LAD #33 FDR's First Inaugural Address

Franklin Delano Roosevelt recognizes that the start his presidency faces a long arduous journey through an economic depression. FDR made sure that he told people that the crisis was not as debilitating as the American people may have believed, even though the Great Depression did loom over the country. One of the most famous quotes of FDR's inaugural address is his "firm belief" that "the only thing [America had] to fear was fear itself." He stated this to the American people while staying resolute. It was this hope that characterized his first inaugural that also was prevalent during his presidency. FDR was not only foolishly hopeful, he was also a realist. He recognized the poor state and the shambles of the economy. The economy left farmers without markets, families without savings, industry without trade, and men without hope of regaining lost sums and without hope that the depression would end. Although FDR did not condemn the men's living styles he did not leave unmarred the practices and the society that focused on self-achievement and personal wealth. Instead, he maintained that the ethics of the nation must change to benefit the many. This was a mentality that he employed in his claim to put people back to work. Some other relief actions that he did included redistributing the population from the overcrowded cities by unifying relief efforts. He also raised the value of agriculture goods, and reducing the cost of Federal, State and Local governments. FDR also realized the urgency of the domestic problems and promised to cure the problems before any restoration of trade from abroad. To end his inaugural address FDR further developed his policy of collective action of self-sacrifice in the tradition of the early days of democracy and the Constitution which has endured through wars, panics and other problems. FDR ended his address with this confidence, looking toward the future with a pragmatic sense of optimism for the coming years.