FDR & the New Deal The Election of 1932 Hoover v. FDR Hoover: –“The Worst is Past” –“It Might Have Been Worse” –“Prosperity is Right Around the Corner”

FDR & the New Deal

The Election of 1932• Hoover v. FDR• Hoover:

– “The Worst is Past”– “It Might Have

Been Worse”– “Prosperity is Right

Around the Corner”

• FDR– Optimism: “Happy Days

Are Here Again”– Promises a “new deal” –

but what is it?– Personality / Image

Election of 1932

- Anti-Hoover referendum

- FDR wins: 472-59

- African-Americans shift to the Dems

FDR First Inaugural

What language does FDR use to describe the Depression?

This is a day of national consecration, and I am certain that my fellow Americans expect that on my induction into the Presidency I will address them with a candor and a decision which the present situation of our nation impels.

This is pre-eminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly.

Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper.

So first of all let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear. . .is fear itself. . .

The First Hundred Days- Special Session of Congress

- “Three R’s”- Relief, Recovery, Reform

- Banking- FDRs “First Fireside Chat”

- Response?

- Bank Holiday- Emergency Banking Relief

Act - Glass-Steagall Banking

Reform Act - Federal Securities Act

Employment & Aid

Employment & Aid

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

- Civilian Works Administration (CWA)- PWA- Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA)- Home Owner’s Loan Corp (HOLC)- Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

Loans to halt foreclosures

45,000 kilovolt-ampere waterwheel c. 1938

National Recovery Administration (NRA)Industrial codes – hrs, wages, no child labor, permit unions

Struck down by Schechter v. United States (1935) – the “sick chicken” case

Works Progress Administration (1935)

- New Deal effective? Depression still looms.- $11 billion for buildings, roads, bridges, schools,

airports, libraries.- “ New Deal for the Arts ”

- WPA Art / Writers / Theater Projects

- Photography, murals, painting.s, sculpture, plays, oral histories, guidebooks, novels, recordings

Jane Addams MemorialBy Mitchell Siporin, Illinois Federal Art Project, WPA, 1936Tempera on paper

Myra Kinch and Clay Dalton in the Los Angeles production of American ExodusBy an unknown photographer, 1937

Poster for Festival of American DanceLos Angeles Federal Theatre Project, WPA, 1937

Dorothea Lange

“Migrant Mother”

WPA Slave Narratives

- Writers interviewed and recorded the stories of 2000+ former slaves in 17 states.

First New Deal Limitations Second New Deal

PWA, CCC, CWA still unemployment WPA

AAA declared unconstitutional 2nd AAA

NRA declared unconstitutional Fair Labor Standards Act; NLRB

TVA still large areas w/o electricity REA

No unemployment insurance; old age pensions Social Security

Critics of the New Deal

Liberals• Wanted more government action

• Communist Party of America

• Sen. Huey P. Long – Share Our Wealth Program– “Every man a king!”– Guaranteed income of $5000 + house + car– 100% tax on incomes over $1 million

• Dr. Francis Townshend– Old age pensions of $200/mo for citizens 65+

Critics of the New DealConservatives

• Wanted less government action

• Fr. Charles Coughlin– Denounced bankers, the New Deal, and Jews.

• Republican Party– Criticized FDR’s “alphabet soup” as too communistic

• Supreme Court– Dominated by older, Republican-appointed justices– Struck down many of the First New Deal programs: AAA, NRA– FDR responds with the Court Packing Plan

• Asks Congress to pass a bill allowing him to appoint a new justice for every judge over 70.

• This would expand court from 9 to 13 judges immediately.• FDR is accused of trying to overpower the Supreme court and backs down.

Effects of New Deal

Criticisms

• Never brings about full employment.

• Puts the US into debt.• Expands the power of the US

gov’t (especially Pres)• President dominates other

branches of gov’t

Successes

• NO ONE STARVES!

• THERE ISN’T A REVOLUTION!

• Needed reforms are made.

• NO DICTATORSHIP (even if FDR has unusual power)

• President now seen as accessible by the American people.