2013Mundos Anglófonos en Perspectiva Histórica y Cultural

Anna-Lou Edmonds Marchena , Nou Barris

COMMENTARY ON FDR’S INAUGURAL SPEECH 1933

PEC 2

The following is a commentary on the First Inaugural Speech by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, President elect of the United States in 1932. It is an analysis related to the speech and based on his approach to politics at the time.

This document is an historical and political document and was written by Franklin Delano Roosevelt and addressed to his fellow citizens and congressmen and women at his swearing in ceremony on Saturday March 4, 1933 in Washington D.C.

From 1929 until the late 1930s the United States went through the Great Depression. Unemployment reached 24.5%, banks were approaching ruin, large numbers of citizens were left to travel the country in search of employment living out of old cars, the economic cost of World War I was still stifling economies and farmers in the mid-west couldn’t find markets for their crops whilst people in some large cities neared starving point. The incumbent President Herbert Hoover hadn’t been able to bring the country out of the crisis it was submerged in. In fact history claims that measures by the Old Guard (the traditional Money Lenders) were to continue lending money in order to overcome the crisis. However, these methods did not prove fruitful and the economy in 1932 was at rock bottom. When he accepted the Democratic nomination for Presidency Roosevelt promised a New Deal.

Roosevelt was born on January 30, 1882 in Hyde Park New York. He attended high school in Groton where he is said to have learned ideas about helping others from his teacher. He then went on to study at Harvard where he received a BA in History in only three years. Roosevelt also studied law at Columbia University in New York but left his studies after passing the bar exam in 1907.

He then began to become involved with politics and campaigned for Woodrow Wilson who appointed him as Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 1913. By 1932, Roosevelt was a veteran politician and firmly entrenched in the Democratic Party.

Some of his beliefs were recorded in campaign:“on promoting real progress, real justice, and real equality to all citizens” (Crothers, 796). He argued repeatedly that he could create and manage programs that would guarantee people “work and security….the values that this program is intended to gain” (Crothers, 796) (Corey Lenzen, 2009)1

When beginning his speech, Roosevelt brings up what the people would expect. That is, a decisive president with fresh ideas. Roosevelt begins by telling his fellow citizens in his speech that the only thing they have to fear is fear itself and in the same line rhetorically asks for support from the country in order to overcome the trying times.

Roosevelt continues by summarizing the grave state of the nation perhaps to let people know that he was aware and in touch with what was happening and that he had a way forward. He then continues to compare the crisis situation to other disasters and

1Corey Lenzen, Digital Commons calpoly.edu (See bibliography) 2009

mentions that the situation isn’t as bad. This part of his speech is obviously to lighten the hearts of the citizens and to show them that there would be light at the end of the tunnel. He then focuses on the failure by the leaders to correct the crisis situation perhaps setting the background for his New Deal projects. He goes far enough to mention that they have no vision thereby promoting himself as a person with vision.

Roosevelt than goes into what could be said was the core of his speech and a mirror into the future of his presidency. He refers to the return the “ancient truths” and the need for citizens to work together hand in hand to survive the crisis. As he puts it: “Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. The joy and moral stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of evanescent profits.” This is Roosevelt speaking from his heart and his beliefs.

He further imbues his speech with morality which he must have felt lacking in the society by stating what he considers confidence cannot live without. This is a crucial part of the speech as the United States was suffering severely from a deficit in confidence.

He then states that restoration must be based not only on ethics but on action. At this point the speech begins to outline what actions the government would take to bring the economy out of the doldrums. He states the following actions: Put people to work, redistribution, local and state cost reduction, the creation of projects, an end to speculation with other people’s money and the reorganization of the natural resources among others. This part of the speech sets the stage for the implementation of the New Deal.

Roosevelt also expresses his intention not to return to what he terms are old evils: “there must be a strict supervision of all banking and credits and investments; there must be an end to speculation with other people’s money, and there must be provision for an adequate but sound currency.” With this sentence Roosevelt comments on the previous government and the Republican rule and their inability to bring the country out of the depression by curbing speculation and promoting sound trade to generate income.

Roosevelt then goes on to appeal to the American pioneering spirit which he obviously considered as much needed in order to leave the crisis behind and likens the movement forward as an army with army discipline ready to attack the crisis.With this metaphor and at this point he reminds the public that discipline is important to move forward effectively.

Roosevelt than confirms his speech as his pledge and further states that he is ready for action and the adoption of those measures necessary for fighting the crisis. At this point, Roosevelt makes it plain to the listening public that he intends to act decisively and sets the stage for congressional leaders to be aware of what is to come. In fact, he goes far enough to say that he would request broad powers from Congress were it to become unavoidable in order to carry through his plans. He advises the public that the

depression would be treated like a foreign foe; comparing the depression metaphorically to a foreign foe to unite the country as one.Roosevelt also reminded the public that the constitution guaranteed an essential background for work. At this point he also makes it clear to Congress that he would be working with that branch of government to implement his policies and that these would probably be policies that were measures unlike what Congress had been used to.

In concluding, Roosevelt states what the public expects of him and gives thanks to God and asks for blessing for the people and himself as he begins his term in office. This appellation to Godgives a glorious touch to the end of the speech and appeal to the beliefs of the people and to bring them back to non-materialist beliefs.

FDR’s speech was also closely linked to the Democratic Party’s proposed policies which envisioned a larger government geared toward citizens. It is of note that the New Deal proposals by FDR signaled a new era in presidential legislative activity by providing a way for the President to closely follow his bills through Congress something previously not done. The challenges facing the current President Barrack Obama are similar to the challenges faced by FDR i.e. the need to consider the population, emerge from the economic crisis, and provide for all. The parallelisms between FDR and Obama do not stop there. Like FDR who had a triumphant first 100 days, Obama has to keep an eye on his own popularity.

FDR is known for having brought the USA out of the Great Depression and for having managed most of the Second World War in which he fully supported the allies and towards the end of the war advocated for the United Nations to be created to keep the peace. He is the only President to have been elected four times. He is spoken about today mostly with great consideration because of his successes.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5057/

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1906802_1906838_1906981,00.html

http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1932.html

http://www.shmoop.com/franklin-d-roosevelt-fdr/first-100-days.html

http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=comssp&sei-redir=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.es%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3Danalysis%2520of%2520fdr%2520first%2520inaugural%2520speech%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D6%26ved%3D0CE8QFjAF%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fdigitalcommons.calpoly.edu%252Fcgi%252Fviewcontent.cgi%253Farticle%253D1002%2526context%253Dcomssp%26ei%3D3pE_Uef1MoKFOJbegdAH%26usg%3DAFQjCNFBUWZcYRsN0avVm1HiYLHXy8GR4w%26bvm%3Dbv.43287494%2Cd.d2k#search=%22analysis%20fdr%20first%20inaugural%20speech%22

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/froos1.asp