Fdr

Dr. David Burke
History 2020 C
14 October 2014
Franklin Delano Roosevelt: The Light at the End of the Tunnel There are many presidents that have left an influential mark on American society, but one president stands out among them all for fulfilling a successful presidency during undesirable times. Franklin Delano Roosevelt took over office after President Herbert Hoover’s term and during the worst economic downfall the United States has ever faced. FDR acted as the voice for the Americans who were typically looked over in society. FDR was unlike most president because he connected with Americans through his fireside chats that would be broadcasted over the radio. Fireside chats were used to inform Americans of the current events and the decisions that the White House was going to make on certain issues. FDR did a remarkable job of keeping his polio out of the public eye, but even having a disability did not keep him from making such a positive impact on the American economy. Being elected president during the most devastating economic decline that this country has ever seen was not the most ideal thing, however, in FDR’s inauguration speech he gave the American people something to hope for and promised of ways to get a strong country back on its feet. FDR wanted to put a stop to the unemployment in the United States and he knew that the only way for this to happen was going to be if job recruitment began from the government itself. He also wanted to make sure that banking and investments were closely monitored, that no one no longer gambled with other people’s money, and stable form of currency. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” FDR spoke these famous words as a form of encouragement to Americans. He knew that the United States would prosper, but FDR also knew that the nation as a whole would have to trust its government to get the economy where it needed to be. During FDR’s presidential term, the United States had to face a threat that the country had never seen. The only conflicts that officially involved the United States had been on American soil and between American citizens. Other times the United States had offered its aid to other countries during their own time of war. Now the United States was facing the possibility of becoming invaded just as other countries in the eastern hemisphere were experiencing. The United States could not go to war and help the countries that were being invaded because of policies that the United States had adopted that prohibited them from helping any country during their own time of war. FDR made the “Four Freedoms” speech to express to Congress why the policies that the prohibited the involvement of the United States into another countries war should be revoked. While addressing Congress with his speech, FDR addressed four freedoms that each country should acquire for its own citizens. FDR stated that the freedoms that should be available everywhere included the freedom of speech and expression, the freedom of every person to worship God in his way, the freedom from want, and the freedom from fear. FDR had a theme of no fear during his presidency, and in reference to the four freedoms that he wished all countries actively encouraged, he wanted there to be no fear anywhere. “A good society is able to face schemes of world domination and foreign revolutions alike without fear.” The first two freedoms, freedom of speech and expression and worship, goes without saying that humans should be able to express themselves and worship a religion the way that they choose to without the fear of any repercussions from their government. The purpose of the freedom of want was a proper standard of living, which included having access to the main necessities of life. The freedom of fear was that no nation should be in fear of being attacked by another company with any kind of weapon or war. This speech would have to be his most famous speech because the speech reaffirms some of the freedoms that are covered in the constitution, but it also has planted its roots of different freedoms deeper into the American society and also throughout many countries around the world. The two forms of presentation for the Declaration of War on Japan request given by FDR seemed to exhibit two different tones from my own interpretation. Reading the request, I felt that there was more of a somber tone of the letter. Listening to the Declaration of War on Japan that was given to Congress, however, seemed to have a different more disillusioned tone. The United States and Japan were negotiating and close to compromising in terms of peace between the two countries. After having an unprovoked attack against our own country, FDR was angry and disappointed by the fact that the Japanese empire would carry out an attack at Pearl Harbor and foolishly ask to continue further negotiations after the attack had already been made. In the request, FDR pointed out the many attacks that Japan had made during one days’ time, and also stated that from what he believed this attack on American soil was not a spur of the moment decision, but rather a plan that had been made days if not weeks prior. FDR wanted to make sure that the United States took all measures necessary to defend ourselves, but at the same time make sure “that this act of treachery shall never again endanger us.” Franklin Delano Roosevelt was such an influential president during some of the most pivotal moments in American history. It goes to show how great of leader FDR actually was due to the fact that he served the most consecutive terms than any other president. Franklin Delano Roosevelt did an excellent job with providing Americans hope for prosperity during difficult times, and really teaching us that the truly thing we have to fear is fear itself.