New Deal was a series of programs, public work projects, financial reforms, and regulations enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the United States during the 1930s. It aimed to provide relief for the unemployed and poor, recovery of the economy to normal levels, and reform of the financial system to prevent a repeat depression. The script mentions the New Deal as an example of government action to stimulate the economy and help the people during a crisis.

💡Action and Action Now

This phrase, as mentioned in the script, reflects FDR's belief in the necessity for immediate and decisive measures to address the economic crisis of the time. It is used to emphasize the urgency of the situation and the need for proactive leadership. In the video, it is tied to FDR's approach to the Great Depression and serves as a call to action for current leaders.

💡Social Contract

The social contract is a philosophical concept that operates as a consensus among individuals, which they mutually agree to follow for the purpose of ensuring social order and cooperation. In the context of the video, FDR's response to the Great Depression involved recasting the social contract, moving away from the idea of 'every man for himself' towards a collective responsibility where the government and people expect certain things from each other.

💡Fireside Chats

Fireside Chats were a series of informal presidential addresses delivered by Franklin D. Roosevelt via radio to the American people during the Great Depression. They symbolized a connection between the president and the public, providing information and reassurance during difficult times. In the script, the Fireside Chats are highlighted as a means by which FDR communicated with the American people, explaining government actions and fostering a sense of unity.

💡Patriotism

Patriotism, in the context of the video, is the love for one's country and the willingness to support it, especially in times of crisis. FDR's actions and his ability to relate to the suffering of the people, including his own experience with polio, demonstrate a deep sense of patriotism and commitment to the well-being of the nation.

💡Infrastructure

Infrastructure refers to the basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society, such as roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, and airports. The script mentions the construction of infrastructure as a key component of the New Deal, which not only provided jobs but also built the foundation for future economic growth.

💡Opposition

Opposition, in the script, refers to the resistance or disagreement that FDR faced during his presidency, particularly from Republicans and some Democrats who viewed his policies as potentially dictatorial. This highlights the political challenges that come with implementing large-scale economic reforms and the need for leaders to navigate such resistance.

💡Second World War

The Second World War, also known as World War II, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. The script mentions it as a historical event that ultimately helped lift the United States out of the Great Depression, shifting the focus from internal economic issues to a collective fight against external threats.

💡Progress

Progress, in the context of the video, is measured by FDR's test of whether a nation provides enough for those who have too little, rather than just providing more for those who already have much. This reflects a broader societal value of equity and the moral basis of democracy, as mentioned in the script, which is a key theme in evaluating the effectiveness of leadership and policies.

Highlights

In 1933, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt faced a 25% unemployment rate, banking collapse, and widespread poverty.

Roosevelt's response to the economic crisis reshaped the nation's self-perception and the role of the president and democracy.

He emphasized 'action and action now' in his inaugural address, using the phrase six times.

Roosevelt's famous quote, 'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,' garnered more applause than any other part of his speech.

The New Deal represented a new social contract between the government and the people, establishing mutual expectations.

Before Roosevelt, the federal government had minimal contact with citizens, primarily through the post office.

Roosevelt introduced the concept of the government providing information and hope to the public during difficult times.

The 'fireside chats' were a symbolic connection between Roosevelt and the American people, offering reassurance during the crisis.

Roosevelt's personal experience with polio and his work at Warm Springs, Georgia, helped him relate to and understand the struggles of the people.

Roosevelt's leadership demonstrated the moral basis of democracy, emphasizing kindness, respect, and responsibility.

The New Deal initiated a wave of programs that built the country's infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, airports, and major projects like the Hoover Dam.

Despite strong opposition and accusations of dictatorship, Roosevelt continued to implement his vision for the country's recovery.

Roosevelt's leadership during the Second World War ultimately helped lift the country out of the Great Depression.

America, under Roosevelt's leadership, became a beacon for the world, offering a new measure of a nation's worth.

Roosevelt's test for progress challenged America's leaders to provide for those who have too little, setting a standard for future governance.

The transcript calls for current leaders to not only survive but to plot a course for emerging from crises stronger.

Transcripts

the last time our nation's economy

nearly ground to a halt a newly elected

president with the initials FDR tried

just about everything to get it moving

again he led with bold actions and

inspiring words this morning we look

back to those times with two reports we

begin with John Dickerson long lines for

food for relief fear and despair though

black and white the pictures from the

Great Depression echo America in the

Cova Dara national suffering and

frustration the virus is new the

struggle is not in 1933 newly elected

Franklin Delano Roosevelt confronted 25%

unemployment the collapse of banking and

sweeping poverty his response would

reshape the way the country thought

about itself its president and democracy

the United States was in the fetal

position and people really wondered

whether we would ever get out of this

Jonathan alter is author of the defining

moment FDR's hundred days and the

triumph of hope we spoke inside the

Manhattan home where Roosevelt slept the

night he learned that he had won the

presidency Roosevelt believed in what he

called action and action now and he used

that word in his inaugural address six

times it actually got more applause than

the only thing we have to fear is fear

itself while Roosevelt was ready for

action he had to make sure the country

was - at a time when the tenets of

democracy itself were being questioned

he recast the social contract convincing

the American public they were all in it

together

what is the New Deal it's it's a deal

between the government and the people

on what they expect of one another and

before Roosevelt was president it was

basically every man for himself

rugged individualism you know the only

real contact the American people had

with the federal government was when

when they went to the post office to buy

a stamp

Roosevelt changed all of that he changed

it by offering information and hope says

professor and historian David will nur

at the Roosevelt family estate in Hyde

Park New York people would gather around

their radios and they would listen to

their president explain what the

government was trying to do and this was

very very reassuring

the famous fireside chats were few in

number but were symbolic of a connection

between the patrician Roosevelt and

those suffering with poverty something

the president understood because he had

suffered says Susan Dunn a Roosevelt

scholar at Williams College I would say

that the symbol of his presidency of his

life his Warm Springs Georgia Roosevelt

was stricken with polio in 1921 he never

walked again during his recovery he

built a facility in Warm Springs Georgia

for other polio sufferers and took

charge of its operation and it helped

him to relate to all kinds of people

that's leaving a life of kindness of

respect of responsibility for the people

we know as well as for the people we

don't know that's what a real democracy

requires that's the moral basis of

democracy with the country support for

his spirit of experimentation roosevelt

unleashed a flock of programs they went

to work building the infrastructure of

this country in ways that are almost

unimaginable now they built 39,000

schools 2,500 hospitals more than 300

airports 800 state parks the Hoover Dam

the Lincoln Tunnel the Tennessee Valley

Authority among the many major projects

created with a congress willing to work

with the president that didn't mean

Roosevelt was without enemies I think

there's a kind of an assumption that

everything for him worked but he had

very very strong opposition there was

plenty of partisanship and there were

plenty of Republicans and some Democrats

who thought that he was becoming a

dictator soon enough

Roosevelt would be fighting real

dictators in the Second World War which

ultimately lifted the country out of the

depression America became a beacon for

the world and its leader Roosevelt

offered a new way to measure the worth

of a nation and he said you know the

test of our progress is not whether we

provide much to those who have much but

whether we provide enough to those who

have too little

that is the test posed by FDR for

America's leaders today not just to

survive but to plot a course for a way

to emerge from this crisis stronger