LAD #33

Summary of FDR's First Inaugural Address

Franklin D. Roosevelt gave his first inaugural address on March 4th, 1933. In his address, he informed the people not only of the state of the nation, but of the plans he has a president. He recognized that the nation was facing a mountain of problems and that the country needed help. But he reassured the people that things would get better with his famous line "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." With the help of the people, he would revive the country and get it to flourish again. Roosevelt knew that if Americans put their mind to it they could accomplish whatever they wanted. He went on to mention some of the issues such as, shrunken values, raising taxes, the loss of ability to pay, the serious curtailment of income of the government, the means of exchange being frozen in the currents of trade, the withering of industrial enterprise, farmers finding no markets for their produce, and the savings of many years in thousands of families being gone. He saw the economic struggles of the people and made it his goal to get the people back to work and employed. He suggested projects that would give people jobs while building up the country. In addition he suggested redistributing land so it was even and so the cities' production could reach its maximum levels. He stressed the importance of watching over banks and creating sound currency. He wants to focus on domestic issues first but maintain good foreign relations by being a "good neighbor" to other nations. Finally, FDR states that the nation is facing a lot of struggles and will have to work hard to get back to prosperity but with the hard work of the people the nation will become strong and be able to benefit the people again