Fireside Chats

FDR inherited an economy in which everyone was effected in some way. Where Hoover had failed FDR could not. In some cities the unemployment rate was over half while the national unemployment average teetered at a quarter. In his first one hundred days as president FDR hit the ground running making sweeping changes that would be called “new deal” and garnering public support through “fireside chats.”

“Fireside chats” were radio addresses where FDR would consult the American people and make them feel like they mattered again. In the end it was WWII that ended the depression. But the fireside chats are a great example of a president’s willingness to look his people in the face. There were thirty “fireside chats” held between 1933 to 1944 ranging in topics. FDR’s 1st chat declared a bank holiday and the American people stayed with him from that point.

Clips:
Fireside Chat 2. Outlining the New Deal Program. Sunday, May 7, 1933
Source: http://www.archive.org/details/1933-05-08_President_Speaks_To_The_Nation

Fireside Chat 4. On the Currency Situation. Sunday, October 22, 1933
Source: http://www.archive.org/details/1933-10-23_President_Outlines_Recovery_Progress

Fireside Chat 5. Review of the Achievements of the Seventy-third Congress. Thursday, June 28, 1934
Source: http://www.archive.org/details/1934-06-27_President_Reports_To_Nation

Fireside Chat 6. On Moving Forward to Greater Freedom and Security. Sunday, September 30, 1934
Source: http://www.archive.org/details/Roosevelt_Asked_To_Ban_On_Strikes

Fireside Chat 7. On the Works Relief Program. Sunday, April 28, 1935
Source: http://www.archive.org/details/1935-04-29_FDR_Sees_Fear_Vanishing

Fireside Chat 12. On Economic Conditions. Thursday, April 14, 1938
Source: http://www.archive.org/details/1938-04-20_World-Wide_News_Events