As I mentioned in class, one of the best parts of FDR's political life was his ability to connect with people. During the Great Depression, what people really need was to be reassured. Reassured that the government knew their plight and was eager to help.
FDR used the radio (remember from Chapter 8 how many homes in America now had radios?) to speak to the nation. Here is a link to his first "fireside chat".
For the comment section, listen to the entire audio on this link. Discuss what he was talking about and how he sounded. Why do you think his fireside chats were so effective?
Franklin Roosevelt sounds hopeful and determined in this "chat". In a way he sounds thankful to the people for handling the bank holiday. He explained his and the governments reasons for closing the banks on the holiday. He also talked about his polices and how the bank system would be reabilitated (sp?) he addressed the publics questions because not every one was so thrilled about his decision to close them, on question he talked about was why some banks won't re - open. He explained how banks could stay open and why many closed. He talked about how you aren't justified into thinking that if a bank doesn't open in the first of the month, that it won't open at all. All banks are under control of autistic. And all banks have to open at the same time as national banks. The banks will take care of all needs except for the hysterical needs of some citizens. He reassured the people that their money would be safe in the re - opened banks. I think the purpose of these chats are to keep people informed of what is happening in the country. People felt hopeful and encouraged. It probably seemed like a huge weight was lifted off of their shoulders after Hoover left office that someone cared about them as individuals and the needs and struggles that they had and how Roosevelt took action. (232)
ReplyDeleteFranklin Roosevelt wanted show America that we were moving in a positive direction and development as a country. He showed that he was willing to try to change the direction of America and prove that we were going to improve. With the banks it shows that the president was trying to take care of the money and show that we need to make sure we value our money but don't let in comsume our lives. That some banks at the time was operating while others weren't opened. We needed to try to see signs as a country. President Roosevelt was a man than cared about the opinion of the American people and the economy. He had a very calm and careful perspective of the people of the nation. He knew how to talk calmly but truthfully. It made us feel more regenerated and cared about more than ever before. He was a try everything type of president he could deal with criticism and people not believing in him because of how strong he was mentally. He had certain charisma and attitude about him and the way he carried himself. I think his fireside chats was one of the better things he ever did as a president.
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something that i noticed right away was how he called us his friends like we all knew him really well and not like him being our master. He addressed the issues with banks and what the banks do with your money. His voice seems so calm in such a major time in our country. He talks about the bank holiday and why he had to do it. At this time people were obviously scared of these banks cause their money wasn't there but he reassured them that their money would be safe. currency will be able to be dealt by the federal reserve banks to the smaller banks that need help. Instead of opening all banks back up at the same time, they are going to just open banks that are in the cities of the 12 federal reserve banks. the banks that will open have been examined to make sure they can withstand re opening. I think that the point of these fireside chats were almost like the state of the union just more frequently. It allowed us as americans to feel like we have a closer and more personal relationship with the president instead of it feeling like he is never there or around to deal with these issues (211) AVERY, NOT ALLIE
ReplyDeleteFDR wanted to show America what he could do. So he started insisting on doing fireside chats which reassured people during the crisis of the great depression and he wanted to show that we were moving in a positive direction, and that they will get through the crisis. The banking crisis is something of itself, his way of solving the banking crisis was by creating the Federal Deposit and Insurance Corporation or the FDIC. This insured at the time 2,500 dollars to an individual if the bank starts to going downhill. Nowadays it insures up to 250,000 to an individual if it starts to go downhill. The fireside chats help with people's doubts about the US and the way they managed things also. This allowed people to rest easy and know that they had a president that would help them in the crisis and not abandon them and go golfing or something like that (what i'm saying has nothing to do with Obama). This helps them to also know that the could rely on the banks and they could rest easy knowing that their money is safe. I agree with Zachary in saying that “He had certain charisma and attitude about him and the way he carried himself. I think his fireside chats was one of the better things he ever did as a president.” Because the fireside chats really helped in reassuring the people and helped him get re-elected.(239 words)
ReplyDeleteFranklin Roosevelt was a more charismatic man than Herbert Hoover and this "fireside" chat really showed that instead of volunteerism which Hoover believed in Roosevelt when down the path of telling the people the government was going to step in and essentially "save" America starting with the banking crisis. He talked about how most banks were investing for themselves and that banks needed to be regulated by the government more. He talked about how banks were going to take a long weekend and some banks would not be reopened. Roosevelt took much criticism but the good thing is that's
ReplyDeletehe takes pressure and criticism well he is mentally tough and that's is shown as he walks even with polio. As an American today and I know I'm fairly young and have only seen 3 different presidents but I have never seen one address the American people as "friends" and that wouldn't just give me hope but comfort in a president because it makes it seem like he is a man of the people. The fireside chats reassured the American people and didn't sugar coat things it was something that made people not think that it'd be perfect tomorrow but every day things would gradually get better. 208
Franklin Roosevelt first refers to the country as "My friends" I think this is pretty significant in relating to the American people. He begins to lay out a clear plan and address key issues that he knows are going on, which Herbert Hoover was likely lacking in. He makes it clear about the truth in banks, how they dont store the money but only a small portion is actually kept. He states the fact about the rush in civilians going to the bank and not being able to retreive all the currency they were demanding. We don't see things like this in modern day with our president, the very name of fireside chat showed a form of being comfortable with his people. I think these chats were needed since the president before Roosevelt was lacking in stating there was a problem. Roosevelt might have made it a key point for himself to speak with the public on what he is doing and what they can expect instead of shoving issues under the rug and ignoring them saying everything is fine. These Fireside chats were only a small portion of the morale boost of America and began to spin us towards the right direction to get back up on our feet. (210)
ReplyDeleteFranklin D Roosevelt wanted to do one thing to the American people which ended up being the major reason he was president for so long. He wanted to show the American people that he cared. He wanted to show the Americans that he knew the situation that was going on was terrible and he wanted to do whatever he could to help. The fireside chats put Americas most powerful figure to what felt like he was right next to the people. He would help calm the people down and show them he was there for them by talking to them in what felt like a one on one chat in their own home via radio. He talked in this one about the FDIC and how it would insure 2,500 dollars to someone if the banks started to go south. He talked to the people about the bank holiday and how they weren't going to make the same mistake twice in politics. He did a fine job of helping Americans with their worries and struggles. The fireside chats were the perfect response to helping the people's needs and helping restore confidence in Americans and helping us get back on our feet again. (208 words)
ReplyDeleteEven before his fireside chats, Franklin Roosevelt was praised for being so relatable to the common man at this time. He spoke in a way that made objectives clear and understandable, and never did something without letting the American people know, which is rare at this time, considering today's politicians never fully explain or execute an idea the way that is best for the people. Roosevelt knew the people were scared and wanted answers to various questions that were running through everyone's minds, like what was happening with the banks, where their money was going, and what were we going to do next to start moving in the right direction. The fireside chats were successful simply because of the clarity and control that Roosevelt executed when presenting and performing new ideas. The chat starts with Roosevelt answering the question of, "what is happening to my money?" He also talked about the bank holiday, rehabilitation, credit, and how they would get banks running successfully again. He also mentioned the laws and rules set to protect banks as well as the people's currency. He also explained why banks weren't opening all at the site time, and showed his concern for keeping the economy in control so that it would never happen again. (210)
ReplyDeleteI think in Franklin D Roosevelt's fireside chat it sounded like he was very helpful and hopeful about the,whole banking system. Franklin D Roosevelt referred to the country as "my friends", I think saying that as president really means a lot because he isn't just saying this to random people but he says "my friends." Franklin D Roosevelt was the type of person who wanted to show the people what he could do. He was the type of person on when he said something he wanted to do it. That is how he started doing the fireside chats. I think as he was addressing the banks and what the banks did what our money that he had a good plan and solution for our country at this time. He seemed to me in the video to me a calm type of man in this awful time for our country which speaks highly of what kind of man and president he must have been! 203
ReplyDeleteOne of the things that stood out to me the most was how he got up there and right away started talking and had everything so planned out and knew exactly what he was talking about and all that he wanted to discus to the people at this time. And another thing I saw many people posting about the way his voice sounded I agree it was so sincere like he was going through it with us and not like he was above us in any sort of way it sounded like it meant something to him and like he cared about it and us very much. He talked about a lot of the new programs and deals that were being started during his presidency one of the ones that I notice because of the impact and how it is still around today is the fdic and how it was purposed to help us trust the bank system more so we could put our money in and know that we have security that even if something did happen we were gonna be backed up for it and get our money back. Also I think these chats made Americans feel involved like he was talking to us personally and our homes it gave us a sort of hope in this time of depression. (222)
ReplyDeleteIt was amazing how he just knew everything that he wanted to say and that he knew he had the whole country just listening to him and wasn't worried at all and he just kept going and had everything he wanted to say in his head and said in such a great way. He was also so calm when everything was crappy and everything was going bad he was calm and made everyone listening feel calm and he just was so insightful to what he said and he meant everything he said even if he didn't know if it would work. He made you feel like the world was perfect even if the world was horrible. He made you feel like everyone had a job and no one was homeless and everyone had life perfect. He also talked about how the bank would be rebuilt and restructured and made it sound like it would be so much better and that it would be amazing and it would never collapse again and we wouldn't have to go through this ever again. He even made me feel better that I would not have to deal with the bank collapseing on me when I get older. (203)
ReplyDeleteTo me, overall, I think that Franklin Roosevelt wanted to help the people. He wanted all the people around him to hear what he had to say (obviously). Roosevelt called everyone "friends" at one point during the fireside chat. This shows how real of a person he was. This also shows how he wanted a real connection and or had a real connection with his supporters and those who were listening to him. During the chat, Roosevelt discussed the many issues going on with the banks. He talked about how some weren't going to be re opened and he also discussed what was going to be happening with the people's money. He told everyone what was going to be happening with the banks and he also mentioned something about the people being worried. Roosevelt seemed to genuinely care how the people of the United States felt and what their opinions were. He seemed to take into consideration any problem or issue that anyone was dealing with and tried to fix whatever the problem/issue was. His chat seemed very planned out and organized -- this is something that stands out to me because I feel like I would have to be the same way, almost reading a word for word script. I think that presidents today should do something like "fireside chats." This could give people an inside look on the presidency, issues going on around, and a look into the future for exciting things/changes that will be happening. (249 words)
ReplyDeleteFDR was speaking about the mass closing of banks that occurred, leading to the Great Depression. He slowly, calmly and carefully explained the how, why, where, and when of the events leading up to the mass closure. He adressed their fears, dispelling them with simple knowledge. Much of what he said would be easily understandable to the average american, and even if it wasn't, the fact that the president, the leader of the country, seemed to know what was going on and seemed to have a reasonable plan to counter it, I imagine, would help immensely in clamong the unreasonable paranoia that had crept into the public. A lot of the language he used was very intentionally friendly and simple. He called the lisener "friend" and he didn't use large words, or fancy turn of phrase. He spoke plainly and openly. I wish that the presidents now a days would do this, as I think that it would do much to counteract much of the uncertainty about what is going on is Washington. Sure, we have the news, but that is no replacement for someone sitting down, and calmly explaining what this newest bill or policy or whatever is for, what it is ment to do, why it is needed, who it will affect, and how it will work. A parting thought, lisening to this gave FDR's famous proclamation about Fear being the only thing to fear so much more meaning. He devoted much of his presidency to fighting fear, and I believe that is something we desperately need in our country today.
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