LAD 28- FDR's First Inaugural

FDR's First Inaugural Address

In his Inaugural Address President Roosevelt was faced with the overwhelming presence of the Great Depression. In order to put a stop this Roosevelt first felt the need to put a halt to the negative attitude which supported it. As he stated that, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." This attitude need to be accepted by the nation who had been led on by the unsuccessful rulers of the exchange of mankind's goods. These men were failures because of their short sightedness in only encouraging people to buy on credit and when that does not work simply buy it on more credit. Also it was important that the nation focus more on achievement and less on the value of money. The government also must become, in some part, responsible for putting the people to work. Roosevelt also recognized the foreclosure epidemic which was sweeping the nation. With this he stressed the important of not only making plans but acting on them. The government must work towards public forms of transportation and communication. Speculation must also end and along with a closer watch on bank credits and investment the nation can safeguard against another depression like this one. Roosevelt recognizes that along with all of this internally he will be a good neighbor outside of the nation. In the end he also makes it clear that he is the current instrument for the American people to establish a new government order of things, one which the government plays the role of a helping hand in the state of the nation.