FDR and the Election of 1932

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FDR and theElection of 1932
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FDRs Early Life

• Distant cousin of Teddy Roosevelt
• Married Teddys niece, Eleanor
• State Senator in NY
• Assistant Secretary of the Navy under Wilson

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FDRs Early Life

• In 1921, FDR is stricken with Polio
• He was paralyzed from the waist down
• Hid the extent of his disability the rest of his
  life
• Was never again able to walk unaided

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FDR as Governor

• In 1928, FDR was elected Governor of New York
• Known for developing innovative social programs
• A reformer
• Tense relationship with Tammany Hall
• Elected to second term in 1930

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Democratic Nomination, 1932

• Three-way race
• FDR
• Al Smith (1928 candidate)
• John Nance Garner (House speaker)
• Roosevelt appealed to many different groups seen
  as a populist
• Smith and former Treasury Secretary McAdoo fight
  dirty campaign

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Democratic Nomination, 1932

• At convention, Roosevelt is front runner but does
  not have enough delegates
• Makes Garner his VP choice
• Secures Southern vote as Garner is from Texas
• Wins nomination on 4th Ballot

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1932 Election Results
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President Roosevelt

• High expectations
• Refuses to meet with Hoover prior to Inauguration
• Lets Hoover twist in the wind
• Assassination attempt in February 1933
• Miami Florida
• Giuseppe Zangara, Italian anarchist from NJ
• Mayor of Chicago is killed

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President Roosevelt

• Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing
  we have to fear... is fear itself... nameless,
  unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes
  needed efforts to convert retreat into advance

- FDR Inaugural Speech, March 4, 1933