Fifteen minutes does not seem like much, and it does not seem like that little amount of time could save a whole nation. It actually took much longer than that, but attention-getting titles are essential. The article “15 Minutes that Saved America” by H.W. Brand discusses US president Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s use of radio to reach the nation and how he was inspired by other US presidents before him. Overall, the article describes the impact FDR made in order to bring the United States out of the Great Depression.
Today, we see every appearance our presidents make and every speech they perform is broadcasted on television, but ini FDR’s time, the people rarely got to hear the speeches made by presidents. Roosevelt wanted to speak to the
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people directly, so he took advantage of the new technology and used the radio to speak to the country. In his “fireside chats” Roosevelt seemed more like his normal self and less like a professional public speaker. He spoke in a way that reassured the people of America that were afraid of losing everything they had during the trying times. He kept the people informed on everything that was going on in his efforts to fix the economy and pull the nation together, which was important since it all happened so fast. History teaches lessons, and Roosevelt studied his predecessors closely in the way they led the country.
He got to see the behind-the-scenes of the Wilson administration and it helped him decide what he would do when his time came. In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt was inaugurated and the road to recovery began. The stock market crashed in 1929 and the country was in a panic ever since then. Right before Roosevelt’s inauguration, the banks began closing because of all the people who had their money in the banks wanted to get their money out before it was gone. The money escaped the country rapidly and gold became precious because foreign investors lost faith in the dollar and wanted gold instead. Roosevelt saw the chaos that was taking place, and he declared a national bank holiday on March 6. This suspended all normal banking operations and many people questioned whether or not the president’s action was constitutional. FDR defended his actions with the Trading With the Enemy Act and he continued to make his way in saving America. He had people working almost nonstop to reach a solution because he wanted to have a bill by the morning of March 9. His goal was achieved and he signed the bill that approved the bank closure and gold embargo that same evening. After the bill was signed, Roosevelt set a timetable for reopening the banks. Even though there was doubts about the solution, they had to …show more content…
try. Sometimes risks have to be taken, and the solution Roosevelt came up with was definitely a huge risk.
It could have ended badly, or it could have ended in success, but they had to do it in order to save the country. The day before the banks began to open, March 12, FDR did another fireside chat to give the people a sense of calm after the storm. He discussed why the bank crisis had been caused and what had to be done to fix it. Roosevelt reminded the people to have faith and be patient because recovery would be a process that lasted longer than fifteen minutes, but his fifteen minute talk was just enough to bring back the nation’s hope. Even though the whole recovery process took time, fifteen minutes was all it took for Franklin D. Roosevelt to reassure America that it would get
better. The Great Depression was a huge part of United States history and there is much to be learned from it. In my opinion, I thought that Franklin D. Roosevelt did his job well in the time of crisis and he successfully saved America. It took longer than fifteen minutes, but he took the situation and did everything he could to fix it. The process he took to get to his solution was not exactly correct, since he did do some things without consulting Congress, but he recognized the severity of the issue and worked efficiently to get America back on track. As for his fireside chats, I think those were a great new way for the nation’s leader to communicate with the people because before, the citizens that needed to hear the speeches most were often the last ones to get to hear them. Miscommunication and a lack of communication can lead to wars like history teaches us, so Roosevelt’s efforts to communicate with the people directly was smart. The article explained the bank crisis and FDR’s solution well and helped me to better understand what Roosevelt did to help save America.
This paper is an analysis of the inaugural address of the former president Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR). We will focus on the main historical events that were happening, and how he addressed those issues in his speech. In his speech he used appeals to grow closer to the crowd he was speaking too. We will state the quotes he used and announce what kind of appeal that it is from. FDR uses words and phrases to pull the crowd in and I will discuss the effects of those words and what they had on the crowd. Finally we will talk about the overall quality and effectiveness of the speech and how it was such a great speech used.
President Roosevelt in his inaugural speech first realized the importance of his presidency, the speech and the US. He mentioned that the thing the US nation needs to fear is the fear itself. He further mentioned it as unreasoning, nameless and unjustified terror which constraints and paralyze the efforts needed to make retreat (Davis, 2014). The general purpose of the speech was to lead the nation to make advance against all the odds. The specific purpose of this speech was to communicate the agenda of presidency as this was the first speech by the president.
Also, I will discuss whether or not there are any logical fallacies that may have weakened his speech. President Roosevelt does a few specific things to be able to establish his credibility as a speaker. Since Roosevelt was the current president, the United States was inclined to listen to him and believe what he was saying. Being the president, the people knew that he was a credible source to receive information from. The president had also been appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 1920.
On May the Twelfth 1933 president Franklin Delano Roosevelt made the first of what would come to be known as fireside chats. During this chat he spoke to the American people about the recent banking holiday and what actions where to be taken to prevent the banking crisis from worsening. This speech shows Roosevelt's skills as a communicator and his ability to talk to the people in a straightforward manner.
Calvin Coolidge even said, "In other periods of depression, it has always been possible to see some things which were solid and upon which you could base hope, but as I look about, I now see nothing to give ground to hope—nothing of man." People were scared and did not know what to do to address the looming economic crash. As a result of the Depression’s seriousness and severity, it took unconventional methods to fix the economy and get it going again. Franklin D. Roosevelt and his administration had to think outside the box to fix the economy. The administration changed the role of the government in the lives of the people, the economy, and the world.
Roosevelt’s inaugural address focused on the current situation of the nation and he intended to declare war on the Great Depression. He stated a need to move as a nation through his leadership and become a better nation. Roosevelt took a strong stand and proclaimed, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. He looks to the future asking the nation to fulfill their “true destiny” of ministering to themselves and their fellow men.
President Franklin Roosevelt was one of the greatest presidents in the history of the United States. He created economic stability when the United States was suffering through the Great Depression. In his first three months of office, known as the Hundred Days, Roosevelt took immediate action to help the struggling nation.1 "In a period of massive unemployment, a collapsed stock market, thousands of banks closing for lack of liquidity, and agricultural prices fallen below the cost of production," Roosevelt passed a series of relief measures.2 These relief measures, known as the New Deal, provided help for individuals and businesses to prevent bankruptcy. Also, the New Deal is responsible for social security, welfare, and national parks. A further reason why Roosevelt is considered a great president is because he was a good role model for being determined in his...
When President Franklin Delano Roosevelt assumed the Presidency on March 4, 1933, he gained leadership of a deeply isolationist country struggling to survive a depression and yearning for change. When Roosevelt died twelve years and one month later, he had lifted the United States to world power status, provided recovery from economic depression, incorporated rhetoric as a means to reach the masses, and expanded the powers of the Presidency. In short, FDR had created the Modern Presidency. Through his New Deal Programs, his ability to increase the United States’ worldwide influence, his Fireside Chats, and his expansion of Presidential powers, Roosevelt became the first Modern President and established the precedent all future presidents were to follow.
Therefore, the main success of this speech is his presidency that will live on forever. Whenever a conversation is started about politics in general, it’s not a surprise to hear “I wish there was a candidate similar to Franklin Roosevelt”. The last thing that Roosevelt said in his speech was, “While this duty rests upon me I shall do my utmost to speak their purpose and to do their will, seeking Divine guidance to help us each and every one to give light to them that sit in darkness and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (“One Third of a Nation.”). Just that one quote could explain to someone what he based his entire presidencies around, the American people and their
Having gone through severe unemployment, food shortages, and a seemingly remiss President Hoover, the American people were beginning to lose hope. But sentiments began to turn as FDR stepped into office and implemented his New Deal programs. FDR and his administration responded to the crisis by executing policies that would successfully address reform, relief, and, unsuccessfully, recovery. Although WWII ultimately recovered America from its depression, it was FDR’s response with the New Deal programs that stopped America’s economic downfall, relieved hundreds of Americans, reformed many policies, and consequently expanded government power.
Within a minute of his address, Roosevelt begins talking about all of America’s “common difficulties.” He says, “They concern, thank God, only material things. Values have shrunk to fantastic levels; taxes have risen; our ability to pay has fallen. . .” (5). Roosevelt delivered this speech in 1933, when the Great Depression was at its peak. The public knew how awful conditions were nationwide; however, the president declaring they were bad is incredibly important. Instead of brushing off reality, Roosevelt sides with his audience, thus making him a more reliable and trustworthy figure in the eyes of the American people. By building that trust right away, the public has the ability to see Roosevelt as someone they can relate to, and strengthens the points he makes throughout the rest of his address. It is said that honesty is the best policy, and Roosevelt does a remarkable job of sharing the truth with his audience during his Inaugural
In response to the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt was ready for action unlike the previous President, Hubert Hoover. Hoover allowed the country to fall into a complete state of depression with his small concern of the major economic problems occurring. FDR began to show major and immediate improvements, with his outstanding actions during the First Hundred Days. He declared the bank holiday as well as setting up the New Deal policy. Hoover on the other hand; allowed the U.S. to slide right into the depression, giving Americans the power to blame him. Although he tried his best to improve the economy’s status during the depression and ‘pump the well’ for the economy, he eventually accepted that the Great Depression was inevitable.
FDR told the people exactly how he felt about world events and the people listened to him, including children. Children began to revere him and later they would vote for him due to his radio talks. Remember this man was elected 4 times so many people would have grown up listening to FDR as kids. Also since radio was just beginni...
The industry boom and the advancement of transportation technology had changed the way that we traveled and conducted business. New inventions made tasks of everyday life easier to accomplish. Women had gained their rights to work, and African Americans also gained more employment. While hard times were among America, the people had kept hope of a better standard of living through protests and speaking up for their beliefs. Roosevelt had proposed and set fifteen new laws in place, something which hasn’t been done by any president after him. Though the nation was suffering from depression and drought, many of Roosevelt’s new deals organizations have battled through hard times to educate citizens and provide people with jobs. The light was hard to see but the intelligence and resources of this era had created a better way of living for Americans, this era was ultimately the stepping stone for a united
Now, presidential debates could easily be broadcasted and more people could have a sense of what they believed in and wanted to vote for. This became more important than ever when the Great Depression hit soon after the stock market crash on October 29, 1929. With twenty-five percent of the working class with no jobs, people began to lose hope in their government (Bondi 201). People did not think the government would help them and it began a feeling of doubt throughout the entire nation. Then, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected president in 1933. He knew the nation was falling apart with distrust in the very people running them, and it would take more than laws to reunite the people again. They needed to believe those laws would help them. In order to unite the people as one community and bring the nation back to what it once was, he needed to have a strong voice people could believe in. The radio was the answer to spreading his message to everyone and in giving them confidence that his solutions could help them. Roosevelt broadcasted his first fireside chat on March 12, 1933, named because people could listen like Roosevelt was sitting with them at their fireplace. He spoke to the people about his New Deal, but in a different way than others would do. This was done by talking to the people as if they