LAD #32

FDR's First Inaugural

In FDR's First Inaugural Address, the President speaks of his concern for the present economy and its effect on the American people. FDR plans to help the American people through the current economic hardship by instituting government policies instead of letting the economy "work itself out" which was the Republican way of thinking. FDR was concerned with the rising taxes and the US citizens' inability to pay these taxes. FDR was also concerned with the lack of security that farmers had in addition to the loss of many families' savings. What may have concerned Roosevelt most was the increasing unemployment rate in America. An action Roosevelt took that dealt with the unfortunate issue of unemployment was calling for tighter credit, banking, and an end to speculation. Roosevelt also issued the Good Neighbor policy which said that Americans could get through the economic crisis if they worked together as a nation to overcome the discouraging times and were "good neighbors" to each other. FDR saw himself as the leader of "a great army" who would take the necessary actions to restore his country back to prosperous times.