The Roosevelt Revolution

1
The Roosevelt Revolution

• Session 14

2
Hoover as Counterpoint

• A Hamlet-like ambivalence
• A desire to bring about change, but an
  unwillingness to exercise the necessary
  leadership
• The setting
• high production and low consumption
• weak agricultural sector
• inefficient industry
• speculation
• labor management imbalances

3
Hoover . . .

• respected the autonomy of Congress and was
  reluctant to lead
• had no experience in elective office and was
  uncomfortable with politics
• was uncomfortable with the press
• looked to the private sector for solutions
• was willing to provide aid for businesses but not
  for individuals
• He was the last president to use the 19th Century
  model

4
Roosevelt Consolidation of Power

• The election results of 1932 indicated that the
  American people wanted to use government as an
  agency for human welfare

5
FDR and the Modern Presidency

• New understanding of rights and the social
  contract was associated with the new welfare
  state
• Government was to provide a standard of living

6
Modern Presidency

• Meeting these expectations required a stronger
  presidency
• The Modern Presidency The president rather than
  Congress or the party organization is the
  instrument of popular rule and steward of the
  people

• Roosevelt is considered to be one of the greatest
  American presidents

7
The Great Depression

• 30 unemployment
• All banks closed in 32 states
• The NY Stock Exchange closed its doors the
  morning of the inauguration

8
Roosevelt as a Person

• Confident
• Activist
• Experienced politician
• Privileged background
• Willing to take risks

9
Early Steps

• The first 100 days
• Bank holiday with a WW I law
• Emergency Banking Bill
• Fireside chats

10
New Deal

• Transferred responsibilities from the states to
  the federal government
• Roosevelt saw himself as Educator in Chief

11
New Deal First Stage

• FDIC
• SEC
• FHA
• TVA

• National Industrial Recovery Act
• Public Works Administration
• National Recovery Administration

12
New Deal Second Stage

• National Labor Relations Act 1935
• Works Projects Administration 1935
• Fair Labor Standards Act 1938
• Social Security Act 1935

13
Long Term Influences of the New Deal Era

• Policy the alphabet agencies and others and the
  control of the federal government over the
  economy
• Political the Democratic Party coalition would
  last until the Nixon era

14
Institutionalization of the Modern Presidency

• Brownlow Committee 1937 the Executive Office of
  the President
• Executive Reorganization Act of 1939 a power
  struggle with Congress