The Election of Franklin The Election of Franklin Delano RooseveltDelano Roosevelt

IB History of the AmericasIB History of the Americas

FDR: Politician in aFDR: Politician in aWheelchair: BackgroundWheelchair: Background

Charismatic, tall, athletic, Charismatic, tall, athletic, handsomehandsome

Could also be superficial Could also be superficial and arrogantand arrogant

Born wealthy; 5th cousin Born wealthy; 5th cousin of Theodore Rooseveltof Theodore Roosevelt

Graduated from HarvardGraduated from Harvard 1913 – 1920 – assistant 1913 – 1920 – assistant

secretary of the navysecretary of the navy

Background (cont’d)Background (cont’d)

1921 – at age 39, contracted polio1921 – at age 39, contracted polio Paralyzed from waste downParalyzed from waste down Disease made him more compassionate and strongDisease made him more compassionate and strong

Served in NY legislature and was nominated to Served in NY legislature and was nominated to vice presidency in 1920vice presidency in 1920

1928 – 1932 , Served as governor of New York1928 – 1932 , Served as governor of New York Used state spending to relieve sufferingUsed state spending to relieve suffering Condemned by conservatives as a “traitor to his Condemned by conservatives as a “traitor to his

class”class”

His wife, EleanorHis wife, Eleanor

Strong woman who Strong woman who traveled andtraveled and

campaigned for her campaigned for her husbandhusband

Franklin called her “his Franklin called her “his legs”legs”

“ “conscience of the New conscience of the New Deal”Deal”

Championed causes of Championed causes of poor and dispossessedpoor and dispossessed

Powerfully influenced Powerfully influenced policies of national policies of national governmentgovernment

Election of 1932Election of 1932

Democrats Nominated RooseveltDemocrats Nominated Roosevelt Would repeal prohibitionWould repeal prohibition Blamed Hoover for DepressionBlamed Hoover for Depression Would balance the budgetWould balance the budget Sweeping social and economic reformsSweeping social and economic reforms

Election of 1932Election of 1932

Republicans Nominated HooverRepublicans Nominated Hoover Done without enthusiasmDone without enthusiasm Praise Republican anti-Depression Praise Republican anti-Depression

policiespolicies Halfhearted promise to repeal prohibitionHalfhearted promise to repeal prohibition

Roosevelt’s CampaignRoosevelt’s Campaign

Brutal attacks on Republican handling of Brutal attacks on Republican handling of DepressionDepression

New Deal for the “forgotten man”New Deal for the “forgotten man” Some vague and contradictory promisesSome vague and contradictory promises Promised to balance the budget; attacked Promised to balance the budget; attacked

Hoover for deficit spending Hoover for deficit spending

1932 ELECTION1932 ELECTION Hoover Hoover

““The Worst is The Worst is Past" Past"

"Prosperity is Just "Prosperity is Just Around the Around the Corner"Corner"

Hoover’s Pessimistic CampaignHoover’s Pessimistic Campaign Hoover battled the Depression while trying to Hoover battled the Depression while trying to

campaigncampaign

Slogans like “The Worst is Past” and “It Might Slogans like “The Worst is Past” and “It Might Have Been Worse”Have Been Worse”

Spoke out for free enterprise and individualismSpoke out for free enterprise and individualism

Argued that repeal of Hawley-Smoot Tariff wouldArgued that repeal of Hawley-Smoot Tariff wouldmake Depression worsemake Depression worse

Results of the 1932 ElectionResults of the 1932 Election

FDR beat Hoover by 7 million votes (22 to 15 FDR beat Hoover by 7 million votes (22 to 15 millionmillion 472 – 59 in electoral college472 – 59 in electoral college Hoover carried only 6 statesHoover carried only 6 states

Blacks began shift from Republicans to Blacks began shift from Republicans to Democrats, especially in urban NorthDemocrats, especially in urban North

Republicans hurt by DepressionRepublicans hurt by Depression Vote was more anti-Hoover than pro-RooseveltVote was more anti-Hoover than pro-Roosevelt

Hoover’s HumiliationHoover’s Humiliation

November 1932 – March 4, 1933 was Hoover’sNovember 1932 – March 4, 1933 was Hoover’s

lame ducklame duck period period Hoover could not take any long-range action Hoover could not take any long-range action

without FDRwithout FDR Roosevelt refused to be tied down by Hoover on Roosevelt refused to be tied down by Hoover on

war-debt or anti-inflationary policywar-debt or anti-inflationary policy Republicans argued (now and then) that Republicans argued (now and then) that

Roosevelt deliberately allowed the Depression to Roosevelt deliberately allowed the Depression to worsen to give himself more gloryworsen to give himself more glory

1932 ELECTION1932 ELECTION Lame-duck period Lame-duck period (Nov. 1932-(Nov. 1932-

March 3, 1933)March 3, 1933)

banking industry collapsebanking industry collapse Twentieth Amendment Twentieth Amendment (1933)(1933)

Bank Failures, 1929-1933

Franklin D. Roosevelt and Herbert Hoover on the way to FDR's inauguration, March 4, 1933(Library of Congress)

Bank Failures, Bank Failures, 1929-19331929-1933

2020thth Amendment Amendment

Now, the new Now, the new President would President would be sworn in on be sworn in on the 20the 20thth day of day of January instead January instead of in Marchof in March

Tried to do Tried to do away with lame away with lame ducks ducks

FDR and the 3 R’s (Relief, FDR and the 3 R’s (Relief, Recover, and Reform)Recover, and Reform)

March 4, 1933 – Roosevelt inauguratedMarch 4, 1933 – Roosevelt inaugurated Speech broadcast nationally via radioSpeech broadcast nationally via radio Blamed Depression on “money changers”Blamed Depression on “money changers” Government must attack Depression as it Government must attack Depression as it

would an armed enemywould an armed enemy ““Let me assert my firm belief that the onlyLet me assert my firm belief that the only

thing we have to fear is fear itself.”thing we have to fear is fear itself.”