Episode 15: Franklin D. Roosevelt Part I - a podcast by SMU Center for Presidential History

Today’s episode is all about Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  Actually, we have two episodes for you on FDR.  He’s that important, and being the only person ever elected to the White House four times, he was also in office long enough to have created several legacies when issues of race arise.  Just how important was he?  Well, here’s one way to look at it: there have been three true existential crises in American history, moments not just of stress or strife, but perilous times when the very existence of the republic seemed threatened. 

The first was when the nation formed; and when it was led by George Washington.

The Second was when it nearly perished in the Civil War.  Abraham Lincoln was the man in charge then. 

The third was the Great Depression, Franklin Roosevelt’s time.  More than an economic crisis, the depth of the depression caused many in the United States to question if this democracy thing was really worth the effort—or even functional in a modern industrialized world.  You don’t have to take our word for it, the people at the time let us know that democracy had one more chance to work.  A quarter of Americans were out of work in March of 1933 when FDR took office.  Millions were homeless; millions more hungry. And it had been this way for years. 

Newly sworn in, Roosevelt told Americans they had nothing to fear but fear itself, but while that was the most-remembered line from his inauguration speech, rather it was his pledge to assume full executive authority if needed. And the crowd greeted this promise—to use full power—with a standing ovations and sustained cheers.

The Depression lasted throughout the thirties, and World War II followed soon after. The country eventually triumphing over each under FDR’s leadership.  To discuss FDR's unparalleled presidency and legacy, we welcomed Distinguished Professor Eric Rauchway as our guest.

To learn more, visit www.pastpromisepresidency.com.

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