Franklin Delano Roosevelt was one of the most prominent Presidents of the United States to have ever lived. He served as President between1933–1945 and was then a key figure in political unveilings in the world. It is remembered that during his time as President of The United States, the world experienced the horrific World War II. Roosevelt oversaw the great changes that describe the United States of America we see today. This was demonstrated by the constitutional amendment that allowed Roosevelt to operate as the only American President to serve or be in office for than two terms (Holocaust Encyclopedia para.3).
Roosevelt is thought to be the most courageous leader to have ever led America in the 20th Century (Burton and Anita, para.6). In his address to the congregation and the Nation after being nominated to run for Presidency by the Democratic Party, Roosevelt said, ‘The only thing to fear is fear itself’ Such statements were encouraging to the American people during that time, as they faced a hard economic time. This is partly what propelled him to the White House.
Roosevelt’s ascendancy to power was mainly supported by the economic conditions in the United States. At the time of his appointment in 1933, the United States was going the rough the great depression. This was partly a long overflow of the effects of World War I, in which the United States of America took part in. Most of the allies of the United States during the war were also faced with similar economic situations as they were recovering from heavy losses.
Franklin Roosevelt took power office at the time that the economy was performing well. Notably, he can with what he described as the new deal. This included measures and programs that would help bring back the economy from ailing under the great depression. At that time, many banks were closing down, there was a high inflation rate and unemployment levels were high. With more than 13 million Americans being left jobless, Roosevelt south to bring, back the economy through government spending and legislation.
Roosevelt is remembered much for his courage in whatever he wanted done. Concerning the New Deal, Roosevelt was prepared to do all things possible to ensure that all the provisions of the deal were brought to conclusion. In this bid, Roosevelt Receive serious criticism from businesspersons and corporate entities on some of the provisions of the New Deal. Many business entities feared of negative repercussions were his recommendations allowed to sail through the legislative houses.
Roosevelt was very strategic in his endeavors as President of the United States. Knowing that there are great huddles in implementing the provisions of the new deal, he looked at the legal framework as the main tool for his plans course (Ralph para.4). This got him in trouble with lawmakers who doubted his policies effects on the economy and business. For instance, the decision to have price controls was objected by the corporate society. The corporate society argued that Roosevelt measures are against the principles of competitiveness and that it would discourage entrepreneurship.
This however did not stop him from convincing both the democratic and the Republicans in supporting this recommendation. In effect, the level of inflation was controlled.
Roosevelt was good at using the public as the key tool in development. In doing this, Roosevelt would always speak positively and with courage to Americans even in the hardest of the times. It is as a result of these that the New Deal was supported by many who were liberals and the agrarian. They were convinced that with the New Deal, the economy would get back and people would get back to enjoyable lives. We can say that most of his actions were inspired by the people’s belief in him (Holocaust Encyclopedia para.5).
Roosevelt is much known for his use of fireside chats in his bid to fix the economy and reduce unemployment and inflation rates. Roosevelt’s use of fireside chats was very helpful in making his missions succeed. As opposed what many previous leaders did, Roosevelt’s was good at wining public support. He knew that this would only be possible through engagement with the common American citizen. As a result, Roosevelt’s radio addresses worked well in wining public support. Majority of his addresses were specific on issues that affected the Americans at that time; agriculture, banking and financial policies.
Roosevelt was a leader that recognized the need in instilling hope in the people. In his radio addresses 9 fire chats, Roosevelt’s mentioned factual information on the economic status that the American society was operating under (Burton and Anita, para.3). However, he also went ahead to mention the reaction mechanisms he intends to use to change the situation. This involved much on government spending and bailout top boost agriculture and helps strengthen banking through controlled banking policies. Roosevelt would always repeat in instilling hope in citizens by firing out on previous governments initiatives and giving messages of hope. In his address in 1937, Roosevelt said that ‘Your Government does not intend to allow the history to repeat itself over banking failure” Such statements fired up the populations who were hopeful and worked to achieve economic recovery (Holocaust Encyclopedia para.8).
Roosevelt’s bid to have the New Deal taken up was made worse by appointments in the legal department. At the time that Roosevelt’s needed serious legal counsel, and at the time that the Supreme Court made rulings that were against the New Deal provisions, many appointments in the Legal Department neither did not reflect this. The Attorney General Homer Cummings appointed officials on behalf of Roosevelt in the department but was based on political merit than legal qualifications. This made Roosevelt to engage in The Packaging Plan in a bid to have the New Deal sail through the legal battles. Little did Roosevelt Know that this would fail and easily taint his position as a democratic person and one who upholds the Law. In the end the Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937, flopped but his ventures still resulted to judicial reforms that have up to date positively affected the Judiciary of the country.
Roosevelt’s Battles with Supreme Court and the ‘pack’ plan played a central role in bringing about the debate on Legal formalism and realism as depicted in the video (‘FDR's Fireside Chat on Backing Up the Banking System). This was out of the need to evaluate his actions to bring in more judges so as to support his course. From a realist perspective, Legal jurisdiction was based on what judges thought was right but formalism was based on the law as the end in itself. His decisions y6to add a pro-New Deal judge was kind of bringing the aspect of legal realism. He actually followed the correct path in through legislation to have his course carry the day. However, formalists argue that his desire to bring in new –pro New Deal judges was ill advised and wrong.
Roosevelt demonstrated that he is a determined President by ensuring that the New Deal gets on well through the plan to ‘pack’ the Supreme Court. This involved expanding the number of judges in the Supreme Court. This he thought would help getting in more Judges who are friendly to the New Deal prov9isions. He unveiled this plan after the New Deal provisions were severally dismissed by the Supreme Court. He however was wrongly advised on the issue as his bid was rejected by Congress.
Roosevelt’s was successful through the New Deal as it saw more expenditure on agriculture. As a result, many employees that were employed and lost jobs through the service industry were employed as farmers and other agricultural based industries. This was through government loans and subsidies. Price controls introduced by his economic improvement bills saw many products being affordable to many even as the inflation rate came down with time.
Franklin Roosevelt would remain in America’s history as the icon of determination and hope (Alan, para.2). Through his leadership, Roosevelt was able to oversee the country through hardest of the times, from the effects of the World War I, the Great Depression and through World War II. He actually shoed the world how powerful unity of purpose is and how difficult situations can be solved as long as the will exists.
Work Cited
Holocaust Encyclopedia. Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Retrieved on 26th Nov, 2011 from
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007411
Ralph Raico, The Influence and Origins of FDR, Mises Daily: Wednesday, June 08, 2011, retrieved on 26th Nov, 2011 from <http://mises.org/daily/5358>
K. Alan Snyder, Ronald Reagan on Franklin Roosevelt: The Significance of Style- 08/20/08 retrieved on 26th Nov, 2011 from <http://www.firstprinciplesjournal.com/articles.aspx?article=1082&loc=r>
Burton Folsom Jr. and Anita Folsom, Did FDR End the Depression? The economy took off after the postwar Congress cut taxes, retrieved on 26th Nov, 2011 from <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304024604575173632046893848.html>
