FDR’s First Inaugural Address
Franklin D. Roosevelt had campaigned against Herbert Hoover in the 1932 presidential election by saying as little as possible about what he might do if elected. Through even the closest working relationships, none of the president-elect’s most intimate associates felt they knew him well, with the exception perhaps of his wife, Eleanor. The affable, witty Roosevelt used his great personal charm to keep most people at a distance. In campaign speeches, he favored a buoyant, optimistic, gently paternal tone spiced with humor. But his first inaugural address took on an unusually solemn, religious quality. And for good reason—by 1933 the depression had reached its depth. Roosevelt’s first inaugural address outlined in broad terms how he hoped to govern and reminded Americans that the nation’s “common difficulties” concerned “only material things.”
Please note that the audio is an excerpt from the full address.
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FOR YEARS MOST OF THE POOR AND MIDDLE CLASS HAVE BEEN FEARFUL BECAUSE WE HAD PROBLEMS THAT WERE TOO BIG FOR US TO HANDLE LIKE HEALTH CARE, JOB SECURITY, REDUCING VALUE OF OUR INCOMES, LACK OF PROPER HEALTH CARE, OUR ELDERLY, ETC, CONGRESS NOR THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY GAVE EXCUSES LIKE “WE ARE AT WAR,” “WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TRAINED AMERICANS TO KEEP UP WITH TECHNOLOGY,” ETC. MOSTLY THEY JUST BLAMED THE OTHER PARTY.
FINALLY, MANY OF THE RICH AND POWERFUL AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES (THE PRESIDENT AND THE CONGRESS) ARE BECOMING AFRAID OF LOSING THEIR WEALTH AND, BY FEARFUL TACTICS, ARE TRYING TO MAKE US SO AFRAID THAT WE (AND OUR CHILDREN’S CHILDREN) WILL PAY TO BAIL THEM OUT. THEY WANT US TO FORGET OUR NEEDS AND PROTECT THEIRS. $700 BILLION WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
THEY PUSHED FOR A FREE MARKET, DEREGULATION AND SMALLER GOVERNMENT. NOW THEY WANT THE OPPOSITE TO PROTECT THEIR WEALTH.
A PRESIDENT LIED AND SCARED US INTO THE VIETNAM WAR; ANOTHER PRESIDENT LIED AND SCARED US INTO THE IRAQI WAR, AND NOW THEY ARE TRYING TO SCARE US INTO PROTECTING THEIR WEALTH WITHOUT ANY ACCOUNTABILITY AND WITHOUT PROTECTING WHAT WE HAVE.
IN TIMES OF FEAR WE NEED TO PAUSE, LOOK AT THE DYNAMICS, MAKE SURE ALL CONCERNED ARE TREATED FAIRLY, DECIDE ON THE BEST COURSE TO TAKE AND DO IT, DON’T YOU THINK?
-mackie
